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Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great's Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization) Paperback – Illustrated, November 1, 2012

by Robin Waterfield (Author)

179 ratings

Part of: Ancient Warfare and Civilization (11 books)

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Alexander the Great conquered an enormous empire--stretching from Greece to the Indian subcontinent--and his death triggered forty bloody years of world-changing events. These were years filled with high adventure, intrigue, passion, assassinations, dynastic marriages, treachery, shifting alliances, and mass slaughter on battlefield after battlefield. And while the men fought on the field, the women, such as Alexander's mother Olympias, schemed from their palaces and pavilions.

Dividing the Spoils serves up a fast-paced narrative that captures this turbulent time as it revives the memory of the Successors of Alexander and their great contest for his empire. The Successors, Robin Waterfield shows, were no mere plunderers. Indeed, Alexander left things in great disarray at the time of his death, with no guaranteed succession, no administration in place suitable for such a large realm, and huge untamed areas both bordering and within his empire. It was the Successors--battle-tested companions of Alexander such as Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Seleucus, and Antigonus the One-Eyed--who consolidated Alexander's gains. Their competing ambitions, however, eventually led to the break-up of the empire. To tell their story in full, Waterfield draws upon a wide range of historical materials, providing the first account that makes complete sense of this highly complex period.

Astonishingly, this period of brutal, cynical warfare was also characterized by brilliant cultural achievements, especially in the fields of philosophy, literature, and art. A new world emerged from the dust and haze of battle, and, in addition to chronicling political and military events, Waterfield provides ample discussion of the amazing cultural flowering of the early Hellenistic Age.

Editorial Reviews

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"Gripping." --Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times Book Review

"Well-paced and often dramatic...up-to-date research and thorough documentation...well-placed interludes summarizing Hellenistic developments in social life, literature, art, economics, philosophy and religion." --The Wall Street Journal

"A well-researched book that offers a wealth of information about the period between Alexander the Great and the coming Roman Empire." --HistoryNet

"Mass battlefield slaughter, treachery, assassinations, intrigues--ancient Greek politics as usual? Not quite: for this is the Age of the Wars of the Succession to Alexander the Great, on the cusp between eastern and western civilization and the Greek and Roman worlds, and also an epoch of unusual creativity especially in the fields of philosophy, literature, and the visual arts. Dr. Robin Waterfield's coruscating cultural-political narrative does full and equal justice to all the major dimensions of this extraordinary half-century." --Paul Cartledge, AG Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, Cambridge University, and the author of Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past

"Waterfield efficiently traces the endlessly shifting military and marital alliances among the great successor families. His spare account manages to serve both as a military and as a cultural history of a great age of transition. Recommended for anybody interested in the classical era." --Library Journal

"A superb examination of a critical but often neglected period of ancient history." --Booklist

"Politics, warfare, and culture are brilliantly captured in this fascinating account, fully supported by maps, genealogies, and mini-bios of key players, together with black-and-white plates, bibliography, and index. An essential Who's Who for any student of this remarkable transformational period." --ForeWord

"This history pays careful attention to the broad scholarship extant...is readable and engaging, and introduces well these people highly influential to Hellenistic Greek life. I absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in this time period..." --San Francisco Book Review

"[C]larifies and gives modern relevance to an era often overlooked in the classical historical record." --Army History

About the Author

Robin Waterfield is an independent scholar and translator. In addition to translating numerous Greek classics, he is the author of Why Socrates Died: Dispelling the Myths, Xenophon's Retreat: Greece, Persia, and the End of the Golden Age, and Athens: A History, From Ancient Ideal to Modern City. He lives in the far south of Greece on a small olive farm.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (November 1, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199931526
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199931521
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,157 in Ancient Greek History (Books)

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179 ratings

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Robin Waterfield

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Robin Anthony Herschel Waterfield (born 1952) is a British classical scholar, translator, editor, and writer of children's fiction. Waterfield was born in 1952, and studied Classics at Manchester University, where he achieved a first class degree in 1974. He went on to research ancient Greek philosophy at King's College, Cambridge until 1978, after which he became a lecturer at Newcastle University and then St Andrews University. He later became a copy-editor and later a commissioning editor for Penguin Books. He is now a self-employed writer, living in southern Greece, where he has Greek citizenship.

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Customers find the book readable and well-researched, particularly appreciating its coverage of a seldom-covered period in ancient history. Moreover, the writing style is accessible, with one customer noting it's not bogged down by overly dry language. Additionally, the book contains excellent maps and serves as a good introduction to the subject. However, the narrative quality receives mixed reactions, with some finding it somewhat boring.

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History Readability Information quality Writing style Ease of understanding Map content Narrative quality

33 customers mention "History"25 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical content, describing it as one of the most fascinating periods in ancient history, with one customer noting its helpful timeline.

"...me of the famous Chinese novel The Three Kingdoms in the constant twists of events, momentary alliances, changes of sides, and byzantine reasoning..." Read more

"...places and protagonists - and the relationships between them, are bewildering; the author provides a good set of maps and a list of the dramatis..." Read more

"...The book describes the 40-year period after the death of Alexander the Great and how several of his generals fought to gain control over his empire...." Read more

"...Overall, this is a good book on a little covered, but important time of ancient history...." Read more

30 customers mention "Readability"28 positive2 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and interesting, with one customer noting its clear narrative style.

"...A whole lot of territory covered for such a relatively short book. Great job navigating a deeply complex story." Read more

"...He was a formidable general and his record of conquest is true; but conquest was all it was; he had not created anything like an empire out of it -..." Read more

"...been to revive the memory of the Successors" in a lively and highly readable narrative...." Read more

"This is an interesting book, covering a period in history that is seldom given its due...." Read more

16 customers mention "Information quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and detailed, serving as a good source of information, with one customer noting that secondary sources are well referenced for further study.

"...So, as well as an informative and enjoyable reading experience, this is also a valuable reference book." Read more

"...I found it to be an easy and informative read that was made much easier with the inclusion of the "Cast of Characters" and "Genealogies" in the..." Read more

"...Beyond that the author provides solid information regarding the struggles of the 40 years after Alexanders death...." Read more

"...In his history, Waterfield provides just enough detail to enable the reader to follow along without getting bogged down...." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it well and easily readable, with one customer noting that it is not bogged down by overly dry language.

"...The book is well written and contains several useful maps, a good time line, a cast of characters and several genealogies...." Read more

"I liked this book a lot. The writing style is easy to read. It contains excellent maps to aide the reader in finding the where of the action...." Read more

"...It is a quick read, not bogged down by overly dry language. The story itself is dramatic and the author lets the history speak for itself...." Read more

"...maintaining clarity on what is more or less probable while being easily readable. In my opinion it is a must for ancient history fans." Read more

5 customers mention "Ease of understanding"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand, with one customer noting it's not overly complex and another mentioning it's a good short introduction.

"...I found it to be an easy and informative read that was made much easier with the inclusion of the "Cast of Characters" and "Genealogies" in the..." Read more

"...It is fairly easy to follow the narrative and keep straight who is who...." Read more

"...its not a subject covered more in history.well written ans easy for anyone to understand.the only reason why 4 instead of 5 stars in because I read..." Read more

"...A good short introduction." Read more

5 customers mention "Map content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the maps in the book.

"...and the relationships between them, are bewildering; the author provides a good set of maps and a list of the dramatis personae; reference to these..." Read more

"...The book is well written and contains several useful maps, a good time line, a cast of characters and several genealogies...." Read more

"...The writing style is easy to read. It contains excellent maps to aide the reader in finding the where of the action...." Read more

"...There are several maps and Waterfield provides a description of all of the major players at the end of the book, for reference...." Read more

9 customers mention "Narrative quality"3 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book, with some finding it somewhat boring, while one customer describes it as an intense page turner.

"...that these sections, while containing quality information, distracted from the narrative...." Read more

"...writes, "has been to revive the memory of the Successors" in a lively and highly readable narrative...." Read more

"...There is not much in the way of character sketches, nor dramatic development. Primary sources are scarcer than for Alexander the Great...." Read more

"...is that these wars, and this short time period hold little interest for most of the public, even the historically aware public." Read more

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Fred P.
and you can make a good argument that Alexander was poisoned
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2014
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Basic high school history conveys the idea that Alexander’s lieutenants split the empire into three parts – Egypt, Asia, and Macedon. But the details are truly convoluted and complicated! You need a flow chart to follow the action, and it is commendable that the author provides both a time line for the major events, and a list of characters you can consult as appendices. Reminds me of the famous Chinese novel The Three Kingdoms in the constant twists of events, momentary alliances, changes of sides, and byzantine reasoning that goes into strategies and alliances. You almost expect Antigonus to head em’ off at Tiger Trap Pass. The stage is set by Alexander’s megalomania as he eliminates potential rivals among his major lieutenants. Any plans for succession were either not made or suppressed, and you can make a good argument that Alexander was poisoned. Perdiccas supposedly gets handed the signet ring but he can’t make it stick. So the principles decide on a regency on behalf of Rhoxan’s expected offspring and Alexander’s mentally impaired half brother with another illegitimate son in reserve at the ensuing Babylonian conference. While the empire itself is hardly stable, with the dynamic Chandragupta advancing into Afghanistan and numerous still unconquered enclaves within the former Persian Empire. A short interval of stability after the 320 BC Triparadeisus conference in Syria now that Perdiccas and Craterus are out of the picture. The struggle eventually involves 40 years of warfare ranging across Asia Minor, the Levant, Macedon, Thrace, and Greece until things finally stabilize in 279 BC. The ensuing action is between Antipater in Macedon, Antigonus in Asia Minor, Ptolemy in Egypt, and Eumenes in the east. Along the way there is meddling with the Greek city states using the promise of freedom as an incentive. The story of the Amazon and the Imbecile is an interesting sidelight, plus the fact that their tomb seems to have been discovered at Vergina. All of Alexander’s relatives get bumped off as they are shuttled back and forth – even one murdered by Olympias who is soon done in herself. Many stories of betrayal like Ptolemy killing his too victorious general Polemaeous, and the tragic life of Alexander’s murdered sister Cleopatra. Over-reaching by Demetrius is another great element here. Seleucius comes virtually out of nowhere starting as the satrap of Babylon to eventually control Asia Minor, with his son Antiochus carrying on after his assassination. Antipater’s grandson wins back Macedon from his rivals as well as Pyrrhus against all odds. Lysimachus at first does well from his Thracian base but eventually finds himself squeezed out. With all that, the book follows the pace of cultural change brought with this wave of hellenization – both to the conquered peoples and within the Greek homeland as well. The latter are said to change both politically and artistically from a more communal society to one where individualism is ascendant. A whole lot of territory covered for such a relatively short book. Great job navigating a deeply complex story.

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Max Blackston
A Missing Piece of History
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2011
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This book filled a yawning gap in my knowledge of the period between Alexander's defeat of the Persians in 333 BCE, and the essentially Judea-centric history of the 2nd century BCE's Ptolemies and - more importantly - the Seleucids, and their oppression of the Judean religion which led up to the Maccabean revolt in 167 BCE. Of course one knew the bare outlines; that Alexander had died in 323 having just completed his conquest of India, and that his generals then fought it out to decide who was getting what. I did not even realize that the word Diadokhoi meant successors; I thought it was something to do with there being twelve of them. Somehow or other, I knew, Ptolemy ended up with Egypt, and Seleucus with Syria and Babylonia, - but the rest ? I had heard of the one-eyed Antigonus who seemed to have ruled in Asia Minor, but Greece, Macedon, Cyprus, etc were unknowns until the Romans showed up in the second century BCE.

The second function of this book was to dispel any romantic illusions - good history usually does that - about Alexander, this young king who created the first true world-spanning empire, and then died before he could enjoy it - "those whom the gods love.." etc. He was a formidable general and his record of conquest is true; but conquest was all it was; he had not created anything like an empire out of it - which was why it was so easily torn apart once he was gone (it might have done so any way even if he had lived - which would have somewhat spoiled his story). Alexander - like most of his contemporaries - was hard drinking (which may have contributed to his untimely demise) and, by modern standards, cruel and treacherous. He would think nothing of having a friend or ally killed, if its served his purpose or represented any potential competition to his dominance. He had adopted the Eastern style of absolutism, rather than the more ostensibly collegial Greek/Macedonian style.

Alexander's plans for the future - inso far as they are known to history - involved only more conquest; his goals - and those of his successors - did not encompass the "spread of Greek/Hellenistic culture" around the world. The fact that that happened in the years after his death was an unintended consequence of there being so many Greek and Macedonian soldiers - together with their wives and children - scattered around the world between the Aegean and India. Initially, they were there as part of conquering armies, and to man garrisons; then they stayed and peopled the cities that these garrisons became. These colonialists spoke their own language, imported their own architecture, their gymnasia and theater, etc because they wanted to feel at home away from home. Nothing was intended for the benefit of the locals; however, inevitably over time, there was a trickle-down effect, and the process we know as Hellenization was underway.

This book pauses periodically from its main theme, the 40 years of war that followed Alexander's death, to insert a number of parenthetic commentaries on important societal, religious and cultural trends - such as the spread of Hellenism - that occurred during the period. Not only do they make for a very welcome break from this account of unbridled ambition, treachery and slaughter, but they are highly informative and insightful. For example, I had unquestionably accepted the proposition that it was the Greeks who had introduced the emphasis on individuality into the East, which led to the development of the idea of the imortality of the soul, and caused changes in burial practice among Jews. I learned here that individuality was not a concept of Classical Greece, which emphasized the collegial nature of civic endeavour. It was only - post Alexander - when previously independent city-states became absorbed in kingdoms or empires, and the local citizenry lost control of their own polities, that the emphasis - in art, statuary, drama and in religion - shifted away from the communal to the individual.

As for the main theme itself - the 6 wars that were waged during this period - the author deals with these in a very engaging and direct fashion. The names - of places and protagonists - and the relationships between them, are bewildering; the author provides a good set of maps and a list of the dramatis personae; reference to these while reading is essential, if the reader wants to make any sense of the various twists and turns of the plot. So, as well as an informative and enjoyable reading experience, this is also a valuable reference book.

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Gil
Intrigue and strategy at its historical finest
Reviewed in Germany on December 2, 2018
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For a book that is very well researched and historically accurate, the entertainment value is very high. It strikes one to notice how the diadochi’s personalities had their fates diverge with the death of what kept them together.
Excellent read!

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Nat
Good book on the funeral games following Alexander's death
Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2025
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Book arrived in good condition.

This is a good book for people interested in learning more about the diadochi which sadly(and strangely) has been largely obscure to the general public. It's quite a shame the 40+ year struggle between Alexander's successors has largely been forgotten about but this book does a good job bringing all the sources into a cohesive narrative following Alexander's death being primarily focused on the first and 2nd generations of the diadochi and their intrigues and wars and kingdoms. I hope hollywood shows/movies or more popular fiction is written about Alexander and the diadochi, that entire Hellenistic time period is intriguing.

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Amazon Customer
Unbelievable
Reviewed in Mexico on June 21, 2021
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Much better than game of thrones

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paul tomlinson
well written
Reviewed in Canada on September 25, 2021
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Great book; took a while to find my bearings and will probably have to read it again, but well researched and fascinating.

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B. R. Ferrier.
Gosh, i've fallen asleep again !!1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2014
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An exhaustive well researched book but my god !!, heavy going or what ???

It suffered from a lack of maps ( although there were quite a number), and using place names that died out before the Romans invented the hula hoop.

It is tough going. If you are an academic and this is your subject you will love it.

If like me, you were looking for a bit cheap sex and a chariot race, sick to Up Pompei.

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Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great's Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization) Paperback – Illustrated, November 1, 2012

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5.0 out of 5 stars and you can make a good argument that Alexander was poisoned

4.0 out of 5 stars A Missing Piece of History

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue and strategy at its historical finest

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book on the funeral games following Alexander's death

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable

4.0 out of 5 stars well written

2.0 out of 5 stars Gosh, i've fallen asleep again !!1

and you can make a good argument that Alexander was poisoned

A Missing Piece of History

Intrigue and strategy at its historical finest

Good book on the funeral games following Alexander's death

Unbelievable

well written

Gosh, i've fallen asleep again !!1