The Quiet Athenian

Like its modern counterparts, Athenian democracy strove to be an assembly of all its citizens. But as is the case with modern democratic states, it often fell far short of this goal. This enlightening work focuses on a previously unexplored strata of Athenian society: the apolitical citizens. The author begins with a review of the traditional drives to honor and fame which gave impetus to ancient Athenian political life and then goes on to analyze the diverse motives of those who chose to abstain from participating in the democratic process. Dr. Carter's discussion takes full account of the demographic factors involved and sheds light on the economic, geographic, and cultural background of these apolitical Athenians.