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Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2025

By
Melina Tamiolaki
Edited by
Melina Tamiolaki
Melina Tamiolaki
Affiliation:
University of Crete
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Summary

After underlining the importance and currency of the topic of leadership, the introduction of the volume sets out to explain the content and merits of the present volume. The chapters of the volume make significant contributions to the following topics: (a) the vocabulary of ancient leadership: the authors study terms and concepts related to leadership in several ancient civilisations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Iran, Israel, China, Greece, Rome, and the Late Roman Empire), providing clarifications as to their different nuances; (b) the diverse forms of leadership: the essays of the volume deal with good and bad leaders, intellectual and political leaders, imperial and local, thus highlighting the complexity of the phenomenon of leadership in antiquity; (c) theoretical reflections on leadership: the analysis proposed enables readers to trace elements of leadership theory in ancient civilisations. The merits of this investigation consist in encouraging a comparative reflection on ancient civilisations and in triggering also a critical reflection on modern leadership issues.

Keywords

ancient leadershipcomparative leadershipvocabulary of leadershipleadership modelsleadership theories

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Leadership in the Ancient World
Concepts, Models, Theories
 , pp. 1 - 13
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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