Ancient Greece was never just one nation: it was a disparate collection of independent city states, often embroiled in war, with separate governments, their own armies and distinct politics, economies and societies. However, together these vibrant and diverse peoples made one of the greatest civilisations the world has known, endowing the western world with cutting-edge philosophy, science, literature, architecture, visual arts, military prowess and democracy - to name but a few of their enduring contributions to the modern world. 'The Ancient Greeks in 100 Facts' tells the story of this fascinating civilisation, from its earliest bronze age beginnings as described by Homer and Hesiod, to the wars with and eventual subjugation by the Romans. Visit the Minoans and the Spartans, the Macedonians and the Athenians; meet Plato and Aristotle, Sophocles and Socrates. Follow Alexander the Great to the end of the world and witness the birth of historical writing through Herodotus and Thucydides. These 100 gripping facts provide an enjoyable and accessible introduction to one of the world's great civilisations.

Paul Chrystal was educated at the Universities of Hull and Southampton where he took degrees in Classics and wrote his MPhil thesis on attitudes to women in Roman love poetry. He appears regularly on BBC local radio the World Service. He is the author of over fifty books on a wide range of subjects, including histories of northern places, social histories of tea and of chocolate, a history of confectionery in Yorkshire and various aspects of classical literature and Roman history.