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 36
... example of Atticus85 is proof enough that what Augustus was prohibiting had taken place, even if we cannot certainly name other men thus enfranchised or say whether the procedure was regular, with a fixed tariff, or occasional. More to ...
... example of Atticus85 is proof enough that what Augustus was prohibiting had taken place, even if we cannot certainly name other men thus enfranchised or say whether the procedure was regular, with a fixed tariff, or occasional. More to ...
Page 38
... example, that the immediate motive of those who imposed it after 322 was not to concentrate attention on the hoplites (which was the last thing Antipatros, Kassandros, or Demetrios wanted) but to rid the State of the 'troublesome and ...
... example, that the immediate motive of those who imposed it after 322 was not to concentrate attention on the hoplites (which was the last thing Antipatros, Kassandros, or Demetrios wanted) but to rid the State of the 'troublesome and ...
Page 43
... numerous, those of the men saying he was in the wrong or not; and, whichever were found to be the more numerous, that opinion prevailed.” 17 A few examples may serve. (a) In the Swiss How Did the Athenian Ecclesia Vote? 43.
... numerous, those of the men saying he was in the wrong or not; and, whichever were found to be the more numerous, that opinion prevailed.” 17 A few examples may serve. (a) In the Swiss How Did the Athenian Ecclesia Vote? 43.
Page 44
... example, a proposal is supported by 1000 citizens moderately in favour of the scheme, but vehemently opposed by 800, the “nays” may have it simply by shouting more energetically than the “ayes”. Accepting the principle “one man, one ...
... example, a proposal is supported by 1000 citizens moderately in favour of the scheme, but vehemently opposed by 800, the “nays” may have it simply by shouting more energetically than the “ayes”. Accepting the principle “one man, one ...
Page 45
... example, the Athenians must have voted at least sixty times. If all or most of the cheirotoniai resulted in an exact ... examples of votes taken in large assemblies resembling the Athenian ecclesia: the decisions are always made, in the ...
... example, the Athenians must have voted at least sixty times. If all or most of the cheirotoniai resulted in an exact ... examples of votes taken in large assemblies resembling the Athenian ecclesia: the decisions are always made, in the ...
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