Ancient Greek Democracy - Paperback

by Eric W. Robinson (Editor)

This book invites readers to join in a fresh and extensive investigation of one of Ancient Greece's greatest inventions: democratic government.

• Provides an accessible, up-to-date survey of vital issues in Greek democracy.
• Covers democracy's origins, growth and essential nature.
• Raises questions of continuing interest.
• Combines ancient texts in translation and recent scholarly articles.
• Invites the reader into a process of historical investigation.
• Contains maps, a glossary and an index.

Back Jacket

Democracy is one of the greatest inventions of the ancient Greeks. This book invites readers to investigate the phenomenon of ancient Greek democracy for themselves, from its earliest roots in the archaic period to its appearance and development in Athens.

The book is comprised of six chapters, presenting questions of continuing interest and controversy. Each one encourages readers to engage with ancient texts in translation and to see how contemporary classical scholars have gained insights from them. Each can be used as a self-contained unit to explore a particular aspect of ancient democratic government. Taken as a whole, the book provides readers with an extensive overview of ancient Greek democracy and the current state of its study. For ease of use, the book contains maps, a glossary, and an index.

Author Biography

Eric W. Robinson is Associate Professor of History and the Classics at Harvard University, where he has received the Roslyn Abramson Award for excellence in teaching. He is the author of The First Democracies: Early Popular Government Outside Athens (1997). He has also co-edited with Vanessa Gorman Oikistes: Studies in Constitutions, Colonies, and Military Power in the Ancient World Offered in Honor of A. J. Graham (2002).