Why History Matters: Contemporary Lessons from the Ancient World | Barry Strauss

As a Professor of History and Classics and the Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies at Cornell University, Barry Strauss is a recognized authority on leadership and the lessons of the great political and military leaders of the ancient world. He has authored eight books on ancient history, painting a fascinating portrayal of momentous events from assassination of Caesar to the Trojan War. His books have been translated into 14 languages, from French to Korean. His book, The Death of Caesar: The Story of History’s Most Famous Assassination, (Simon & Schuster, March 2015) was hailed as “engrossing, exhaustive yet surprisingly easy to read” by Barron’s.

With host Greg Wool, Barry discusses his approach towards bringing historical figures to life and navigating the balance between providing historical fact and entertainment through his books. Along the way, Barry clears up popular misconceptions in historical events, such as the assassination of Caesar, and provides clarity to lesser-known battles that altered the course of history, such as the Battle of Salamis. Focusing on Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal, Barry highlights leadership qualities that are fascinating in both a historical and contemporary context. He then moves on to discuss the significant roles that women played in shaping ancient history and how they are viewed today. Finally, he discusses the importance of studying history to contextualize modern events and how the academic community can continue to foster interest in the discipline.

As a former director of Cornell’s Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, Professor Strauss is also an expert on military strategy and studied modern engagements from Bosnia to Iraq and from Afghanistan to the streets of Europe. He holds a B.A. (1974) from Cornell University and a M.A. and Ph.D. (1979) from Yale University.

Links from the Episode at presentvaluepodcast.com
Website: Barry Strauss
Faculty Page: Barry Strauss
LinkedIn: Barry Strauss