Do the Greek Classics Scare You? Start Here

Starting with the basics to make it less scary

Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash

One of the things I hate the most about academia is the constant gatekeeping of knowledge, making specific topics seem entirely out of reach for most people. Well, I have news for you! You can get into these topics yourself, and I’m here to lend a helping hand.

To start learning about Ancient Greek culture, history, and mythology, you don’t need to start with learning Ancient Greek and going to the primary sources per se. You can begin by situation yourself in the field, with the aid of the many resources that are readily available.

Here are some books that will help you get started:

‘History of Greek Culture’ by Jacob Burckhardt

History of Greek Culture by Jacob Burckhardt

This is an excellent introductory work to the world of the Ancient Greeks. Written by Jacob Burckhardt an important historian of art and culture, this book starts by outlining the development of the polis (city-state) with an exploration of its variations, taking into account the regional differences between these city-states. Then Burckhardt discusses the arts and…