Defining Citizenship in Archaic Greece – PDF

Download the PDF version of the book ‘Defining Citizenship in Archaic Greece‘ and explore the concept of citizenship that originated in ancient Greece and has become a major feature of contemporary international and national politics.

The idea of belonging to a community and participating in its social and political life dates back about 3 thousand years ago. However, it was only in the late 4th century BC that Aristotle provided the first explicit statement on citizenship. Even though this definition has been widely accepted, it fails to account accurately for the dynamics of the emergent cities and the preceding centuries.

Now, historians aim to challenge the generalization of the Aristotelian model to all Greek cities and find alternative ways of understanding citizenship and the community. This volume ‘Defining Citizenship in Archaic Greece‘ focuses on archaic Greece and brings together a team of renowned international scholars to explore new routes to citizenship and construct a new image of archaic cities beyond being considered primitive classical poleis.

The essays in the book present diverse perspectives on different fields of inquiry, such as cults, law, military obligations, athletics, commensality, and descent, to exemplify the diversity of approaches to archaic Greece and the Greek city. With depth and insight, this book offers a unique opportunity to venture off the beaten track and broaden your knowledge of ancient Greece.