Table of Contents

1. The symbiosis between democracy and war: the case of ancient Athens David M. Pritchard; Part I. The Impact of Democracy on War: 2. Thucydides on Athens' democratic advantage in the Archidamian War Josiah Ober; 3. Democratizing courage in Classical Athens Ryan K. Balot; Part II. Military Innovations of the Democracy: 4. Cavalry, democracy and military thinking in Classical Athens Iain Spence; 5. Light troops in Classical Athens Matthew Trundle; Part III. The Fifth-Century Drama of War: 6. Affirming Athenian action: Euripides' portrayal of military activity and the limits of tragic instruction Sophie Mills; 7. Ridiculing a popular war: Old Comedy and militarism in Classical Athens David Konstan; Part IV. War in Fourth-Century Speeches: 8. War in the law-court: some Athenian discussions Alastair J. L. Blanshard; 9. Athenian militarism and the recourse to war Peter Hunt; Part V. Soldiers in Privately Purchased Art: 10. Democratic ideology, the events of war and the iconography of Attic funerary sculpture Robin Osborne; 11. The warrior loutrophoroi of fifth-century Athens Patricia Hannah; 12. 'I am Eurymedon': tensions and ambiguities in Athenian war imagery Margaret C. Miller; Part VI. Honouring the War Dead: 13. Commemoration of the war dead in Classical Athens: remembering defeat and victory Polly Low; 14. Aretē and the achievements of the war dead: the logic of praise in the Athenian funeral oration Sumio Yoshitake; 15. Epilogue: does democracy have a violent heart? John Keane.

Promotional Information

Analyses how the democracy of the classical Athenians revolutionized military practices and underwrote their unprecedented commitment to war-making.

About the Author

Dr David M. Pritchard is Senior Lecturer in the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics at the University of Queensland. He has held research fellowships at Macquarie University, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Sydney. In 2013 Dr Pritchard was the Charles Gordon Mackay Lecturer in Greek at the University of Edinburgh. He has authored Sport, Democracy and War in Classical Athens (Cambridge University Press, 2013) and co-edited Sport and Festival in the Ancient Greek World (2003). He is currently finishing a monograph on public spending in democratic Athens.

Reviews

'This fascinating book takes a huge forward step in documenting and analyzing the Athenian experience as a democratic empire. The historians and political scientists in this volume show how democracy made Athens more effective in war fighting, and how the spoils of war supported democratic rule. In so doing they challenge all of us to reconsider key assumptions about whether democracy and hegemony are compatible in the contemporary world.' Bruce Russett, Dean Acheson Professor of International Relations, Yale University

'Death and glory, democratic Athenian-style - in this top-rank collection the enterprising editor has assembled an impressive international team to re-evaluate the reciprocal interactions of warmaking and political decision-making in the world's first functioning democracy, paying special attention to significantly changing practices and attitudes. Present-minded in the best sense, War, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens also treats the Athenians' democracy of the fifth and fourth centuries BC as a test-case for the examination of theses about democracy's impact on war and vice versa that are currently subject to hot debate among political scientists and policymakers. Ancient historians and comparative social scientists alike cannot fail to benefit from this richly illustrated book's many new insights.' Paul Cartledge, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, Cambridge University

'We used to think that democracies were, in their nature, more pacific than other states. Now many claim - on the basis of recent experience - that democracies are by nature more warlike. In this compelling volume scholars of the first distinction pose this question about ancient Athens: and their answers cannot fail to be of interest to students both of the ancient world and of the contemporary.' J. E. Lendon, Professor of History, University of Virginia

'This collection offers an up-to-date survey that offers plenty of interesting observations and some important insights.' Matthew R. Christ, The Classical Review

'[The book] expertly explores the impact of democracy on Athenian foreign policy and her military achievements from a wide variety of perspectives and by using a wide variety of different types of evidence, and since it maintains its overarching aim throughout, unlike many other conference collections, War, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens is not just more than the sum of its parts, it is also an extremely worthy contribution to an utterly fascinating subject.' Jason Crowley, Hermathena

'All of those who believe that Athens can offer a looking glass for democratic reflections owe the editor and every one of his colleagues tremendous gratitude.' Gerald Mara, Polis

'… A well-organized collection of expert studies, on an important theme, which provide much food for thought and stimulus for further work.' P. J. Rhodes, The Journal of Hellenic Studies