The Greek world in the fourth century BC sometimes appears to be the overlooked stepchild in the study of ancient Greek history, sandwiched between the brilliant achievements of classical Athens and the accomplishments of Alexander the Great. Yet this was the time of Plato and Aristotle, of Scopas and Lysippus, continuing the developments of the classical era while preparing those of the Hellenistic period to come. Athenian democracy settled into nearly a hundred years of stability, while the Greeks in Asia and the west reached a modus vivendi with their neighbours. The papers collected in this volume present a systematic survey of the struggles of Athens, Sparta and Thebes to dominate Greece in the fourth century - only to be overwhelmed by the newly emerging Macedonian kingdom of Philip II. Additionally, the situation of Greeks in Sicily, Italy and Asia is portrayed, showing the geographical and political diffusion of the Greeks in a broader historical context. This is a book that will provide the reader with a a clearly drawn and vivid picture of the main events and leading personalities in this decisive period of Greek history.
