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 44
... Demosthenes, but it cannot be adduced as reliable evidence for the conditions of the fourth century b.c. since it refers to institutions of the Roman period. Moreover, it is apparent from a decree preserved on stone that a proposal was ...
... Demosthenes, but it cannot be adduced as reliable evidence for the conditions of the fourth century b.c. since it refers to institutions of the Roman period. Moreover, it is apparent from a decree preserved on stone that a proposal was ...
Page 48
... Demosthenes' statement that Aeschines was elected pylagorus [delegate to the Amphictyonic Council] by three or four votes: προβληθε πυλα ́γορο ουτο κα τριων η τεττα ́ρων χειροτονησα ́ντων αυτν ανερρη ́θη (Dem. 18.149);* but this ...
... Demosthenes' statement that Aeschines was elected pylagorus [delegate to the Amphictyonic Council] by three or four votes: προβληθε πυλα ́γορο ουτο κα τριων η τεττα ́ρων χειροτονησα ́ντων αυτν ανερρη ́θη (Dem. 18.149);* but this ...
Page 53
... Demosthenes, who showed him a proposal drawn up in writing and discussed with him whether he should hand it over to the proedroi. Now Amyntor is of Erchia (Aegeis II) whereas Demosthenes is of Paeania (Pandionis III). It is of course ...
... Demosthenes, who showed him a proposal drawn up in writing and discussed with him whether he should hand it over to the proedroi. Now Amyntor is of Erchia (Aegeis II) whereas Demosthenes is of Paeania (Pandionis III). It is of course ...
Page 54
... Demosthenes and Amyntor took place late in the year 347/6. During the following year (346/5) the Athenians passed a law by which one of the ten phylae was entrusted with the maintenance of order during the meeting (Aeschin. 1.34). The ...
... Demosthenes and Amyntor took place late in the year 347/6. During the following year (346/5) the Athenians passed a law by which one of the ten phylae was entrusted with the maintenance of order during the meeting (Aeschin. 1.34). The ...
Page 55
... Demosthenes' Speech against Leptines,” ClMed 32 (1980) 94 with note 5 (to which I can add IG II2 28.14). 46: After the completion of this article I have attended the Landsgemeinde held in Sarnen, Obwalden (24.4.1977, 26.4.1981) and in ...
... Demosthenes' Speech against Leptines,” ClMed 32 (1980) 94 with note 5 (to which I can add IG II2 28.14). 46: After the completion of this article I have attended the Landsgemeinde held in Sarnen, Obwalden (24.4.1977, 26.4.1981) and in ...
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