This work considers the development and operation of Athens as a democracy to the end of the 5th century BC. It looks at how Athenian democracy could be regarded as the forerunner to modern democracy and provokes thought on many connected issues.

The 5th century BC witnessed not only the emergence of one of the first democracies but also the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars. John Thorley provides a concise analysis of the development and operation of Athenian democracy against this backdrop. Taking into account both primary source material and the work of modern historians, "Athenian Democracy" examines: - The Prelude to democracy - How the democatic system emerged - How this system worked in practice - The efficiency of this system of government - The success of Athenian democracy Including a useful Chronology and Bibliography, this second edition has been updated to take into account recent research.

List of illustrations Preface Chronology 1 Introduction 2 Prelude to democracy Athens before Solon Solon's reforms The tyranny of Peisistratos and Hippias 3 The democratic system: Kleisthenes' reforms The new tribes The Council of 500 (the Boule) The Assembly (Ekklesia) The law courts (Dikasteria) The generals (strategoi) The magistracies Submission of accounts (euthynai) The arkhons and the Council of the Areopagos Ostracism Cleruchies and colonies State finance The demes Why did Kleisthenes do it? 4 The democratic system: later reforms The arkhons and the Areopagos The graphe paranomon Introduction of 'deme-judges' Payment for dikasts, magistrates and members of the Boule Citizenship Legislation 5 The system in practice The Athenian Empire Pericles Aristophanes and the comedians 'The Old Oligarch' 6 An overview A sense of involvement A sense of unified purpose Efficiency Appendix 1: Kleisthenic tribes, trittyes, demes and Council members Appendix 2: Ostracisms Bibliography