The First Democracies: Early popular government outside Athens

by Eric W. Robinson

Athens is often considered to have been the birth place of democracy but there were many democracies in Greece during the Archaic and Classical periods and this is a study of the other democratic states. Robinson begins by discussing ancient and modern definitions of democracy, he then examines Greek terminology, investigates the evidence for other early democratic states and draws conclusions about its emergence.

144 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

I am a historian of ancient Greece and Rome. I teach courses on a variety of subjects in both Greek and Roman history, from introductory surveys to undergraduate and graduate-level seminars. My research has focused on questions of ancient Greek politics, warfare, and religion, but most especially on Greek democracy. My first book, entitled The First Democracies, explores the emergence of the ancient form of popular government in numerous city-states in the Archaic Age of Greek history (800-480 BC). My second monograph, Democracy Beyond Athens, describes democracy’s expansion and character in the Classical Age (480-323 BC), and was published in 2011 by Cambridge University Press. Connections between ancient and modern forms of democracy, war, and imperialism have been an interest of mine as well, to which I have devoted a few articles. My current research project explores the consequences of Sparta’s unique military reputation in Classical Greece. I am also writing the ancient and early medieval portions of a major new Western Civilization textbook.

Reviews

[Connor Pound · Rating 3 out of 5]

The First Democracies is a useful resource for those interested in either politics or Ancient Greek culture but a trying read for those without a strong interest in the extensive interrogation of contemporary evidence. Thankfully, the author’s clear and common style of writing does much to free it from my instincts to call it a purely reference book.

Evidence really is the key to this book. While that is great from an academic perspective, it damages the book’s flow in some sections. Although I really enjoy when primary evidence is engaged with, when analyses become multi-paged my enthusiasm begins to wane. If you have an academic or are genuinely interested in the evidence, as opposed to the conclusions they imply, I doubt you will feel the same, but for most that probably isn’t the case. The many smaller examinations of epigraphy and literature are not nearly as trying though, and the above complaint only nearly made me put the book down.

The author’s approach really shines when it comes to impartially balancing historic literature, current academic perspectives and reading the zeitgeist of the era. He is not overly-cynical of any perspective – though academia is probably dismissed the most due to its conventional attachment to Athens. Considering as many perspectives as possible was especially helpful in helping me find my feet (though I must admit I didn’t appreciate certain quotations being only in their mother tongue – German, French etc).

I read this book after reading the author’s later book Democracy Beyond Athens, which is a look at popular government in the Classical period, and I urge anyone who enjoyed this book to continue onto it. I would consider it a superior book in every regard.