Literacy and Democracy in Fifth-Century Athens

Name: Literacy and Democracy in Fifth-Century Athens
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ISBN: 9780521128766

Anna Missiou (University of Crete)

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English

Cambridge University Press
17 February 2011

Literacy; History; European history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Political structures: democracy

Who wrote the administrative documents of Athens? Was literacy extensive in ancient Attika? Were inscriptions, those on stone or pieces of pottery (ostraka), written, read and comprehended by common people? In this book Anna Missiou gives full consideration to these questions of crucial importance for understanding the quality of Athenian democracy and culture. She explores how the Kleisthenic reforms provided new contexts and new subject matter for writing. It promoted the exchange of reliable information between the demes, the tribes and the urban centre on particular important issues, including the mobilization of the army and the political organization of the citizen body. Through a close analysis of the process through which Athenian politicians were ostracized and a fresh examination of the involvement of common citizens in the Council of 500, Missiou undermines the current orthodoxy that literacy was not widespread among Athenians. Literacy underwrote the effective functioning of Athenian democracy.

By: Anna Missiou (University of Crete)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 217mm, Width: 138mm, Spine: 11mm
Weight: 320g
ISBN: 9780521128766
ISBN 10: 0521128765
Pages: 228
Publication Date: 17 February 2011
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction: background, concepts and issues; 1. The geography of literacy; 2. Literacy and political ethos: the institution of ostracism; 3. Literacy through intermediaries: I. the ostraka; 4. Literacy through intermediaries: II. stone inscriptions; 5. Athenian literacy in its sociopolitical context; Conclusions: literacy and Athenian democracy; Appendix I: studying the ostraka: technical difficulties and personal assumptions; Appendix II: for an early date for the institution of the prytaneis; Appendix III: literacy beyond the urban centre: councillors-prytaneis from remote demes.

Anna Missiou is Associate Professor of Ancient Greek History at the University of Crete. Her previous publications include The Subversive Oratory of Andokides: Politics, Ideology and Decision-Making in Democratic Athens (1992).

Reviews for Literacy and Democracy in Fifth-Century Athens

'Missiou argues for the existence of extensive literacy among Athenian citizens due to their involvement in democratic administration ... she succeeds in bringing new considerations to a lengthy debate about Athenian literacy and showing how intimately it was connected with Athenian public life ... the book is very much worthy of reading.' Pavel Nylt, Eirene: Studia Graeca et Latina Missiou argues for the existence of extensive literacy among Athenian citizens due to their involvement in democratic administration ... she succeeds in bringing new considerations to a lengthy debate about Athenian literacy and showing how intimately it was connected with Athenian public life ... the book is very much worthy of reading. Pavel Nylt, Eirene: Studia Graeca et Latina