From Solon to Socrates Greek History and Civilization During the 6th and 5th Centuries BC

From Solon to Socrates is a magisterial narrative introduction to what is generally regarded as the most important period of Greek history. Stressing the unity of Greek history and the centrality of Athens, Victor Ehrenberg covers a rich and diverse range of political, economic, military and cultural issues in the Greek world, from the early history of the Greeks, including early Sparta and the wars with Persia, to the ascendancy of Athens and the Peloponnesian War.

I INTRODUCTION 1. From Solon to Socrates 2. The Early History of the Greeks 3. The Eighth Century 4. The Great Colonization (c. 750-550) 5. The Seventh Century. II EARLY SPARTA 1. Creation of a State 2. Towards Social Reform 3. The State of the Ephors. III ATHENS BEFORE AND UNDER SOLON 1. The Aristocratic State 2. The Social Crisis 3. Solon: Seisachtheia and Constitution 4. Solons Legislation. IV THE SIXTH CENTURY 1. Tyrannis at Athens 2. Cleisthenes 3. The Wider Greek Scene. V THE WARS FOR FREEDOM 1. The Ionian Revolt and the MotherLAND 2. Marathon 3. Between the Wars 4. The Great War in East and West 5. The War Generation. VI THE ASCENDANCY OF ATHENS 1. Growing Imperialism 2. Democracy and Dualism 3. The Age of Pericles 4. The Western Greeks. VII THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR 1. Prelude to War 2. The Archidamian War 3. Between Peace and War 4. The Last Act. VIII KNOW THYSELF 1. The Birth of Science 2. The Sophists 3. Political Events 4. The End of Tragedy 5. Thucydides 6. Socrates. Conclusion. Notes. Indices. Maps.

Victor Ehrenberg (1891-1976) was a German historian renowned for his study of Greek history. He emigrated to Britain in 1939 and was Reader in Ancient History at Bedford College, University of London.