The Greek City States
The Greek City States
Political activity and political thinking began in the cities and other states of ancient Greece, and terms such as tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy and politics itself are Greek words for concepts first discussed in Greece. Rhodes presents in translation a selection of texts illustrating the formal mechanisms and informal workings of the Greek states in all their variety. From the states described by Homer out of which the classical Greeks believed their states had developed, through the archaic period which saw the rise and fall of tyrants and the gradual broadening of citizen bodies, to the classical period of the fifth and fourth centuries, Rhodes also looks beyond that to the Hellenistic and Roman periods in which the Greeks tried to preserve their way of life in a world of great powers. For this second edition the book has been thoroughly revised and three new chapters added.
- Provides detailed coverage of Athens and Sparta, the best documented states, but also includes material on many other states in mainland Greece and outside
- Extends in time from Homer to the Roman Empire
- Compiled by one of the leading experts in the subject who has extensive experience teaching the subject
Reviews & endorsements
' … new life to a well respected study and will be appreciated in the expanding field of classical history.' Contemporary Review
'… an invaluable tool for quick reference for A Level and undergraduate ancient historians and others with an interest in identifying the political distinctions between the Greek states …' Journal of Classics Teaching
'… an excellent resource for the Greek history instructor. Indeed, it is superior in content, form and design to … comparable sourcebooks … It is a welcome addition to any class concerning Greek social history of the Archaic and Classical periods.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Product details
April 2007Paperback
9780521615563
356 pages
229 × 152 × 20 mm
0.574kg
2 maps
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. The Homeric state
- 2. The archaic state
- 3. Economic and political development: tyranny and after
- 4. Sparta
- 5. Athens
- 6. Women and children
- 7. Economic life
- 8. Religion
- 9. Other cities
- 10. Beyond the single city
- 11. The Hellenistic and Roman periods.
