Philosophy, art, democracy, language, even computers—the glories of Greek civilization have shaped our world even more profoundly than we realize. Alexander the Great's fame has rolled down the centuries, but the golden Hellenistic Age that followed is largely forgotten. "Byzantine" conjures decadence and deadly intrigue, yet the thousand-year empire that saved Europe twice from invasion was, in fact, Greek. Bring three millennia into focus, this brisk illustrated history spans from the nation's era of classical might to modern rebirth.