City of Sokrates - An Introduction to Classical Athens

Routledge, 1998, revised 2nd edition,

The legacy of Greece to us is by no means restricted to the achievements of 5th century Athens, but much of lasting value was achieved in that one century. Roberts presents a reconstruction of Athenian society and considers what light the reconstruction throws on the achievements. He deals with the main features of life in Athens - its institutions and its ideals. He describes the public ceremonies, including the dramatic festivals as well as art and patronage in general. He shows how Athenian self-esteem expressed itself in imperialism. The freedom of the citizens rested on the unfreedom of their slaves and their subject allies. In any assessment of the city the key witness must be Sokrates, who was both a devoted son of Athens and her most radical critic. Only after a ruinous war with Sparta did Athens, the most tolerant community of her time, cease to tolerate this unusually good man and put him to death in his old age....