Barry Strauss ‘74, the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a winner of the 2025 Bradley Prize. . The award, given by the Bradley Foundation, carries a stipend of $300,000; Strauss will receive the award at a ceremony on May 29 in Washington, D.C.
The Bradley Prize is awarded to individuals “whose extraordinary work exemplifies the Foundation’s mission to restore, strengthen, and protect the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism and honors the ideals of the Western tradition,” the Bradley Foundation said in a statement.
“I’m honored beyond words by this recognition by the Bradley Foundation, which has done so much to advance constitutional liberty and civic education in the roots of American exceptionalism,” Strauss said. “I am honored, too, to join the company of the distinguished men and women who are among the Bradley Prize winners.”
Strauss is a recognized authority on leadership and the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of the greatest political and military leaders of the ancient world – particularly Caesar, Hannibal and Alexander. He is also a military and naval historian whose analyses of the strategies and campaigns of some of history’s great commanders reveal the successful rules of engagement that were true on the battlefield and resonate today in the business world.
“Barry is a historian of profound insight, whose career has opened to new generations the richness and rigor of studying the classical world,” Rick Graber, president of The Bradley Foundation, said in a statement. “Barry’s principled scholarship, defense of free speech in the academy and advancement of informed citizenship through his teaching underscore his contributions to preserving freedom. His work deepens our understanding of Western civilization and strengthens the intellectual foundations of liberty.”
Strauss is currently the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History book series. Prior to his retirement from Cornell, he was chair of the Department of History as well as professor of history and classics. He also served as Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale as well as his bachelor’s from Cornell.
He is the author of 10 books on ancient history, which have been translated into 20 languages. His most recent book, “The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium” (2022), topped Amazon ‘s bestseller list and was named to four “best books of the year” lists.
In August, he will publish his latest book, “Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.”
In addition to hosting the podcast “Antiquitas: Leaders and Legends of the Ancient World,” Strauss has appeared on The History Channel, Netflix, CNN, PBS and The Discovery Channel.
Among his other honors are membership in the American Academy of Sciences & Letters; winning Italy’s Lucio Colletti Journalism Prize for literature; and being named an honorary citizen of Salamis, Greece.
Linda B. Glaser is news and media relations manager for the College of Arts and Sciences
