Starting with the most meagre resources, Philip made his kingdom the greatest power in Europe The Greek historian Diodorus of Sicily is one of our most valuable sources from ancient times.
With extensive explanatory notes on this gripping and sensational period of history, the book serves as a unique resource for historians and students..
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.
This is the first English translation of any of these Books in over fifty years.
Despite his obvious importance, Diodorus is a neglected historian.
There are fascinating snippets of history from elsewhere too - from Republican Rome, the Cimmerian Bosporus, and elsewhere.
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.
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.
Book 16 is devoted to Philip, and without it the career of this Great king would be far more obscure to us.
This new translation by Robin Waterfield of Books 16-20 covers a vital period in European history.
His history, in forty volumes, was intended to range from mythological times to 60 BCE, and fifteen of The Library\'s forty Books survive.
Starting with the most meagre resources, Philip made his kingdom the greatest power in Europe The Greek historian Diodorus of Sicily is one of our most valuable sources from ancient times
