University Museums of the University of Graz: Lecture by Margit Linder at UniGraz@Museum

Ancient Athens as the "School of Hellas"? Reflections on the emergence of Greek democracy

According to ancient authors, the mythical king Theseus is said to have taken the first measures to create a democratic order in Athens, while Pericles in the 5th century BC is said to have formed the end point of this democratisation process. But how historically accurate is this picture and was Athens really the "cradle of democracy"?