Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17493 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

The Lives and Times of the Diadochi
I've been interested in Alexander the Great for many years, but I've always been disappointed with the lack of books on what occured after his death. Usually in Alexander biographies the aftermath is only mentioned in passing, and if anyone wants to know what became of Alexander's successors they usually have to get hold of expensive works like Waldemar Heckel's 'The Marshals of Alexander's Empire'.

I was therefore looking forward to reading this book on Alexander's successors as it was the only cheap book on the subject I could find. I was definately not disappointed with the purchase as this book is well researched and very readable.

The book begins straight after Alexander's death as the Diadochi argue and fight over his corpse, with Perdiccas rising to the top. It is from here that we are taken on a chronological tour of the Hellenistic World, from 323 to 281 BC. Along the way, the authors give us biographies of the leading men of the age, from Ptolemy, who rose to become the Pharaoh of Egypt, Seleucus who ruled over the largest part of Alexander's Empire, as well as Antigonous and Lysimachus. You also get to know about the other figures of the period, such as Demetrius the Besieger and Pyrrhus of Epirus who are amongst the most fascinating figures in Classical History. These sections provide the reader with both a broad view of their lives, as well as an intimate look at their personalities, i.e. Seleucus's hatred of paperwork, the family feuds of Ptolemy, and the stingyness of Lysimachus.

Other chapters give us detailed looks on events such as the struggle for Macedonia, the Battle of Ipsus, and the constant fighting for control over Coele-Syria. The book finishes with a look at the battle of Corupedium in 281 BC, when the last of the Diadochi, Seleucus and Lysimachus, now in their seventies, fought near Sardis in Lydia.

The book is very well written and readable, and in some sections it even reads like a novel. In that respect if you have an interest in Alexander the Great or the Hellenistic World, then this book is a must have. I'm already looking forward to Volume II!

Note: Also contains a few black and white photographs and one basic map. If the book has one criticism it is that it should have contained more detailed and numerous maps.

Very readable
For a very long time there has not been a single volume history of the wars of the Successors. Those interested in the period have had to piece together events from academic histories with wider scope (such as Green or NGL Hammond) or texts focussing on individuals and their histories (such as Heckel or Billows). At last we have a narrative history that covers the warring period from Alexanders death to the death of the last immediate Successor (Seleucus). This volume does an excellent job in following the wars between Alexanders generals, explaining the shifting loyalties and resulting battles as they each carved their own fiefdoms out of Alexanders empire. This is a well structured and very readable narrative that stands on its own despite claiming to be only the first volume. If there is a drawback, it is the failure to support the narrative with adequate maps. The narrative covers a lot of ground and would have benefitted from a series of larger scale maps that identified all the places discussed in the text.

A timely, informative and very interesting read!
As someone with a general interest in ancient history I had just finished reading Peter Green's book - The Hellenistic Age - when I stumbled on this title which helped shed more light on Mr. Green's book.

This book goes into detail on the military activities and political machinations of the likes of Perdicass,Eumenes,Antipater,Antigonus Monopthalmus, Seleucus and Ptolemy following the death of Alexander the Great.

Furthermore, it tells us how Alexander's immediate family - Olympias, Roxanne, Alexander IV were embroiled in the schemes of these generals.
We witness the military development of Demetrius (Son of Antigonus)and Pyrrhus before he suffers defeat at the hands of Rome.

My only criticism is that the book contains just one map which is why I have given it four stars. The hellenistic era is certainly full of interesting characters and I look forward to reading Volume 2!