The Great Courses: Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire
By Kenneth W. Harl
For one with limited exposure to Alexander and his times (I did read The Persian Wars by Herodotus in high school, but that was a week or two ago) this is a thorough and revealing work. It is of course of the survey model, taking a wide brush to a great life. That said, there is much here to consider, and it is surprising to what extent we can see echoes of his time in our own.
One of my interests in reading ancient history is to understand geopolitical timelines and context in relation to biblical history. For example, I was surprised to learn that the Galatians of Paul's day were direct descendants of Celtic Gauls who were defeated by Julius Caesar.
Mr. Harl knows his subject well and covers the academic landscape with enthusiasm, confidence, and dry wit, offering his own opinion at times. He is also a numismatic expert and uses that influence to describe the art and economic organization of different kingdoms, something I found interesting as a different lens into the subject.
Overall, a very good listen and highly recommended.
Author: Kenneth W. Harl
Genre: History
Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
Link: Audible.com
Run Time: 18 hrs., 29 min
ASIN: B00DTNVOGE
Keywords: history, geopolitics, ancient, conquest, empire, macedonia, greece, persia, india, egypt