Greek Democracy

Experience the Greek Pantheon as never before and discover how ancient Greek mythology forged the bedrock of Western Civilization, even if you're a newcomer to the world of Olympus. The enigma of Greek mythology has fascinated and puzzled historians, philosophers, literary geniuses, and inquisitive minds alike. Are you one of those minds? Do you wonder at the magnificent tales of Zeus, Hades, Athena, and the menagerie of gods that populated the ancient world?

Ancient Greece first coined the concept of democracy, yet almost every major ancient Greek thinker - from Plato and Aristotle onward - was ambivalent toward or even hostile to democracy in any form. The explanation for this is quite simple: The elite perceived majority power as tantamount to a dictatorship of the proletariat. In ancient Greece, there can be traced not only the rudiments of modern democratic society but the entire Western tradition of antidemocratic thought.

A GuardianBest Book of 2022 * “Clever and surprising.” —BuzzFeed * “Brilliantly funny.” —San Francisco Chronicle * “Ingenious.”—The Millions * “Powerful.” —Harper’s Bazaar A captivating debut novel about a classics professor immersed in research for a new book on a...

Read this for free with your Kindle Unlimited Membership Greece is a colorful country and has always been the target of many tourists looking to have a relaxing time. However, what many people do not seem to know is that Greece also packs a rich history – all lying beneath the beautiful landscapes and beaches. Its history starts thousands of years before the Christian calendar was used – and each moment represents a cultural artifact that enriched more than a single country. Greece went through many wars – big and small. Some were fought because certain conquerors had their eyes on ...

From the leading scholars behind The Greek Plays, a collection of the best translations of the foremost Greek historians, presenting a sweeping history of ancient Greece as recorded by its first chroniclers “Just the thing to remind us that human history, though lamentably a work in progress...

A rollicking, enlightening examination of humanity’s changing relationship to creativity, written from the perspectives of the Greek Muses. The thing that sets humans apart from other animals is our ability to create, to imagine how one thing could become something else. For millennia, art and...

From classicist James Romm comes a “striking…fascinating” (Booklist) deep dive into the last decades of ancient Greek freedom leading up to Alexander the Great’s destruction of Thebes—and the saga of the greatest military corps of the time, the Theban Sacred Band, a unit composed of...

#1 New York Times Bestseller The eight-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, radio host, and Fox News star Mark R. Levin delivers a profound analysis of the philosophy and structure of powerand the critical impact of liberty on our collective future. Throughout history, from ancient...

In just eighty years, one small city invented democracy, philosophy, theater, and history — then tore itself apart in a catastrophic war. Between 480 and 399 BCE, Athens accomplished something no civilization has matched before or since. A city of perhaps 250,000 people — smaller than modern Boise — produced Pericles, Socrates, Sophocles, Euripides, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Aristophanes. They built the Parthenon. They invented democratic self-governance. They created the philosophical tradition that underpins Western thought. And then they launched a ruinous war that destroyed ...

The tragic story of ancient Greece's last democratic leader and his doomed fight to save Athens from Macedonian domination In the spring of 340 BCE, news arrived that Philip of Macedon had seized a town in central Greece, a base from which he could march on Athens. In the fierce debates about...

A Non-Fiction Historical Book set in Ancient Athens during the 4th century B.C. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and rich history of ancient Athens, where philosophy, theater, and democracy were born. This meticulously researched book takes you on a journey through the city's iconic landmarks, bustling markets, and influential institutions, revealing the intricate web of politics, economy, art, and daily life that defined this fascinating civilization. Explore the intricacies of Athenian society, from the aristocratic elite to the common citizens, as they navigated the complexities ...

Written in the 4th century BC as a series of lectures at the original Lyceum, this text is not a dry collection of laws. It is a rigorous, unsparing analysis of power. Aristotle asks the questions that still haunt us today: What is a citizen? Why do revolutions happen? Is democracy the best form of government, or a dangerous mob rule? How do we stop a tyrant? He argues that the state does not exist merely to provide security or economic growth, but for the sake of the "good life"—to allow human beings to flourish. From his defense of the middle class as the stabilizer of society to his ...

Brought to you by Penguin. In a hyper-competitive world obsessed with rankings, super-wealth and greatness, how can we live up to democratic ideals of equality? Erica Benner has spent a lifetime thinking about these questions from different angles in different countries - from post-war Japan...

Step into the epic ancient history of a resource-poor settlement that birthed global democracy and urban culture. Perfect for an immersive daily commute, this dramatic chronicle transforms scattered prehistoric villages into a legendary cultural powerhouse. Experience the relentless rise and...

FORGET THE PRISTINE WHITE MARBLE AND THE QUIET, DUSTY MUSEUMS. The true story of Ancient Greece is forged in blood, brilliant innovation, and devastating hubris. It is an unvarnished, sweeping epic of how a fractured, squabbling collection of isolated city-states managed to invent science, theater, history, and philosophy while fighting apocalyptic wars. ANCIENT GREECE Summarized bypasses the dry political timelines to deliver a gripping, holistic overview of the Mediterranean's most rugged crucible. Designed as a "treasure trove for the inquisitive mind," this book perfectly balances the ...

Explore ancient history and mythology to witness the fierce evolution of Western philosophy and democracy. Whether you are maximizing your daily commute or seeking a deep learning experience, this captivating narrative transports you to bustling Athenian markets and smoky Spartan temples...

Experience the epic clash of ancient empires and the birth of democracy in a sweeping narrative of triumph and ruin. Perfect for your daily commute or a focused deep dive, this immersive journey transforms a jumble of dates into a continuous, unforgettable story. Walk the rugged Mediterranean...

Journey through epic ancient history where warring city-states and mythic empires forged the modern world. Perfect for an engaging daily commute, this immersive narrative transports you directly into the bustling assemblies and blood-soaked battlefields of the Mediterranean. Experience the...

Witness the epic clash of ancient history and political drama, evolving from mythic gods to the birthplace of democracy. Perfect for your daily commute or a rapid learning session, this fast-paced narrative condenses millennia of triumphs, betrayals, and philosophical breakthroughs into an...

Tyranny in ancient Greece was not a phenomenon limited to any particular period. Tyrants could be found in power throughout Greece, ruling poleis from the 7th century BC right through to the 2nd century BC, when Roman domination effectively put an end to this form of government throughout the Hellenistic world. That said, the heyday of tyranny was undoubtedly the 7th and 6th centuries BC, and it is in this period, known as the Age of Tyrants, that large numbers of tyrannies arose, particularly in the Peloponnese.