Greeks & Barbarians

"Greeks & Barbarians" by J. A. K. Thomson is a journey into the world of ancient Greece and how they viewed anyone not Greek, whom they labelled as "Barbarians". The book tells about the historical and cultural differences that helped the Greeks understand who they were. Thomson looks closely at how the Greeks saw themselves when compared to other groups of people, showing that the struggle between Greek ways of life and what they saw as "barbaric" played a big part in forming Greek culture and thoughts. Early in the book, Thomson writes about the Ionians, who moved from the Peloponnesian coast to Asia Minor. This move was because they were running away from the Dorians who were attacking, but it also helped their culture grow again. The land where they settled and the people around them changed who they were. He talks about the difficult connection between the Greeks and the Carians, who were native to the area, explaining that the Greeks faced conflicts when trying to spread their way of life because of these "Barbarians." Thomson sets the scene for a deep look at what it meant to be Greek, suggesting that from this conflict came a mix of cultures marked by survival, trading cultures, and the ways history can alter one's perception.