Writing Ancient Persia by Thomas Harrison
The history of the Achaemenid Persian empire has been largely rewritten in the last thirty years by an international group of scholars, inspired partly by new sources of information, but also by a concerted attempt to look at Ancient Persia in its own terms, rather than through the lens of neighbouring societies, and to excise the pejorative bias of the Greek sources. This essay is a critique of this new Achaemenid historiography, concentrating on the difficulties of using Greek sources for the writing of Persian history. It argues that the excising of Greek bias should be seen to be, if possible at all, a much more complex procedure. It then examines two themes in more detail: the representation of the Kings and Queens (in Greek sources and in recent histories of Persia), and the accounts given of the Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander. It concludes with an analysis of past versions of Persian history, suggesting that there is a much greater degree of continuity between earlier accounts of Persia (often derided as narrowly Hellenocentric or orientalist) and those of the new Achaemenid historiography.
Writing Ancient Persia is an ideal book for those new to Achaemenid history as it presents major current academic arguments and scholarship with a full bibliography for those interested in learning more from both Achaemenid and Greek scholars-- Kirsty Mason, University of Kent * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
For those already involved in this field, it offers sufficient material to contemplate, and its contents, therefore, deserves attention of every serious Achaemenid historian. -- Jan P. Stronk, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands * GNOMON *
[Harrison's] arguments are balanced and manifest appreciation for the overall advance of Achaemenid historiography. This book should inspire productive debate among all scholars concerned with ancient Persia. -- Eric Ross * Religious Studies Review *
Harrison examines how histories of the Achaemedid Persian empire have been, are being, and might be written. He is a historian of Greece not Persia, he explains, but most of the sources for the period are Greek, though he actually focuses here on the earlier part of the period, for which Persian sources are more plentiful and only Herodotus' provide a Greek perspective. -- Reference and Research Book News
For those already involved in this field, it offers sufficient material to contemplate, and its contents, therefore, deserves attention of every serious Achaemenid historian. -- Jan P. Stronk, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands * GNOMON *
[Harrison's] arguments are balanced and manifest appreciation for the overall advance of Achaemenid historiography. This book should inspire productive debate among all scholars concerned with ancient Persia. -- Eric Ross * Religious Studies Review *
Harrison examines how histories of the Achaemedid Persian empire have been, are being, and might be written. He is a historian of Greece not Persia, he explains, but most of the sources for the period are Greek, though he actually focuses here on the earlier part of the period, for which Persian sources are more plentiful and only Herodotus' provide a Greek perspective. -- Reference and Research Book News
Thomas Harrison is Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, University of Liverpool.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780715639177 |
| ISBN 10 | 071563917X |
| Title | Writing Ancient Persia |
| Author | Thomas Harrison |
| Series | Classical Essays |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2011-01-19 |
| Number of pages | 192 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |