Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy & the Birth of Democracy

A rousing history of the world's first dominant navy and the towering empire it builtTHE ATHENIAN NAVY was one of the finest fighting forces in the history of the world. It engineered 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. With Lords of the Sea, renowned archaeologist John R. Hale presents, for the first time, the definitive history of the epic battles, the fearsome ships, and the men—from extraordinary leaders to seductive rogues—that established Athens's supremacy. With a scholar's insight and a storyteller's flair, Hale takes us on an unforgettable voyage with these heroes, their turbulent careers, and far-flung expeditions, bringing back to light a forgotten maritime empire and its majestic legacy.JOHN R. HALE, currently the director of liberal studies at the University of Louisville, is an archaeologist who has conducted extensive underwater expeditions for ancient warships. He has been profiled by NPR and The New York Times, and has written for Scientific American, among other publications. He lives in New Albany, Indiana.“Hale's simple but vigorous sentences prick up your ears from the first page.”—Dwight Garner, The New York Times“You'd have to be half asleep not to become hooked by the first few paragraphs.”—Jean Dubail, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)“I have never felt so much that I was in ancient Athens as when I was reading this book.”—Donald Kagan, author of The Peloponnesian War