ANCIENT GREECE AND THE NEAR EAST.

By Richard Mansfield Haywood'26. New York: David McKay Company,1964. 626 pp. $7.50.

This volume is the first of two designed to cover the whole range of ancient history, as the author puts it, "from the primeval slime to Constantine." The first volume deals with the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Jews, Phoenicians, Persians, and Greeks to the death of Alexander the Great. The second, still to be published, will survey the Hellenistic period, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.

In spite of its attractive title the book does not discuss the influence of the Near East on the thought, politics, and culture of Greece, a topic of great interest to ancient historians nowadays. The Near East is treated separately from Greece. Less than a quarter of the text is devoted to developments in Asia Minor from 5000 to 500 B.C. The rest is an introductory history of Greece from the Minoan-Mycenaean period to the end of the fourth century B.C.

The book is aimed at the undergraduate and is perhaps a reflection of Professor Haywood's own course in ancient history at New York University. All aspects of the ancient world receive attention. There are sections on economic and social developments, art, literature, philosophy, science, and religion in addition to the discussion of political and historical events which are the primary concern of the author. While no one person can be expert in so many areas, Professor Haywood has tried to present the latest scholarly views. He accepts the lower dating of Hammurabi, recognizes that the first Greeks may have come from the east, knows that the Phoenicians did not reach the western Mediterranean before the eighth century, and makes use of the newly discovered Themistocles decree. But for the most part his account follows the traditional pattern. It represents a reasonable summary of the state of our knowledge of the ancient world.

To catch the reader's eye, Professor Haywood liberally sprinkles his writing with colorful, lively adjectives. When a matter is in doubt, he gives all sides of the argument even at the risk of leaving his own position unclear. He has his villains as well as his heroes among the ancient statesmen and politicians. He does not hesitate to pass judgment on them all.

The book is well provided with new photographs of Greece, many taken by the author. There is also an excellent annotated bibliography for those who want to dig more deeply.

Professor of Classics