Decrees of Fourth-Century Athens (403/2–322/1 BC): Volume 2, Political and Cultural Perspectives

Comprehensive collection, translation and analysis of the literary evidence for fourth-century Athenian decrees, offering perspectives on politics and direct democracy.

Peter Liddel (Edited and translated by)

9781107185074, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 March 2020

318 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.8 cm, 0.64 kg

Decree-making is a defining aspect of ancient Greek political activity: it was the means by which city-state communities went about deciding to get things done. This two-volume work provides a new view of the decree as an institution within the framework of fourth-century Athenian democratic political activity. Volume 1 consists of a comprehensive account of the literary evidence for decrees of the fourth-century Athenian assembly. Volume 2 analyses how decrees and decree-making, by offering both an authoritative source for the narrative of the history of the Athenian demos and a legitimate route for political self-promotion, came to play an important role in shaping Athenian democratic politics. Peter Liddel assesses ideas about, and the reality of, the dissemination of knowledge of decrees among both Athenians and non-Athenians and explains how they became significant to the wider image and legacy of the Athenians.

Introduction
1. The social capital of the decree
2. Appropriation and aspiration: decrees in the pursuit of political self-interest
3. The dissemination of fourth-century Athenian decrees: local audiences
4. The audiences of decrees beyond Athenian citizens
5. Literary representations of Athenian decrees
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Oral history [HBTD], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], European history [HBJD], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Literary studies: general [DSB]