The Greek Discovery of Politics (Hardcover)

Why the Greeks? How did it happen that these people-out of all Mediterranean societies-developed democratic systems of government? The outstanding German historian of the ancient world, Christian Meier, reconstructs the process of political thinking in Greek culture that led to democracy. He demonstrates that the civic identity of the Athenians was a direct precondition for the practical reality of this form of government. Meier shows how the structure of Greek communal life gave individuals a civic role and discusses a crucial reform that institutionalized the idea of equality before the law. In Greek drama-specifically Aeschylus' Oresteia-he finds reflections of the ascendancy of civil law and of a politicizing of life in the city-state. He examines the role of the leader as well as citizen participation in Athenian democracy and describes an ancient equivalent of the idea of social progress. He also contrasts the fifth-century Greek political world with today's world, drawing revealing comparisons. The Greek Discovery of Politics is important reading for ancient historians, classicists, political scientists, and anyone interested in the history of political thought or in the culture of ancient Greece.

General

Imprint:	Harvard University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	August 1990
First published:	August 1990
Authors:	Christian Meier
Translators:	David McLintock
Dimensions:	235 x 156 x 28mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	352
ISBN-13:	978-0-674-36232-1
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political science & theory Books > Humanities > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > History > European history > General Books > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE
LSN:	0-674-36232-2
Barcode:	9780674362321

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