The School of History: Athens in the Age of Socrates

Why was the generation in which Socrates lived, the generation in which Herodotus and Thucydides wrote their histories, the generation in which Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles produced plays that defined the standards for classical tragedy and comedy--so prolific? It was a generation of war, in which the nature and existence of Athenian democracy was at stake. Writers, teachers, orators, and playwrights were struggling to make their views of reality known and persuasive in a competitive environment. This book is an examination of that generation.

History, political philosophy, and constitutional law were born in Athens in the space of a single generation--the generation that lived through the Peloponnesian War (431-404 b.c.e.). This remarkable age produced such luminaries as Socrates, Herodotus, Thucydides, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and the sophists, and set the stage for the education and early careers of Plato and Xenophon, among others. The School of History provides the fullest and most detailed intellectual and political history available of Athens during the late fifth century b.c.e., as it examines the background, the context, and the decisive events shaping this society in the throes of war. This expansive, readable narrative ultimately leads to a new understanding of Athenian democratic culture, showing why and how it yielded such extraordinary intellectual productivity.

As both a source and a subject, Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War is the central text around which the narrative and thematic issues of the book revolve. Munn re-evaluates the formation of the Greek historiographical tradition itself as he identifies the conditions that prompted Thucydides to write--specifically the historian's desire to guide the Athenian democracy as it struggled to comprehend its future.

The School of History fully encompasses recent scholarship in history, literature, and archaeology. Munn's impressive mastery of the huge number of sources and publications informs his substantial contributions to our understanding of this democracy transformed by war. Immersing us fully in the intellectual foment of Athenian society, The School of History traces the history of Athens at the peak of its influence, both as a political and military power in its own time and as a source of intellectual inspiration for the centuries to come.

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Work Title The School of History: Athens in the Age of Socrates
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Mark Munn
Keyword
  1. Athens
  2. Democracy
  3. Peloponnesian War
  4. Sophists
  5. Socrates
  6. Alcibiades
  7. Aristophanes
  8. Herodotus
  9. Thucydides
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Book
Publisher
  1. University of California Press
Publication Date 2000
Subject
  1. Ancient Greek history
Language
  1. English
Deposited November 11, 2024

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  • Updated Keyword, Subject, Language, and 4 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Athens, democracy, Peloponnesian War, Sophists, Socrates, Alcibiades, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Thucydides
    Subject
    • Ancient Greek history
    Language
    • English
    Publisher
    • University of California Press
    Description
    • Why was the generation in which Socrates lived, the generation in which Herodotus and Thucydides wrote their histories, the generation in which Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles produced plays that defined the standards for classical tragedy and comedy--so prolific? It was a generation of war, in which the nature and existence of Athenian democracy was at stake. Writers, teachers, orators, and playwrights were struggling to make their views of reality known and persuasive in a competitive environment. This book is an examination of that generation.
    Publication Date
    • 2000
    Publisher's Statement
    • History, political philosophy, and constitutional law were born in Athens in the space of a single generation--the generation that lived through the Peloponnesian War (431-404 b.c.e.). This remarkable age produced such luminaries as Socrates, Herodotus, Thucydides, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and the sophists, and set the stage for the education and early careers of Plato and Xenophon, among others. The School of History provides the fullest and most detailed intellectual and political history available of Athens during the late fifth century b.c.e., as it examines the background, the context, and the decisive events shaping this society in the throes of war. This expansive, readable narrative ultimately leads to a new understanding of Athenian democratic culture, showing why and how it yielded such extraordinary intellectual productivity.
    • As both a source and a subject, Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War is the central text around which the narrative and thematic issues of the book revolve. Munn re-evaluates the formation of the Greek historiographical tradition itself as he identifies the conditions that prompted Thucydides to write--specifically the historian's desire to guide the Athenian democracy as it struggled to comprehend its future.
    • The School of History fully encompasses recent scholarship in history, literature, and archaeology. Munn's impressive mastery of the huge number of sources and publications informs his substantial contributions to our understanding of this democracy transformed by war. Immersing us fully in the intellectual foment of Athenian society, The School of History traces the history of Athens at the peak of its influence, both as a political and military power in its own time and as a source of intellectual inspiration for the centuries to come.
  • Added Creator Mark Munn
  • Added Munn 2000, THE SCHOOL OF HISTORY, ATHENS IN THE AGE OF SOCRATES.pdf
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    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Published
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  • Updated Keyword Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Athens, democracy, Peloponnesian War, Sophists, Socrates, Alcibiades, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Thucydides
    • Athens, Democracy, Peloponnesian War, Sophists, Socrates, Alcibiades, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Thucydides