The Rise and Decline of Imperial Democracies

This book attempts to understand Thucydides §explanation for Athens rise and decline by focusing §on his treatment of Athenian democracy and Athenian §empire from antiquity to the close of the §Peloponnesian War. That treatment sheds light on §the problematic relationship between democracy and §empire at all times and in all places. §§Thucydides teaches that the Athenians unique §ability to live lives at once liberal, lawful, §vigorous, and far-sighted allowed the development of §Athenian democracy, and prepared the way for the §expansion of Athenian power. §§Thucydides shows that Pericles was Athens greatest §leader because he drew upon and fostered Athens §exceptional qualities. The most remarkable of these §was the blending of usually incompatible elements, §such as public spiritedness and private pursuits. §However after Pericles death, the Athenians lost §those qualities. Hence they lost their democracy §and empire as well. §§Pericles brilliant balancing act, enshrined in the §funeral oration, enabled Athens for a moment. Its §survival, in the form of communicable understanding, §is the work of Thucydides art.