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.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
