Ancient Greek democracies / Matthew Simonton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Simonton, Matthew, 1983- Author.

Series:

Key themes in ancient history.

Key themes in ancient history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--Greece--History.

Democracy.

Politics and culture--Greece--History.

Politics and culture.

Civilization, Ancient.

Greece--Politics and government--To 146 B.C.

Greece.

Greece--Politics and government--146 B.C.-323 A.D.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 227 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2026.

Summary:

Classical Athenian democracy is rightly famous, but democracy flourished in other parts of the Greek world as well. In this clear and fascinating book, Matthew Simonton traces the emergence, growth, consolidation, and decline of democratic city-states over the millennium down to the fifth century CE. He argues for the widespread and highly participatory nature of democratic constitutions across the Greek world, particularly in the fourth, third, and second centuries BCE. Readers will also learn to appreciate the characteristic ideological, institutional, and material-cultural features of democratic poleis. The evidence marshaled includes literary texts, inscriptions, coins, archaeological remains, and monumental art. The book does not shy away from the fact that ancient Greek democracies both empowered lowerclass men and rested on a series of exclusions (of women, enslaved people, and foreigners). Nevertheless, dēmokratia emerges as a major facet of ancient Greek culture and society.

Contents:

From eunomia to dmokratia, 510-451/0 BCE

A contested existence, 451/0-362 BCE

The heyday of ancient Greek democracies, 362-146 BCE

(D)evolutions of democracy, 146 BCE to Late Antiquity.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 30 Mar 2026).

ISBN:

1-108-95622-X

1-108-95642-4

1-108-95158-9