{"product_id":"the-library-books-16-20-philip-ii-alexander-the-great-and-the-successors-9780198759881","title":"The Library, Books 16-20: Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the Successors","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eStarting with the most meagre resources, Philip made his kingdom the greatest power in Europe\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Greek historian Diodorus of Sicily is one of our most valuable sources from ancient times. His history, in forty volumes, was intended to range from mythological times to 60 BCE, and fifteen of \u003cem\u003eThe Library's\u003c\/em\u003e forty books survive. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis new translation by Robin Waterfield of books 16-20 covers a vital period in European history. Book 16 is devoted to Philip, and without it the career of this great king would be far more obscure to us. Book 17 is the earliest surviving account by over a hundred years of the world-changing eastern conquests of Alexander the Great, Philip's son. Books 18-20 constitute virtually our sole source of information on the twenty turbulent years following Alexander's death and on the violent path followed by Agathocles of Syracuse. There are fascinating snippets of history from elsewhere too - from Republican Rome, the Cimmerian Bosporus, and elsewhere. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDespite his obvious importance, Diodorus is a neglected historian. This is the first English translation of any of these books in over fifty years. The introduction places Diodorus in his context in first-century-BCE Rome, describes and discusses the kind of history he was intending to write, and assesses his strengths and weaknesses as a historian. With extensive explanatory notes on this gripping and sensational period of history, the book serves as a unique resource for historians and students.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Diodorus Siculus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/01\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeries:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford World's Classics\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 624\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.70h x 5.00w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780198759881","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42709610758281,"sku":"9780198759881","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_0bebe34b-2b75-417c-8388-baa082161e24.jpg?v=1719519824","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/the-library-books-16-20-philip-ii-alexander-the-great-and-the-successors-9780198759881","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}