This is a major, single-volume introduction to the whole of Ancient Greek History. It covers the period from the Golden Age of Knossos and Mycenae to the incorporation of Greece into the Roman empire in the second century BC and the transfer of Greek culture to Byzantium in the fourth century AD.

The late Claude Orrieux's was Professor at the University of Caen. His previous publications include Judaism-Hellenism (1986) and Investigations on the Hellenistic Armies (1987).

Pauline Schmitt-Pantel's is Professor at the University of Picardie Jules Verne. Her previous publications in English include A History of Women in the West: From Ancient Goddesses to Christian Saints (editor, 1992) and Religion in the Ancient Greek City (co-author, 1993).