Politics and the Street in Democratic Athens

This book examines 'informal' politics, such as gossip and political theatrics, and how they related to more 'formal' politics of assembly and courts.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. A tour of the Agora; 2. Athenian social networks; 3. The problem of non-institutional politics; 4. Institutionalizing theatricality in the assembly; 5. 'Publicity stunts' in Athenian politics; 6. Slaves in the Theseion; 7. The Magnesian street; Conclusion.

About the author

Alex Gottesman is Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman Classics at Temple University, Philadelphia.

Summary

The first in-depth study of the classical Athenian public sphere. It examines informal political spaces such as symposia, gymnasia and workshops, and the role of impromptu theatrics and gossip in the formation of public opinion, as well as exploring their relationship to the formal civic institutions of assembly, council and courts.

Product details

• Authors: Alex Gottesman, Alex (Temple University Gottesman, Gottesman Alex, James Warren
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 02.10.2014
• EAN: 9781107041684
• ISBN: 978-1-107-04168-4
• No. of pages: 262
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History of Ideas, European History, HISTORY / Ancient / General, Ancient Greece, Social & cultural history, Political structures: democracy, Ancient History, Classical history / classical civilisation, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, BCE period – Protohistory, Classical Greek & Roman archaeology