The Greek City States: A Source Book

Political activity and political thinking began in the cities and other states of ancient Greece, and terms such as tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy and politics itself are Greek words for concepts first discussed in Greece. Rhodes presents in translation a selection of texts illustrating the formal mechanisms and informal workings of the Greek states in all their variety. From the states described by Homer out of which the classical Greeks believed their states had developed, through the archaic period which saw the rise and fall of tyrants and the gradual broadening of citizen bodies, to the classical period of the fifth and fourth centuries, Rhodes also looks beyond that to the Hellenistic and Roman periods in which the Greeks tried to preserve their way of life in a world of great powers. For this second edition the book has been thoroughly revised and three new chapters added.

' … new life to a well respected study and will be appreciated in the expanding field of classical history.' Contemporary Review

'… an invaluable tool for quick reference for A Level and undergraduate ancient historians and others with an interest in identifying the political distinctions between the Greek states …' Journal of Classics Teaching

'… an excellent resource for the Greek history instructor. Indeed, it is superior in content, form and design to … comparable sourcebooks … It is a welcome addition to any class concerning Greek social history of the Archaic and Classical periods.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review