Athens

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Athens (named after its patron goddess Athena) was the most important city state in Greece, and one of the most important cities in the ancient Mediterranean. It was a major political and economic power, and a center of learning and philosophy in the Hellenic world, even after its defeat by Sparta in 404 BC.

The city is the birthplace of democracy, as well as famous statesmen such as Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles. It was a center of philosophical thought, exemplified by great minds such as Aristotle, Plato, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Socrates. The Academy of Plato was founded in Athens in 385 BC, and the Lyceum of Aristotle in 335 BC. Even under Roman rule, Athens remained an intellectual center that attracted students from across the Roman empire.

Written by Jan van der Crabben, published 28 April 2011.

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  • Socrates and democratic Athens

    Socrates was both a loyal citizen (by his own lights) and a critic of the democratic community’s way of doing things. This led to a crisis in 339 B.C. In order to understand Socrates’ and the Athenian community’s actions (as reported by Plato and Xenophon) it is necessary to understand...

  • Epistemic democracy in classical Athens

    Analysis of democracy in Athens as an “epistemic” (knowledge-based) form of political and social organization. Adapted from Ober, Democracy and Knowledge, chapters 1-4. Jon Elster (ed.), volume on “Collective Wisdom” (to be published in English and French).

  • The instrumental value of others and institutional change: An Athenian case study

    A primary motive for certain Athenian rule changes in the direction of increased legal access and impartiality in the fourth century B.C. was Athenian awareness of the increased instrumental value of foreigners. New Athenian rules were aimed at persuading foreigners to do business in Athens. Foreigners...

  • Firing Athenian black and red figure vases

    A distinctive red and black colour scheme characterises most of the painted pottery of sixth- and fifth-century Athens. The colours result from the skilful exploitation of the high iron content of Athenian clay by an ingenious process of differential firing. The black areas of a black or red-figured...

  • The Battle of Chaeronea

    Chaeronea is the site of the famous Battle of Chaeronea (338 BCE) Phillip II of Macedon’s decisive defeat of the Greek city-states. At Chaeronea in Boeotia (north of Corinth) Phillip and his allies from Thessaly, Epirus, Aetolia, Northern Phocis and Locrian defeated the combined forces of Athens...
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