Athenian DemocracyP. J. Rhodes Edinburgh University Press, 2019 M08 7 - 304 pages Athens' democracy developed during the sixth and fifth centuries and continued into the fourth; Athens' defeat by Macedon in 322 began a series of alternations between democracy and oligarchy. The democracy was inseparably bound up with the ideals of liberty and equality, the rule of law, and the direct government of the people by the people. Liberty meant above all freedom of speech, the right to be heard in the public assembly and the right to speak one's mind in private. Equality meant the equal right of the male citizens (perhaps 60,000 in the fifth century, 30,000 in the fourth) to participate in the government of the state and the administration of the law. Disapproved of as mob rule until the nineteenth century, the institutions of Athenian democracy have become an inspiration for modern democratic politics and political philosophy. P. J. Rhodes's reader focuses on the political institutions, political activity, history, and nature of Athenian democracy and introduces some of the best British, American, German and French scholarship on its origins, theory and practice. Part I is devoted to political institutions: citizenship, the assembly, the law-courts, and capital punishment. Part II explores aspects of political activity: the demagogues and their relationship with the assembly, the manoeuvrings of the politicians, competitive festivals, and the separation of public from private life. Part III looks at three crucial points in the development of the democracy: the reforms of Solon, Cleisthenes and Ephialtes. Part IV considers what it was in Greek life that led to the development of democracy. Some of the authors adopt broad-brush approaches to major questions; others analyse a particular body of evidence in detail. Use is made of archaeology, comparison with other societies, the location of festivals in their civic context, and the need to penetrate behind what the classical Athenians made of their past. |
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Page 2
... says in his poetry that he did not want to be tyrant, attempted a compromise between the advantaged and the disadvantaged: he liberated a class of dependent peasants, but did not go beyond that to confiscate land from the rich; to ...
... says in his poetry that he did not want to be tyrant, attempted a compromise between the advantaged and the disadvantaged: he liberated a class of dependent peasants, but did not go beyond that to confiscate land from the rich; to ...
Page 19
... statement of the obvious to say that throughout the classical period Athenian citizens were not merely a descent group but also an interest group, disposing of privileges which were worth defending. Athenian Citizenship 19.
... statement of the obvious to say that throughout the classical period Athenian citizens were not merely a descent group but also an interest group, disposing of privileges which were worth defending. Athenian Citizenship 19.
Page 20
... says they were given citizenship by Athens, they remained a separate community, brigaded separately and resettled as such in Skione in 420,9. 3 Exceptionally, isoteleis [non-citizens granted equality of obligations with the citizens] had ...
... says they were given citizenship by Athens, they remained a separate community, brigaded separately and resettled as such in Skione in 420,9. 3 Exceptionally, isoteleis [non-citizens granted equality of obligations with the citizens] had ...
Page 23
... say, one's richer relatives): that several speeches22 show us poor families of the populus minutus ['insignificant ... says that 'our father introduced us into the phratries having sworn in accordance with the existing laws that he was ...
... say, one's richer relatives): that several speeches22 show us poor families of the populus minutus ['insignificant ... says that 'our father introduced us into the phratries having sworn in accordance with the existing laws that he was ...
Page 24
... say, on the evidence we have, that a classical phratry is first and foremost a mechanism for buttressing descent and ... says,33 the Athenians were called Ionians and 27 The phraseology is identical elsewhere (see Wyse 501, and add Andoc ...
... say, on the evidence we have, that a classical phratry is first and foremost a mechanism for buttressing descent and ... says,33 the Athenians were called Ionians and 27 The phraseology is identical elsewhere (see Wyse 501, and add Andoc ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
PART II POLITICAL ACTIVITY | 159 |
PART III MOMENTS IN HISTORY | 237 |
PART IV A VIEW OF DEMOCRACY | 325 |
Intellectual Chronology | 349 |
Bibliography | 352 |
Index | 356 |
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Common terms and phrases
activity actual allotment ancient archon argues Aristotle assembly Athenian Athens attempt barley called citizens classical Cleisthenes competition Constitution Council count courts decision deme democracy democratic demos Demosthenes dikasts discussion doubt eisangelia evidence example fact festival fifth century five four fourth century give given Greek hands Hesperia Hundred IG ii2 important individual institutions interest jury kind kleroteria later leaders least less lines majority means officials originally Oxford particular perhaps period person Plut political poor possible practice present probably problem procedure proposal punishment question reason references reforms regard remained Rhodes rooms says seems Solon sources speech suggests taken tickets tribe University vote whole