ATHENS: THE DAWN OF DEMOCRACY

Monday, November 19, 2007 9 - 11:00 pm

Bettany Hughes explores the contradictions of the "Golden Age"
of ancient Athens, where democracy emerged nearly 2,500 years
ago. Far from an environment of peace and tranquility,
democratic Athens was a bloody, tumultuous place of both
brilliant ideas and a repressive regime. No two years went by
that Athenians didn't vote to go to war. Eventually the empire
withered, to be crushed finally by Alexander the Great. It
would be another 2,000 years before society was once again able
to tolerate the idea of democracy -- rule by the people. (CC,
Stereo)

http://www.pbs.org/previews/athens/