Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Read and listen as much as you want
  • Over 950 000 titles
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Try now
image.devices-Singapore 2x

Early Democracy: The History and Legacy of the World’s Democratic Systems from Antiquity to the French Revolution

1 Ratings

4

Duration
2H 37min
Language
English
Format
Category

History

In today’s modern world every political regime, even the most authoritarian or repressive, describes itself as democracy or a Democratic People’s Republic. The concept of rule by the people, on behalf of the people, has come to be accepted as the norm, and very few would overtly espouse the cause of dictatorship, absolute monarchy or oligarchy as the most desirable political system upon which to base the government of any country.

It is also generally accepted that democracy, as a political ideology, began in Greece, specifically in Athens, in the 7th century BCE and reached its zenith in the 5th century under the leadership of Pericles. Dating an exact starting point is impossible, but at the beginning of the 7th century BCE, Solon inaugurated a series of reforms that began the movement away from rule by individuals, or tyrants, and by the end of that century the reforms of Cleisthenes provided the basis of the Athenian democratic system that culminated in the radical institutions introduced by Ephialtes and Pericles in the 5th century. The result was the first, and possibly only, truly participative democratic state.

Of course, not every inhabitant of Athens enjoyed the right to vote. Only full citizens could do that, and they represented approximately 30% of Athens’s male population, numbering between 30,000 and 60,000 during Athens’ Golden Age and declining rapidly throughout the Peoloponnesian War. The remainder was made up of metics and slaves, who vastly outnumbered free citizens and, indeed, almost all other slave populations in Hellas, a fact which the Athenians often conveniently chose to forget when singing the praises of their democracy.

© 2020 Charles River Editors (Audiobook): 9781094265018

Release date

Audiobook: 4 January 2020

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. The Pan-Hellenic Games in Ancient Greece: The History of the Olympics and the Other Major Greek Competitions Charles River Editors
  2. Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization Paul Kriwaczek
  3. Western Democracy: The History and Legacy of Representative Governments in the West from the Ancient World to Today Charles River Editors
  4. A History of the World Andrew Marr
  5. The Byzantine Empire and the Plague: The History and Legacy of the Pandemic that Ravaged the Byzantines in the Early Middle Ages Charles River Editors
  6. The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World Catherine Nixey
  7. The Anatomy of Fascism Robert O. Paxton
  8. 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and Updated Eric H. Cline
  9. Holy Roman Empire: A Captivating Guide to the Holy Roman Empire and Carolingian Dynasty Captivating History
  10. The Empire Must Die: Russia's Revolutionary Collapse, 1900–1917: Russia's Revolutionary Collapse, 1900 - 1917 Mikhail Zygar
  11. Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes, and Empires Tim Mackintosh-Smith
  12. Understanding Iran: Everything You Need to Know, From Persia to the Islamic Republic, From Cyrus to Khamenei William R. Polk
  13. Our Oriental Heritage: A History of Civilization in Egypt and the Near East to the Death of Alexander, and in India, China, and Japan from the Beginning to Our Own Day, with Will Durant
  14. Islam: A Short History Karen Armstrong
  15. Nation, State and Empire: Belonging in a Globalized World Richard J Evans
  16. A History of Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths Karen Armstrong
  17. Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East Michael B. Oren
  18. Ancient Israel: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Israelites, Starting From their Entry into Canaan Until the Jewish Rebellions against the Romans: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Israelites, Starting From their Entry into Canaan Until the Jewish Rebellions against the Romans Captivating History
  19. The Afghan Wars: History in an Hour Rupert Colley
  20. How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain Ruth Goodman
  21. A Little History of Economics Niall Kishtainy
  22. The Decline and Rise of Democracy: A Global History from Antiquity to Today David Stastavage
  23. Society in Crisis: Our Capacity for Adaptation and Reorientation Johan Hakelius
  24. When Asia Was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the "Riches of the East": Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the “Riches of the East” Stewart Gordon
  25. Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction Adam J. Silverstein
  26. Democracy: A Very Short Introduction Bernard Crick
  27. Ibn Khaldun: An Intellectual Biography Robert Irwin
  28. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Yuval Noah Harari
  29. Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism Richard D. Wolff

Features:

  • Over 950 000 titles

  • Kids Mode (child safe environment)

  • Download books for offline access

  • Cancel anytime

Most popular

Unlimited

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$12.98 /month
3 days for free
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Unlimited Bi-yearly

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$69 /6 months
14 days for free
Save 11%
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Unlimited Yearly

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$119 /year
14 days for free
Save 24%
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Family

For those who want to share stories with family and friends.

From S$14.90/month
  • 2-3 accounts

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

2 accounts

S$14.90 /month
Try now