British scholarship on Greek colonisation in context 1780-1990
This thesis examines British scholarly perceptions of Greek colonisation from the eighteenth century to the present. Beginning with a study of the ancient sources for Greek colonisation and the key themes which preoccupied ancient authors, the thesis proceeds to argue that, modifying recent interpretations of work from this age of empire, British scholarship did not, as a whole, simplistically distort ancient evidence so as to create a version of Greek colonisation which mirrored, in a self-congratulatory way, contemporary British experiences. We should therefore position this scholarship within its appropriate historical context (with special attention to politics, empire, colonisation, and perceptions of antiquity). In addition to enabling us to trace the impact of the great events of the modern era upon classical scholarship, in doing so we can also gain insight into the complexities, hopes, and anxieties which characterised British thinking about such themes as empire, colonisation, political freedom, and the place of Western civilisation in historical perspective.
Williams, Alun
DF Greece
British scholarship on Greek colonisation in context 1780-1990. This thesis examines British scholarly perceptions of Greek colonisation from the eighteenth century to the present. Beginning with a study of the ancient sources for Greek colonisation and the key themes which preoccupied ancient authors, the thesis proceeds to argue that, modifying recent interpretations of work from this age of empire, British scholarship did not, as a whole, simplistically distort ancient evidence so as to create a version of Greek colonisation which mirrored, in a self-congratulatory way, contemporary British experiences. We should therefore position this scholarship within its appropriate historical context (with special attention to politics, empire, colonisation, and perceptions of antiquity). In addition to enabling us to trace the impact of the great events of the modern era upon classical scholarship, in doing so we can also gain insight into the complexities, hopes, and anxieties which characterised British thinking about such themes as empire, colonisation, political freedom, and the place of Western civilisation in historical perspective.
british scholarship greek_colonisation context examines british scholarly perception greek_colonisation present beginning study ancient_source greek_colonisation key_theme preoccupy ancient_author proceeds argue modify recent_interpretation work age empire_british scholarship whole distort ancient evidence create version greek_colonisation mirror self way contemporary british experience therefore position scholarship within appropriate historical_context special_attention politics empire colonisation perception antiquity addition enable trace impact great event modern_era upon classical_scholarship also gain_insight complexity hope anxiety characterise british thinking theme empire colonisation political freedom place western_civilisation historical_perspective