Athenian Democracy at War

Studies all four branches of the Athenian armed forces to show how they helped make democratic Athens a superpower.

David M. Pritchard (Author)

9781108435949, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 March 2020

312 pages, 17 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.46 kg

'… throws a good deal of fresh light on the military aspects of Athenian democracy, and reminds us that historically - despite the claims of some pundits - democracies very often have made war, even against each other, and can be imperialistic.' A. A. Nofi

Classical Athens perfected direct democracy. The plays of this ancient Greek state are still staged today. These achievements are rightly revered. Less well known is the other side of this success story. Democratic Athens completely transformed warfare and became a superpower. The Athenian armed forces were unmatched in size and professionalism. This book explores the major reasons behind this military success. It shows how democracy helped the Athenians to be better soldiers. For the first time David M. Pritchard studies, together, all four branches of the armed forces. He focuses on the background of those who fought Athens' wars and on what they thought about doing so. His book reveals the common practices that Athens used right across the armed forces and shows how Athens' pro-war culture had a big impact on civilian life. The book puts the study of Athenian democracy at war on an entirely new footing.

1. Athenian democracy at war
2. The armed forces
3. Naval matters in old comedy
4. Costing festivals and wars
5. The cost of the Peloponnesian War
6. Public finance and war in Ancient Greece
7. Sport and war
8. War and Panhellenic sporting victory.

Subject Areas: Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Military history [HBW], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]