Demosthenes of Athens and the Fall of Classical Greece (el. knyga) (skaityta knyga) | knygos.lt

Aprašymas

Demosthenes (384-322) profoundly shaped one of the most eventful epochs in antiquity. His political career spanned three decades, during which time Greece fell victim to Macedonian control, 1st under Philip II, then Alexander the Great. Demosthenes' defiance of Macedonian imperialism cost him his life but earned him a reputation as one of history's outstanding patriots. He also enjoyed a brilliant & lucrative career as a speechwriter. His rhetorical skills are still emulated today by politicians. Yet he was a sickly child with a challenging speech impediment, who was swindled out of much of his family's estate by unscrupulous guardians. His story is therefore one of triumph over adversity. In this biography--the 1st in English for almost a century--Ian Worthington brings the orator's career vividly to life. He provides a moving narrative of Demosthenes' difficult beginnings, his rivalries with other Athenian politicians, his victories & defeats in the public Assembly, & finally his posthumous influence as a politician & orator. In doing so, Worthington offers new insights into Demosthenes' motives & how he shaped his policy to achieve political power. Set against the rich backdrop of late classical Athens & Macedonia, this biography will appeal to all readers interested in the history of ancient Greece. All quotations from Demosthenes' speeches are translated & briefly discussed in order for readers to appreciate his rhetorical genius.
Preamble: "Politicians & heroes"
Demosthenes, son of Demosthenes
Greece & the awakening of Macedonia
Into the public eye
The aspiring politician
Swaying the Assembly
An uneasy peace
Resisting Philip
"Speeches like soldiers"
The end of Greek freedom
"For the conqueror, death"
Demosthenes & Alexander the Great
The crown trial
Decline & fall
Poison from the pen
Appendix: Ancient coinage & months of the Attic year
Notes