Lords of the Sea

The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy

By: John R. Hale

Narrated by: David Drummond

The navy created by the people of Athens in ancient Greece was one of the finest fighting forces in the history of the world and the model for all other national navies to come.

The Athenian navy built a civilization, empowered the world's first democracy, and led a band of ordinary citizens on a voyage of discovery that altered the course of history. Its defeat of the Persian fleet at Salamis in 480 B.C.E. launched the Athenian Golden Age and preserved Greek freedom and culture for centuries.

With Lords of the Sea, renowned archaeologist and historian John R. Hale presents, for the first time, the definitive history of the epic battles, the indomitable ships, and the men---from extraordinary leaders to seductive rogues---who established Athens's supremacy. With a scholar's insight and a storyteller's flair, Hale takes us on an illustrated tour of the heroes, their turbulent careers, and their far-flung expeditions and brings back to life a forgotten maritime empire and its majestic legacy.

©2009 John R. Hale (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A well-written, stirring chronicle." ( Booklist)

A history that that transports you there

One of the best books on the history of classic Greece I have listened to as an audio, so much so that I have purchased the paperback. This rounds off all other history lessons about Sparta Alexander the Great and so much more...it is so well written and narrated every time I listened I was there rowing or standing on a hill overlooking the straights of Salamis witnessing the historical battle that marked the birth of the Greek navy

Excellent and well spoken history -

Very well written, holds ones interest. Well narrated, and made for many an enjoyable afternoon in lockdown.

Thorough and Accessible

As the earlier reviewer noted, this is a very good historical narrative.

The subtitle, however, overstates the argument made on behalf of Athenian democracy. The Athenians had already overthrown their tyrant, and it was a representative government that decided to establish the navy. Therefore, the navy did not give birth to democracy.

Hale does, however, make a compelling argument for the navy strengthening and sustaining the democracy and, perhaps even more telling, being feared as such by rival cities and empires. The symbiosis between the Athenian navy and the Athenian democracy was therefore special, and we cannot, and Hale does not, try to draw more universal connections between navies and democracies.

Hale also explains how the navy, and the riches it allowed to flow from both trade and empire, made possible the golden age of Athenian drama, rhetoric, architecture and philosophy.

A must read for any one who likes Greek history.

This book has perhaps become one of my favorite books on the subject of Greek history. It is written in a way that people who do not like history books would like this, he weaves the history in story so that you do not become bored with the dates/places/people.
David Drummond does and excellent job reading

Ramming speed

Obviously you are interested in the history of the period or you would not be looking at the reviews, so this book is for you. It is well researched and presented and a good read, but not a casual one. If you have no familiarity with the area or time I might suggest some primers first. It is a rather quick stroke through the Peloponnesian War and surrounding waters. I think the Athenian navy being the source of democracy is a stretch, but points are well made and the history is fascinating. A map will help.

David Drummond does a masterful narration on a difficult script.

Must have for fans of nautical history!

Amazing story that reveals both the strength of democracy - the wisdom of crowds and the voice of the majority; and democracy's ironic fault - ignoring that fact that crowds are often unenlightened and seek to preserve the status quo when reality demands otherwise. In the context of naval history, this book is fantastic at illustrating the power of the navy at controlling the flow of resources and there by controling empire. Great survey of ancient naval architecture, strategy and tactics. A great companion to the Hermans' "To Rule the Wave; How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World." The Athenian navy shaped the ancient world.

An excellent history in audible form.

I thoroughly enjoyed this telling of Athen’s story. It connected the navy with the governmental structure, the economy and the arts and presented the battles in an understandable way— without much need to search for maps. By covering Athens from the start of it’s navy to the navy’s ignominious end, the wars with Persia and with Sparta are put into a context that reading about the Peloponnesian War alone, for example, fails to do. I greatly appreciated this perspective. The reader did an excellent job of keeping my interest and understanding. It was exciting enough to suggest my wife would enjoy listening to the last few chapters when she had missed the first 2/3rds of the book.

History as a fascinating and gripping story

John Hale has written a history book as a fascinating and gripping story. This is not a history book filed with facts and dates, although they are woven into the story, but a story in which the reader can not wait to get to the next chapter.

Shockingly Awesome

I did not hope to ever find such a gripping narrative of the events enclosed... the account is accurate, the names properly pronounced, and the storytelling impeccable! If it were possible to give 6 stars I would.

A comprehensive and entertaining history!

Well worth the read. This history deserves more attention from scholars and non-scholars alike. Accessible even to those who know little of Greek history.