The School of History: Athens in the Age of Socrates

by Mark Munn

History, political philosophy, and constitutional law were born in Athens in the space of a single generation--the generation that lived through the Peloponnesian War (431-404 b.c.e.). This remarkable age produced such luminaries as Socrates, Herodotus, Thucydides, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and the sophists, and set the stage for the education and early careers of Plato and Xenophon, among others. The School of History provides the fullest and most detailed intellectual and political history available of Athens during the late fifth century b.c.e., as it examines the background, the context, and the decisive events shaping this society in the throes of war. This expansive, readable narrative ultimately leads to a new understanding of Athenian democratic culture, showing why and how it yielded such extraordinary intellectual productivity.

As both a source and a subject, Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War is the central text around which the narrative and thematic issues of the book revolve. Munn re-evaluates the formation of the Greek historiographical tradition itself as he identifies the conditions that prompted Thucydides to write--specifically the historian's desire to guide the Athenian democracy as it struggled to comprehend its future.

The School of History fully encompasses recent scholarship in history, literature, and archaeology. Munn's impressive mastery of the huge number of sources and publications informs his substantial contributions to our understanding of this democracy transformed by war. Immersing us fully in the intellectual foment of Athenian society, The School of History traces the history of Athens at the peak of its influence, both as a political and military power in its own time and as a source of intellectual inspiration for the centuries to come.

A Main Selection of the History Book Club

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Greece, Ancient History

537 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2000

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover. The historic detail is perfectly spare. The ideas and analyses in this book are amazing. The style is perfect. While the book presents no new discoveries, there is enough scholarship and source documentation about Athens during this time period to add value to its narratives. This book offer a very intense contextual examination of the existing material.

[James Dorwart · Rating 5 out of 5]

My one-time undergrad and graduate advisor at PSU, a great person..

[Dámaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy informativo y preciso