The Birth of Politics : Eight Greek and Roman Political Ideas and Why They Matter / Melissa Lane.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lane, Melissa, author.

Standardized Title:

Greek and Roman political ideas

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science.

Political science--Rome--History.

Political science--Greece--History.

Rome (Empire).

Greece.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (397 p.)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2015]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In The Birth of Politics, Melissa Lane introduces the reader to the foundations of Western political thought, from the Greeks, who invented democracy, to the Romans, who created a republic and then transformed it into an empire. Tracing the origins of our political concepts from Socrates to Plutarch to Cicero, Lane reminds us that the birth of politics was a story as much of individuals as ideas. Scouring the speeches of lawyers alongside the speculations of philosophers, and the reflections of ex-slaves next to the popular comedies and tragedies of the Greek and Roman stages, this book brings ancient ideas to life in unexpected ways.Lane shows how the Greeks and Romans defined politics with distinctive concepts, vocabulary, and practices-all of which continue to influence politics and political aspirations around the world today. She focuses on eight political ideas from the Greco-Roman world that are especially influential today: justice, virtue, constitution, democracy, citizenship, cosmopolitanism, republic, and sovereignty. Lane also describes how the ancient formulations of these ideas often challenge widely held modern assumptions-for example, that it is possible to have political equality despite great economic inequality, or that political regimes can be indifferent to the moral character of their citizens.A stimulating introduction to the origins of our political ideas and ideals, The Birth of Politics demonstrates how much we still have to learn from the political genius of the Greeks and Romans.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Figures

Maps

INTRODUCTION. Possibilities of Power and Purpose

CHAPTER 1. Justice

CHAPTER 2. Constitution

CHAPTER 3. Democracy

CHAPTER 4. Virtue

CHAPTER 5. Citizenship

CHAPTER 6. Cosmopolitanism

CHAPTER 7. Republic

CHAPTER 8. Sovereignty

CONCLUSION. Futures of Greek and Roman Pasts

Acknowledgements

Glossary

Athens Map Key

Brief Biographies of Key Persons, Events and Places

Reference List and Abbreviations

Notes

Index

Notes:

"First published in the United Kingdom as: Greek and Roman political ideas : a Pelican introduction, by the Penguin Group, Penguin Books ... London"--T.p. verso.

Pilot project,eBook available to selected US libraries only

Includes bibliographical references (pages 341-355) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

ISBN:

9781400865543

1400865549

OCLC:

1132229656