Watch Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages

Name: Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages
Released: 2018-05-25
Cast: Robert Garland

2018
1 Season

Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages is a compelling and informative series presented by Robert Garland and featured in The Great Courses Signature Collection. Garland, who is a Professor of Classics at Colgate University in New York, takes viewers on a journey through the history of Athenian democracy, exploring the origins, development, and eventual decline of this revolutionary political system.

Over the course of twenty-four lectures, Garland brings to life the struggles and triumphs of the Athenian people as they strove to create a government that truly represented the will of the people. He begins by delving into the social and economic conditions of Ancient Athens, explaining how the emergence of democracy was a direct response to the needs and desires of the lower classes in Athenian society. From there, he explores the various stages of Athenian democracy, from its earliest roots in the 6th century BCE to the reforms of the statesman Pericles in the 5th century BCE.

Garland is a master storyteller, and his engaging and accessible style makes this series accessible to a wide audience. He draws on a wealth of primary sources and archaeological evidence to bring the people and events of Ancient Athens to life, painting a vivid picture of a society in the grip of political and social upheaval. Along the way, he introduces viewers to some of the key figures of Athenian democracy, such as the philosopher Socrates, the statesman Solon, and the military leader Pericles.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this series is the way in which Garland shows how Athenian democracy was truly an experiment for the ages. He explains how the Athenians were constantly grappling with the challenges of maintaining a democratic system in the face of external threats, such as war and invasion, as well as internal divisions based on class, ethnicity, and gender. They were also constantly refining and adapting their system, creating new institutions such as the citizen courts and the Council of Five Hundred, in order to ensure that the democracy remained responsive to the needs of the people.

Throughout the series, Garland tackles some of the most pressing questions about Athenian democracy. For example, he explores the role of slavery in an ostensibly egalitarian system, explains how women were excluded from the political process, and considers the ways in which Athenian democracy might be relevant to contemporary society. He also examines the factors that ultimately led to the decline of Athenian democracy, such as the rise of Macedon and the erosion of civic responsibilities.

Overall, Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages is a fascinating and thought-provoking series that will appeal to anyone with an interest in history, political science, or philosophy. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Ancient Athens and a compelling reminder of the importance of democracy in the modern world.

Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between May 25, 2018 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

24. Democracy Today, Democracy Tomorrow

May 25, 2018

There are obvious correlations and differences between Athenian democracy and democracy today; and, now it's time to draw conclusions based on the comparison. In this final episode, consider what the Athenians might have made of our democracy today and what democracy really means in the modern world, and whether it is as secure as we sometimes assume.

23. Post-Athenian Democracies

May 25, 2018

Greece is often described as the "cradle of democracy," but democracy was not a continuing entity from its beginnings in the 7th century B.C. through today. In this episode, Professor Garland traces the story of democracy from the end of 4th-century Athens (when democracy took a nosedive) through modern times.

22. Ancient Critics of Athenian Democracy

May 25, 2018

What did the Athenians themselves think about their system of government? Professor Garland shows that not everyone in the city-state was thrilled by the democracy. Despite moments of friction, such as during the Peloponnesian War, Athenian democracy was largely a success.

21. Law and Order under Democracy

May 25, 2018

Athenian democracy had both a political and a legal component. In this episode, take a deep dive into the city-state's legal system, from the central role of the courts to the procedures of a trial. The process of arraignment, jury selection, and sentencing will sound familiar. Reflect on the strengths and flaws of the legal system.

20. The Democratic Theater

May 25, 2018

Take a break from the historical narrative to explore the world of the theater, one of Athens's greatest cultural achievements. As you will learn in your study of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and others, there is a strong connection between politics and the theater.

19. Suspension, Restoration, and Termination

May 25, 2018

Following the disastrous Sicilian campaign, Athenian democracy appeared to be on the ropes. But in 413 B.C., the demos appointed a board of 10 elderly "probouloi," or advisors, to deal with the immediate crisis. Find out how these leaders steadied the ship and and how the democractic experiment carried on into the next century.

18. Athenian Defeat in Sicily

May 25, 2018

The expedition to Sicily is one of the biggest military blunders in ancient history. Much like the ill-advised American war in Vietnam, the Sicilian expedition was an avoidable disaster. See how the combination of poor decisions from political leaders and a bitterly divided military leadership led to a humiliating failure.

17. The Brutality of Athenian Democracy

January 1, 1970

Athenian democracy did not always respond well under pressure. In this episode, Professor Garland walks you through three case studies - the massacre of a neutral people, the illegal trial and execution of Athenian generals en bloc, and the trial and execution of Socrates - that demonstrate the capacity of Athenian democracy for genuine brutality.

16. Political Leadership in Athens

May 25, 2018

You've already seen how public speakers dominated the assemblies. Now take a look at the politicians whose voices rose above the fray. While every citizen theoretically had a voice in the democracy, a few politicians and demagogues tended to dominate. Learn about Cleon, Alcibiades, and others.

15. The Culture of Athenian Democracy

May 25, 2018

Beyond democracy, the cultural achievements of ancient Athens are some of the most impressive in all of world history. Survey some of the city's great buildings and sculptures - including the Propylaea and the frieze of the Parthenon - to find out what made Athenian culture so distinctive, and where it came up short.

14. Democracy under Duress

May 25, 2018

Revisit the march through Athenian history with a look at one of the city's less admirable periods. Beginning with the outbreak of a terrible plague around 431 B.C. and continuing through the civil war on Corcyra (modern Corfu), the doom and gloom of this period were caused less by the nature of democracy and rather more by plain old human nature, as the historian Thucydides observed.

13. Pericles's Funeral Speech

May 25, 2018

The funeral procession was the most important ceremony performed in ancient Athens. Pericles's funeral speech, delivered over the war dead, as captured by Thucydides, is one of the most striking pieces of prose to survive from that time. Witness the structure of the funeral ceremony and unpack Pericles's great speech.

12. Public Speaking in Athens

May 25, 2018

A successful public life depends on public speaking, so it should come as no surprise that the Athenians prided themselves on rhetoric. After learning a little about the art of public speaking, you will witness several of the great political debates of the era, including one politician's contention that his opponents were delivering, essentially, "fake news."

11. The Age of Pericles

May 25, 2018

Pericles is one of the most fascinating political leaders of all time. Here, survey his life and witness some of the great moments in his rule. Professor Garland takes you beyond the dates and battles to show you what Pericles the man might have been in life, including scandals in his domestic life.

10. "The Empire You Hold Is a Tyranny"

May 25, 2018

The Delian Confederacy - originally an association of free city-states that Athens turned into an instrument of imperial ambitions - played a major role in 5th-century Greece. Follow the confederacy from the Persian Wars to the Peloponnesian War. Find out what each of the allies got out of the confederacy, and how Athens made sure it benefited the most.

9. The Citizens of Athens

May 25, 2018

Who were the citizens of Athens? As you'll reflect on in this episode, perhaps as low as one-fifth of Athenian residents were citizens. Women, slaves, and resident aliens were excluded. Learn about the responsibilities of citizens, and the lives of those who could not participate.

8. The Council and the Magistrates

May 25, 2018

Shift your attention to another important arm of the government. Explore the roles of the Council of 500 officials chosen by lot, required to serve for a whole year, as well as the respected (if not particularly powerful) magistrates known as archons. Then, review the relatively limited systems of taxation and welfare in ancient Athens.

7. The Popular Assembly

May 25, 2018

Go inside one of the hallmark institutions of Athenian democracy. Open to freeborn citizens older than age 20, the popular assembly met 10 times a year and was for many citizens who lived some distance from Athens a three-day affair - one reason Athenian citizenship might seem like a full-time job. Listen to the some of the debates and arguments of a typical assembly meeting.

6. Democracy at War

May 25, 2018

The ancient Greeks were a bellicose people, and they considered military service a privilege. Innovations such as hoplite warfare and the construction of their navy, manned by the poorest citizens, went hand in hand with the development of democracy in Athens, particularly since the Athenian military had no permanent commander in chief.

5. The Nearly Bloodless Coup

May 25, 2018

According to Professor Garland, the conclusion of the Greco-Persian Wars in the early 5th century B.C. was Athens' finest hour. Then came the truly astonishing reforms of 462 B.C., when Ephialtes and Pericles attacked the aristocratic Areopagus and instituted radical democracy - direct, participatory rule for all Athenian citizens, an unprecedented experiment.

4. Cleisthenes the Innovator

May 25, 2018

Fifty years after Solon's reforms, a tyrant named Peisistratus seized power. The overthrow of his tyranny, and the ensuing skirmish among different aristocratic groups, led to the rise of Cleisthenes, a truly innovative leader. Find out how he undermined the old aristocratic system and carried the democratic experiment forward.

3. Solon: The Father of Democracy?

May 25, 2018

To understand Athenian democracy, we first must understand Athens as a polis, or city-state, within the broader context of ancient Greece. Review the territory of Attica and get the lay of the land for Athenian government in the 6th and 7th centuries B.C. Then, witness the great crisis that led to Solon's reforms and set Athenian democracy on its course.

2. The Origins of Greek Democracy

May 25, 2018

Among Greek city-states, Athens was not alone in having a form of democratic rule. As you'll discover in this episode, Greek governments ran on a sliding scale from oligarchy and democracy to kingship and tyranny. Delve into Homer's epics to examine several early examples of democratic assembly.

1. Why Athenian Democracy Matters

May 25, 2018

Begin the course by considering the nature of Athenian democracy and how it functioned in practice. After surveying some of its key tenets, Professor Garland compares the Athenian governmental system to western democracy today, showing both the similarities and crucial differences. #History

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Where to Watch Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages

Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages on demand at Amazon Prime and Amazon.