Valerie’s Reviews > The Emergence of Greek Democracy: The Character of Greek Politics, 800-400 B.C. > Status Update

Dating is hard given the lack of evidence and that writing wasn’t recovered until around 700bc and puts give far less insight to politics. Historians argue about first law making in Sparta

Forrest argues there wasn’t a development in political thought (uses Korinthian as an example) but instead had individual distaste for individual aristocrats they perceived as tyrants. Ordinary Corinthians supported Kypselos for arbitrary reasons like being fined a sheep by the Bakchiads. Power changed by the convenience of a second option not by political conviction

The greek economy was emerging but not in the way we consider an economy. They didn’t have an economic theory or any government intervention for the government didn’t have enough power so the economy was truly free market and expanded naturally as new trade routes were created. It wasn’t the same capitalist society we live today and although there were some winners most just carried on slightly improved.

Some early dissatisfaction shown around 800 BC. Hesiod criticises nobility and in a different manner, Homer humiliates the characters in his epic who try and get above their pay grade. However, fundamentals for democracy already exist

Forrest argues society was organised in phratries. These have a strong resemblance to a family pyramid with the aristocrat on top both relying on and supporting the remnants below. Idea this is mutually beneficial until the slave level which is only brushed upon

Basic premise of the book thus far argues that by the time the athenians lost the pelopennisian war this was a decision across the relatively united population. although athens had some lever of class divide based on the quantity owned, all free men essentially worked for themselves and were relatively supportive of the athenian demos