If Greece were a living entity, this book could be considered its biography. It traces its origins from the Mycenaean civilization to the Hellenistic period, documenting the rise, prosperity, and gradual decline of Greek city-state civilization. During this process, Greece nurtured concepts we are familiar with today, such as science, democracy, and citizenship. The Greek mindset also evolved, shifting from a Homeric pursuit of individual excellence to becoming a member of the city-state and taking pride in its glory. In the Hellenistic era, the Greeks resembled modern people more, focusing on maintaining inner peace in a chaotic world, as they were thrust into a larger world, no longer simply citizens of a city-state.
倘将希腊视为一个生命体，这本书可以说是一部希腊的传记。从她的源头迈锡尼文明的发端直写到希腊化时代，希腊城邦文明由兴起到兴盛，渐渐走向衰败。在此过程中，希腊孕育出我们今天所熟悉的科学、民主、公民等观念，希腊人的思想也随之发生变化，从荷马英雄式的追求个人卓越到成为城邦的一员，以荣耀城邦为荣，而在希腊化时代，希腊人更像现代人，关注的是在这个纷乱无绪的世界上怎样保持个体心境的安宁，因为他们被抛入一个大的世界，而不再是城邦中的人。
倘将希腊视为一个生命体，这本书可以说是一部希腊的传记。从她的源头迈锡尼文明的发端直写到希腊化时代，希腊城邦文明由兴起到兴盛，渐渐走向衰败。在此过程中，希腊孕育出我们今天所熟悉的科学、民主、公民等观念，希腊人的思想也随之发生变化，从荷马英雄式的追求个人卓越到成为城邦的一员，以荣耀城邦为荣，而在希腊化时代，希腊人更像现代人，关注的是在这个纷乱无绪的世界上怎样保持个体心境的安宁，因为他们被抛入一个大的世界，而不再是城邦中的人。
