The greatest name in popular classical scholarship sheds light on one of history"s most creative eras and civilizations: the ancient Greeks between 1000 and 494 B.C. During this time, among other landmarks the introduction of the Phoenician alphabet enabled the recording of Homer"s Iliad and Odyssey. The world Grant introduces goes beyond the boundaries of modern Greece to Asia Minor, Italy, Sicily, and Russia, and he includes compelling discussions of the economic and social roles of slaves and women. A captivating and highly original perspective on an extraordinary culture.