Author Description

The German archaeologist Ernst Curtius (1814-1896) published his seminal work The History of Greece in 3 volumes between 1857 and 1867. It quickly became a bestseller and was republished in numerous German editions. The work was translated into English by the eminent British historian Adolphus William Ward (1837-1924) who divided it into five volumes. It covers the history of ancient Greece from the archaic period until the struggle for Greek independence after the rise of Macedon under Philip and Alexander. Curtius' History was a pioneering work of nineteenth-century classical scholarship. For many generations it provided an indispensable guide through the complex history of the ancient Greek world, and it continues to inspire researchers today.