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Athens: A Political and Cultural Center in Greece
Author: Dr. Elena Papadopoulos, Professor of Classical History and Archaeology, University of Athens. Dr. Papadopoulos has authored numerous books and articles on ancient and modern Greek history, politics, and culture, including The Athenian Agora: A Study in Urban Development and Political Power and Modern Greece: A Nation Forged in Conflict and Culture.
Publisher: The Hellenic Society for Historical Studies, a leading publisher of scholarly works on Greek history and culture, known for its rigorous peer-review process and commitment to academic excellence.
Editor: Dr. Dimitri Kouretas, Associate Professor of Classics, University of Thessaloniki. Dr. Kouretas specializes in ancient Greek political thought and has extensive experience editing academic journals and books.
Keywords: Athens, Greece, political center, cultural center, ancient Greece, modern Greece, democracy, Acropolis, Parthenon, political history, cultural heritage, tourism, a political and culture center in Greece
Introduction: Athens – A Political and Cultural Center in Greece Throughout History
Athens, the capital of Greece, has served as a pivotal a political and culture center in Greece for millennia. From its ancient origins as the cradle of democracy to its modern role as a vibrant hub of political and cultural activity, Athens’s influence extends far beyond its geographical boundaries. This article will explore the multifaceted dimensions of Athens as a political and culture center in Greece, examining its historical trajectory, its contemporary significance, and its enduring legacy.
Ancient Athens: The Birthplace of Democracy and a Flourishing Culture
Ancient Athens stands as a beacon of political and cultural innovation. The development of democracy, albeit in its limited form, during the 5th century BCE, fundamentally reshaped the political landscape of the ancient world. The Athenian Assembly, where citizens directly participated in decision-making, stands as a testament to the city’s pioneering political system. This political dynamism was inextricably linked to its vibrant cultural life. The Acropolis, crowned by the Parthenon, stands as a symbol of Athenian artistic achievement and its powerful cultural identity. The plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, performed at the Theatre of Dionysus, continue to inspire and challenge audiences worldwide. The philosophical schools of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the foundation for Western philosophical thought, further solidifying Athens' position as a political and culture center in Greece and indeed, the world. This period witnessed an unparalleled flourishing of art, literature, philosophy, and political thought, all intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
Athens in the Byzantine and Ottoman Periods: A Continued Center of Influence
Although the golden age of Athenian democracy ended, the city’s importance persisted throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. It remained a significant administrative and religious center, albeit under different ruling powers. Byzantine churches and monasteries continued to be centers of religious and intellectual life, and the city’s strategic location ensured its continued importance in regional trade and politics. Even under Ottoman rule, Athens maintained its cultural significance, albeit often suppressed.
Modern Athens: A Political and Cultural Hub in the 21st Century
The modern era saw the resurgence of Athens as a political and culture center in Greece. Following the Greek War of Independence, Athens was designated the capital of the newly independent nation, solidifying its position as the center of Greek political life. The city rapidly expanded, becoming a hub of governmental activity, hosting the parliament, various ministries, and other important administrative bodies. Simultaneously, Athens experienced a significant cultural renaissance. The establishment of numerous museums, theaters, universities, and art galleries further cemented its position as a leading cultural center. The National Archaeological Museum, for instance, houses an unparalleled collection of artifacts spanning millennia of Greek history, showcasing the country’s rich heritage. Athens also plays host to numerous international conferences, exhibitions, and festivals, highlighting its ongoing role as a political and culture center in Greece.
Challenges and Transformations: Navigating Modernity
While Athens enjoys its status as a political and culture center in Greece, it faces modern challenges. The city grapples with issues such as rapid urbanization, overtourism, and economic disparities. These challenges necessitate sustainable urban planning, responsible tourism management, and effective social policies to ensure the equitable distribution of benefits and resources. The preservation of its historical and cultural heritage in the face of modernization is another critical concern.
The Enduring Legacy: Athens as a Global Symbol
Despite these challenges, the enduring legacy of Athens as a political and culture center in Greece remains undisputed. Its historical significance as the birthplace of democracy and its contributions to art, literature, and philosophy continue to inspire and shape the world. The city’s role as a vibrant cultural hub in modern Greece underscores its continuing dynamism and relevance. The combination of rich historical sites, bustling modern life, and a thriving intellectual scene makes Athens a unique and captivating destination, a city that perpetually reinvents itself while cherishing its illustrious past.
Conclusion
Athens, throughout its long and storied history, has unequivocally served as a pivotal a political and culture center in Greece. From its ancient democratic origins to its contemporary role as the nation’s capital, its influence has been profound and lasting. While navigating modern challenges, Athens continues to showcase its cultural dynamism and commitment to preserving its rich heritage, securing its place as a globally significant political and cultural powerhouse.
FAQs
1. What makes Athens a significant political center? Athens serves as the capital of Greece, housing the parliament, government ministries, and other key administrative bodies, making it the center of Greek political decision-making.
2. How does Athens contribute to Greek culture? Athens is a major hub for museums, theaters, universities, and art galleries, showcasing and fostering Greek culture and attracting international interest.
3. What are some of the major cultural landmarks in Athens? The Acropolis, Parthenon, National Archaeological Museum, and the ancient Theatre of Dionysus are some of the most prominent cultural landmarks.
4. What challenges does Athens face as a modern city? Athens faces challenges like rapid urbanization, overtourism, economic inequality, and the preservation of its historic sites amidst modernization.
5. How is the city managing the influx of tourists? Athens is actively implementing strategies for sustainable tourism, aiming to manage visitor numbers, preserve cultural sites, and ensure equitable distribution of tourism benefits.
6. What role does Athens play in international relations? As the capital of Greece, Athens hosts numerous international conferences, diplomatic missions, and cultural exchanges, contributing to Greece's role in the global arena.
7. How is Athens preserving its historical heritage? Through conservation efforts, restoration projects, and archaeological research, Athens strives to safeguard its invaluable historical and cultural legacy for future generations.
8. What is the significance of the ancient Athenian democracy? The ancient Athenian democracy, while imperfect, is considered a foundational model for democratic systems globally, inspiring modern concepts of citizen participation and governance.
9. How does Athens balance its ancient past with its modern identity? Athens creatively blends its ancient heritage with its contemporary life, making its history accessible and relevant while embracing modern developments.
Related Articles
1. The Acropolis of Athens: A Symbol of Ancient Greek Power and Culture: This article delves into the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the Acropolis, highlighting its role as a centerpiece of ancient Athenian life.
2. Ancient Athenian Democracy: Ideals and Realities: An exploration of the strengths and limitations of the Athenian democratic system, considering its historical context and impact.
3. The National Archaeological Museum of Athens: A Journey Through Greek History: An overview of the museum’s extensive collection, emphasizing its importance in showcasing Greek civilization's vast history.
4. Modern Athens: Urban Development and Challenges: An analysis of the city's urban planning, infrastructure, and the challenges of managing rapid growth and preserving historical areas.
5. Tourism in Athens: Balancing Preservation and Economic Growth: A study of the economic impact of tourism in Athens, examining the city’s strategies for sustainable tourism practices.
6. The Theatre of Dionysus: A Legacy of Ancient Greek Drama: An exploration of the theater's history, architecture, and its contribution to the development of ancient Greek drama.
7. Athens and the Olympic Games: A Historical Perspective: A look at the connection between Athens and the Olympic Games, highlighting the city’s role in hosting the games and its legacy.
8. The Philosophical Schools of Athens: Shaping Western Thought: An overview of the major philosophical schools of ancient Athens, emphasizing their impact on Western philosophy and intellectual history.
9. Athens' Role in the Greek War of Independence: An account of Athens' significance during the Greek War of Independence, highlighting its importance in the struggle for national liberation and the establishment of modern Greece.
| a political and culture center in greece: Ancient Greece Sarah B. Pomeroy, 2012 A Political, Social, and Cultural History is a comprehensive and balanced history, covering the political, military, social, cultural, and economic history of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Era. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Tyranny and Political Culture in Ancient Greece James F. McGlew, 1993 Resistance to the tyrant was an essential stage in the development of the Greek city-state. McGlew (classics, Allegheny College) examines the significance of changes in the Greek political vocabulary that came about as a result of the history of ancient tyrants. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR |
| a political and culture center in greece: A Culture of Freedom Christian Meier, 2011-09-22 The book takes us on a tour through the rich spectrum of Greek life and culture, from their epic and lyric poetry, political thought and philosophy, to their social life, military traditions, sport, and religious festivals, and finally to the early stages of Greek democracy. Running as a connecting thread throughout is a people's attempt to create a society based upon the concept of freedom rather than naked power. |
| a political and culture center in greece: World and Its Peoples , 2010 Incorporates every conceivable focus of interest from holidays to health care, national anthems to gross national product, natural resources, ethnic groups, voting age, performing arts, provincial capitals, leaders of the past and present, native plants and animals, and far more. Newly commissioned political and geophysical maps represent past and present realities. The thirteen volumes of this set examine the 50 countries, dependencies, and states of the European continent, putting into perspective this enormously influential center of commerce and culture. |
| a political and culture center in greece: A Brief History of Ancient Greece Sarah B. Pomeroy, 2009 The story of the ancient Greeks is one of the most improbable success stories in world history. A small group of people inhabiting a country poor in resources and divided into hundreds of quarreling states created one of the most remarkable civilizations ever. Comprehensive and balanced, A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture, Second Edition is a shorter version of the authors' highly successful Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History, Second Edition (OUP, 2008). Four leading authorities on the classical world offer a lively and up-to-date account of Greek civilization and history in all its complexity and variety, covering the entire period from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic Era, and integrating the most recent research in archaeology, comparative anthropology, and social history. They show how the early Greeks borrowed from their neighbors but eventually developed a distinctive culture all their own, one that was marked by astonishing creativity, versatility, and resilience. Using physical evidence from archaeology, the written testimony of literary texts and inscriptions, and anthropological models based on comparative studies, this compact volume provides an account of the Greek world that is thoughtful and sophisticated yet accessible to students and general readers with little or no knowledge of Greece. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Greek Discovery of Politics Christian Meier, 1990 Why the Greeks? How did it happen that these people--out of all Mediterranean societies--developed democratic systems of government? The outstanding German historian of the ancient world, Christian Meier, reconstructs the process of political thinking in Greek culture that led to democracy. He demonstrates that the civic identity of the Athenians was a direct precondition for the practical reality of this form of government. Meier shows how the structure of Greek communal life gave individuals a civic role and discusses a crucial reform that institutionalized the idea of equality before the law. In Greek drama--specifically Aeschylus' Oresteia--he finds reflections of the ascendancy of civil law and of a politicizing of life in the city-state. He examines the role of the leader as well as citizen participation in Athenian democracy and describes an ancient equivalent of the idea of social progress. He also contrasts the fifth-century Greek political world with today's world, drawing revealing comparisons. The Greek Discovery of Politics is important reading for ancient historians, classicists, political scientists, and anyone interested in the history of political thought or in the culture of ancient Greece. |
| a political and culture center in greece: GREECE NARAYAN CHANGDER, 2023-01-07 THE GREECE MCQ (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS) SERVES AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AIMING TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS COMPETITIVE EXAMS, CLASS TESTS, QUIZ COMPETITIONS, AND SIMILAR ASSESSMENTS. WITH ITS EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF MCQS, THIS BOOK EMPOWERS YOU TO ASSESS YOUR GRASP OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AND YOUR PROFICIENCY LEVEL. BY ENGAGING WITH THESE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT, IDENTIFY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND LAY A SOLID FOUNDATION. DIVE INTO THE GREECE MCQ TO EXPAND YOUR GREECE KNOWLEDGE AND EXCEL IN QUIZ COMPETITIONS, ACADEMIC STUDIES, OR PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS. THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED AT THE END OF EACH PAGE, MAKING IT EASY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO VERIFY THEIR ANSWERS AND PREPARE EFFECTIVELY. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Introduction to Comparative Political Culture Dezhi Tong, 2018-08-03 This book starts with four aspects - subject’s cognition, way of thinking, political value and ideology, conducts comparative studies on political culture. Amid using the concept of political culture in western academic circles, it makes comprehensive supplement for this concept, and put forward an updated concept of political culture which is more localized. This new concept, on the grounds of the comparison with political system, takes political culture as the subjective side of political system and incorporates ideology into political culture, thus undoubtedly enriching our knowledge of political culture. On the basis of clarifying the concept of political culture and establishing the comparative dimension of it, this book widely refers to the outlooks of individuals, nations, society and power of political cognition; the modes of objectives, directions and methods of political ideas; democratic awareness, legal concept and system selection of political value; as well as liberalism and republicanism, etc. All these bring substantial benefits to promoting and deepening the comparative studies on political culture. This book can not only be used for the teaching undergraduate and graduates who major in Politics, but also used as the reference book for politics academic research. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Orthographs Yiorgis Yerolymbos, Katharine Storr, Robert Storr, 2017-01-01 This stunning photographic essay traces the development of Renzo Piano's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, a multifunctional complex for arts, education, and entertainment opening in 2017 in Athens. Photographer Yiorgis Yerolymbos finds intrigue and beauty in the grit of the construction site, where for nearly a decade he has meticulously recorded the ephemeral forms that underlie and foretell the shape of the future landmark. Deriving its title from architectural orthographic drawings, Orthographs tracks the progress of the building's construction site against Piano's visionary projections and plans. This beautiful volume offers rare, behind-the-scenes access to the work performed and the land and materials moved in the service of turning vision into reality. The large format invites readers to immerse themselves in Yerolymbos's compelling photography, and texts by acclaimed architects and critics hail the importance of the Center and its role in transforming the physical and cultural topography of Athens. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Stirring the Greek Nation Ioannis Stefanidis, 2016-12-05 This work examines the background to Greek nationalist politics and its effects on public opinion towards international events and territorial claims, from the end of the Second World War to the collapse of constitutional rule in 1967. It explains how intermittent public mobilisation on various foreign policy issues created a political culture that combined elements of nationalism, religion, race and stereotypes about the national Self and the Other. The book challenges widely-held assumptions that Greek irredentism was all but dead and buried in the aftermath of the Asia Minor catastrophe of 1922, and that anti-Americanism was the product of US support for the Colonels' regime of 1967-74 and its condoning of the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus. It begins with an examination of the revival of irredentism in connection with Greek national claims after 1945 and the two campaigns for the union of Cyprus with Greece during the 1950s and 1960s. The second part of the study reveals anti-Americanism to be largely the result of failed post-war Greek territorial ambitions - particularly the frustration of the Enosis claim - rather than the actual intervention of the United States in Greek affairs. Drawing on a huge variety of sources including the Greek press, records of the Greek Parliament, the US and British National Archives, as well the archives of numerous individuals, this book provides a fascinating account of Greek political culture and national self image at a crucial time in the country's political development. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Sociolinguistics / Soziolinguistik. Volume 2 Ulrich Ammon, Norbert Dittmar, Klaus J. Mattheier, Peter Trudgill, 2008-07-14 Since the publication of the first edition of the handbook Sociolinguistics/Soziolinguistik , the then young discipline has changed and developed considerably. The field has left behind its status as an interdiscipline between sociology and linguistics and is now a worldwide established field. Sociolinguistics continues to contribute to solving practical problems in areas such as language planning and standardization, language policy, as well as in language didactics and speech therapy. Moreover, new topics and areas of application have arisen from the autonomy of the discipline - these have been systematically and extensively included in the second edition of the handbook. The new overall concept depicts the regional and disciplinary representativity of sociolinguistic research while offering an encyclopedia-like useablitiy for all its readers. This includes theoretical depth and stringency for readers interested in theory, as well as methodical abundance and detail for empirical researchers. The descriptions of methods are so informative and precise that they can directly be used in the preparation of project planning. Similarly, the descriptions in the practice-oriented articles are so precise that users can accurately assess to what extent they can expect a certain sociolinguistic approach to help solve their problems. With an extensive description as its goal, the second edition of the handbook Sociolinguistics/Soziolinguistik takes into account the current standing of the discipline and the modified structure of the field. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Modern Greece Keith R Legg, 2021-11-28 This clear, balanced book explores the dilemma of Greece, the font of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being nearly developed. Illuminating the impact of borrowed western institutions on Greeces traditional culture, the authors analyze the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. State dominance, Legg and Roberts argue, has turned politics primarily into a struggle for office. This emphasis on political conflict has allowed politicians and their supporters to employ emotional nationalist rhetoric to flout democratic rules and to avoid genuine issues. Concluding that the Greek political systems nature precludes real reform, the authors show how EU opportunities for both economic and political reform have been largely lost. Unfortunately, the aspects of Greeces nearly developed status are mirrored in eastern European states with similar pasts. Indeed, the authors warn that the Greece of today may be the future of many of its neighbors. }This clear, balanced book explores the dilemma of Greece, the font of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being nearly developed. Illuminating the impact of borrowed western institutions on Greeces traditional culture, the authors analyze the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. State dominance, Legg and Roberts argue, has turned politics primarily into a struggle for office. This emphasis on political conflict has allowed politicians and their supporters to employ emotional nationalist rhetoric to flout democratic rules and to avoid genuine issues. Concluding that the Greek political systems nature precludes real reform, the authors show how EU opportunities for both economic and political reform have been largely lost. Unfortunately, the aspects of Greeces nearly developed status are mirrored in eastern European states with similar pasts. Indeed, the authors warn that the Greece of today may be the future of many of its neighbors. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece Josiah Ober, 2016-10-04 A major new history of classical Greece—how it rose, how it fell, and what we can learn from it Lord Byron described Greece as great, fallen, and immortal, a characterization more apt than he knew. Through most of its long history, Greece was poor. But in the classical era, Greece was densely populated and highly urbanized. Many surprisingly healthy Greeks lived in remarkably big houses and worked for high wages at specialized occupations. Middle-class spending drove sustained economic growth and classical wealth produced a stunning cultural efflorescence lasting hundreds of years. Why did Greece reach such heights in the classical period—and why only then? And how, after the Greek miracle had endured for centuries, did the Macedonians defeat the Greeks, seemingly bringing an end to their glory? Drawing on a massive body of newly available data and employing novel approaches to evidence, Josiah Ober offers a major new history of classical Greece and an unprecedented account of its rise and fall. Ober argues that Greece's rise was no miracle but rather the result of political breakthroughs and economic development. The extraordinary emergence of citizen-centered city-states transformed Greece into a society that defeated the mighty Persian Empire. Yet Philip and Alexander of Macedon were able to beat the Greeks in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, a victory made possible by the Macedonians' appropriation of Greek innovations. After Alexander's death, battle-hardened warlords fought ruthlessly over the remnants of his empire. But Greek cities remained populous and wealthy, their economy and culture surviving to be passed on to the Romans—and to us. A compelling narrative filled with uncanny modern parallels, this is a book for anyone interested in how great civilizations are born and die. This book is based on evidence available on a new interactive website. To learn more, please visit: http://polis.stanford.edu/. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Politics and Performance in Western Greece Heather Reid, Davide Tanasi, Susi Kimbell, 2017-05-12 Because the histories of theater, politics, art, poetry, athletics, and philosophy tend to be studied separately, it is easy to forget how interconnected they were in Western Greece--the coastal areas of Southern Italy and Sicily settled by Hellenes in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Hieron I of Syracuse may be remembered as a tyrant, but his political power was inseparable from the theater. Hieron was the patron of the dramatist Epicharmus, who was as much a philosopher as Xenophanes, who was a poet in his own right like Pindar, who was also supported by the tyrant and whose work---like all the others'--was performed for political ends. Even Plato's adventures in Syracuse can be seen as a performance of his own political poetry. This collection of essays from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including archaeology, classics, philosophy, and art history, offers a refreshing new outlook on the ancient cultural interactions of politics and performance in Western Greece. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Introduction to Western Culture Guobin Xu, Yanhui Chen, Lianhua Xu, 2018-03-23 Promoting cultural understanding in a globalized world, this collection provides a concise and unique introduction to Western culture, through the voices of Chinese scholars. Written by a team of experts in their fields, the book provides insights into Western history and culture, covering an interdisciplinary range of topics across literature, language, music, art and religion. It addresses such issues as tourism and etiquette, as well as the key differences of distinct cultures, providing readers with a succinct yet effective way to master a basic understanding of Western culture. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Modern Philology , 1925 Vols. 30-54 include 1932-1956 of: Victorian bibliography, prepared by a committee of the Victorian Literature Group of the Modern Language Association of America. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Philosophical Reflections on Antiquity Paul Fairfield, 2020-09-02 Philosophical Reflections on Antiquity: Historical Change addresses the question of whether there is a logic of historical change, and whether the collapse of teleology should deter us from inquiring anew whether any recurring patterns and themes show themselves amid the complexity of historical life. Paul Fairfield argues that if any conception of universal history remains possible, it is one that rejects teleology and causal laws while identifying thematic tendencies that afford some semblance of unity, including the enduring phenomena that are interlocution, the struggle for predominance, and the endless back and forth that play out between them. This book examines the transitional periods of archaic Greece and late antiquity, the ostensible birth and death of the ancient west. Fairfield argues that an interpretation of the social, political, and intellectual history of these important turning points brings to light some philosophical understanding of the dynamics of change itself, observing that the transition from archaic to classical Greece was no miracle, while the end of the Roman era can no longer be conceived as a story of decline and fall. Rather, Fairfield posits, these were not complete breaks, but relative beginnings and endings in narratives that are ongoing. Scholars of philosophy, history, and anthropology will find this book particularly useful. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Democracy’s Slaves Paulin Ismard, 2017-01-09 Genesis -- Servants of the city -- Strange slaves -- The democratic order of knowledge -- The mysteries of the Greek state |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Beginnings of Christianity Howard Clark Kee, 2005-11-22 To understand the historical beginnings of Christianity requires one not only to examine the documents that the movement produced, but also to scrutinize other evidence-historical, literary, and archaeological-that can illumine the socio-cultural context in which Christianity began and how it responded to the influences that derived from that setting. This involves not only analysis of the readily accessible content of the relevant literary evidence, but also attention to the world-views and assumptions about reality that are inherent in these documents and other phenomena that have survived from this period. Attention to the roles of leadership and the modes of formation of social identity in Judaism and the continuing influence of these developments as Christianity began to take shape is important for historical analysis. Distinguished New Testament scholar Kee performs such readings of the texts and communities in this dazzling study of early Christian origins. In methodological terms, the historical study of Christian Origins in all its diversity must involve three different modes of analysis: (1) epistemological, (2) sociological, and (3) eschatological. The first concerns the way in which knowledge and communication of it were perceived. The second seeks to discern the way in which the community or tradition preserving and conveying this information defined its group identity and its shared values and aims. The third focuses on the way in which the group understood and affirmed its ultimate destiny and that of its members in the purpose of God. These factors are interrelated, and features of one mode of perception strongly influence details of the others, but it is useful to consider each of them in its own category in order to discern with greater precision the specific historical features of the spectrum of facets which appear in the evidence that has survived concerning the origins of Christianity. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Anthropology and the Greeks S.C. Humphreys, 2013-10-11 The first section of the book deals with the history of the relationship of classical studies and anthropology. In the second section the more material aspects of ancient Greek life are considered and the author relates the economic history of the period to new approaches in archaeology and economic anthropology. The place of kinship in the social structure of the Greek city-state; the social factors involved in the genesis of Greek philosophy; and the structural and institutional components of 'freedom' in classical Athens are all examined. First published in 1978. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Cults, Territory, and the Origins of the Greek City-State François de Polignac, 1995-08-15 Combining archaeological and textual evidence the author suggests that most of the 8th Century settlements that would become the city-states of classical Greece were defined as much by the boundaries of civilised' space as by their urban centres. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Polis Mogens Herman Hansen, 2006-10-05 An accessible introduction to the polis (plural: poleis), or ancient Greek city-state. Mogens Herman Hansen addresses such topics as the emergence of the polis, its size and population, and its political culture, ranging from famous poleis such as Athens and Sparta through more than 1,000 known examples. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Cultures Within Ancient Greek Culture Carol Dougherty, Leslie Kurke, 2003-10-02 Sample Text |
| a political and culture center in greece: Greek Society Frank J. Frost, 1997 This chronological narrative covers the Bronze Age to the end of the Roman Empire, with a useful epilogue that traces the Greek experience in medieval and modern times. Frost presents a level of detail that requires no prior background in Greek history. Fascinating anecdotes on the lives of ordinary Greek people help bring the past to life. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Political Thought Christopher Rowe, Malcolm Schofield, 2000-05-11 A definitive reference work on Greek and Roman political thought from the age of Homer to late antiquity, first published in 2000. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Tracing the Landscape of Dance in Greece Katia Savrami, 2019-11-12 This volume critically discusses dance’s role as an art form in modern Greek society, exploring both ethnographic and cross-cultural issues. The contents of the book unfold in parallel and intertwining dialogues and discourses incorporating reflections on philosophical and scientific subjects and experiences relating to dance. The investigation places ballet, modern and contemporary dance within the Greek context, and juxtaposes these genres with international dance making. It also uncovers the factors that have affected the development of dance practices in Greece during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and considers the reasons why, until now, dance, as an embodied art form, has not been established in Greece as an autonomous academic discipline with its own sustainable educational structures. It paints a picture of the past and the present, while also serving to inspire future artist-practitioners and scholars to advocate and support the discipline of dance in Greece. |
| a political and culture center in greece: National Geographic Concise History of the World Neil Kagan, 2013 A chronology of world history ranges from the dawn of humankind to the present day, examining important events, milestones, ideas, and personalities that occurred simultaneously in different regions of the world. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Bridges to the Ancestors David D. Harnish, 2006-01-01 Bridges to the Ancestors effectively reveals the Lingsar festival as a site of cultural struggle as Harnish explores how history, identity, and power are constructed and negotiated. He addresses the fascinating interaction between music and myth and the forces of modernity, globalization, authenticity, tourism, religion, regionalism, and nationalism in maintaining tradition.--Jacket. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Greek Crisis and Its Cultural Origins Manussos Marangudakis, 2019-05-16 This original analysis of modern Greece’s political culture attempts to present a “total social fact”—a coherent and complex representation of Greek socio-political culture—to identify the cultural causes of Greece’s recent disastrous economic crisis. Using a culturalist frame inspired by the Yale Strong Program, Marangudakis argues that the core cultural orientations of Greece have determined its politics—Greek secular culture flows out of the religion of Eastern Orthodoxy with its mysticism, icons, and general “ortherworldly-nesses.” This theoretical discussion, bringing together Eisenstadt, Michael Mann, Banfield, and Taylor, is complemented by an innovative use of survey data, processed by political scientist and statistician Theodore Chadjipadelis. The carefully deployed quantitative data demonstrate that the culture previously described is actually shared by people living in Greece today. In his sweeping conclusion to this thorough cultural analysis, Marangudakis reflects on the prospects of Greek cultural recovery through the construction of a non-populist civil religion. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Fight for Greek Sicily Melanie Jonasch, 2020-06-30 The island of Sicily was a highly contested area throughout much of its history. Among the first to exert strong influence on its political, cultural, infrastructural, and demographic developments were the two major decentralized civilizations of the first millennium BCE: the Phoenicians and the Greeks. While trade and cultural exchange preceded their permanent presence, it was the colonizing movement that brought territorial competition and political power struggles on the island to a new level. The history of six centuries of colonization is replete with accounts of conflict and warfare that include cross-cultural confrontations, as well as interstate hostilities, domestic conflicts, and government violence. This book is not concerned with realities from the battlefield or questions of military strategy and tactics, but rather offers a broad collection of archaeological case studies and historical essays that analyze how political competition, strategic considerations, and violent encounters substantially affected rural and urban environments, the island’s heterogeneous communities, and their social practices. These contributions, originating from a workshop in 2018, combine expertise from the fields of archaeology, ancient history, and philology. The focus on a specific time period and the limited geographic area of Greek Sicily allows for the thorough investigation and discussion of various forms of organized societal violence and their consequences on the developments in society and landscape. |
| a political and culture center in greece: Fear of Diversity Arlene W. Saxonhouse, 1995-05 This wide-ranging and provocative book locates the origin of political science in the everyday world of ancient Greek life, thought, and culture. Arlene Saxonhouse contends that the Greeks, confronted by the puzzling diversity of the physical world, sought an unseen and unifying force that would constrain and explain it. This drive toward unity did more than place the mind over the senses: it led the Greeks to play down the very real differences - in particular the female, the family, and sexuality - in both their political and personal lives. While the dramatists and Plato captured the tragic consequences of trying to do so, it was not until Aristotle and his Politics did the Greek world - and its heirs - have a true science of politics, one capable of embracing diversity and accommodating conflict. Much of the book's force derives from Saxonhouse's masterful interweaving of Greek philosophy and drama, her juxtaposition of the thought of the pre-Socratics, Plato, and other philosophers to the cultural life revealed by such dramatists as Aristophanes and Aeschylus. Her approach opens up fresh understandings of such issues as the Greeks' fear of the feminine and their attempts to ignore the demands that gender, reproduction, and the family inevitably make on the individual and the family. The Fear of Diversity represents an important contribution to political philosophy, classics, and gender studies. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Woman and the Lyre Jane M Snyder, 2017-03-09 Faint though the voices of the women of Greek and Roman antiquity may be in some cases, their sound, if we listen carefully enough, can fill many of the gaps and silences of women s past.From the beginning with Sappho in the seventh century B.C. and ending with Hypatia and Egeria in the fifth century A.D., Jane McIntosh Snyder listens carefully to the major women writers of classical Greece and Rome, piecing together the surviving fragments of their works into a coherent analysis that places them in their literary, historical, and intellectual contexts.While relying heavily on modern classical scholarship, Snyder refutes some of the arguments that implicitly deny the power of women's written words the idea that women's experience is narrow or trivial and therefore automatically inferior as subject matter for literature, the notion that intensity in a woman is a sign of neurotic imbalance, and the assumption that women s work should be judged according to some externally imposed standard.The author studies the available fragments of Sappho, ranging from poems on mythological themes to traditional wedding songs and love poems, and demonstrates her considerable influence on Western thought and literature. An overview of all of the authors Snyder discusses shows that ancient women writers focused on such things as emotions, lovers, friendship, folk motifs, various aspects of daily living, children, and pets, in distinct contrast to their male contemporaries concern with wars and politics. Straightforwardness and simplicity are common characteristics of the writers Snyder examines. These women did not display allusion, indirection, punning and elaborate rhetorical figures to the extent that many male writers of the ancient world did. Working with the sparse records available, Snyder strives to place these female writers in their proper place in our heritage. |
| a political and culture center in greece: International Dictionary of Historic Places: Southern Europe Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda, 1995 First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece Josiah Ober, 2015-05-04 A major new history of classical Greece—how it rose, how it fell, and what we can learn from it Lord Byron described Greece as great, fallen, and immortal, a characterization more apt than he knew. Through most of its long history, Greece was poor. But in the classical era, Greece was densely populated and highly urbanized. Many surprisingly healthy Greeks lived in remarkably big houses and worked for high wages at specialized occupations. Middle-class spending drove sustained economic growth and classical wealth produced a stunning cultural efflorescence lasting hundreds of years. Why did Greece reach such heights in the classical period—and why only then? And how, after the Greek miracle had endured for centuries, did the Macedonians defeat the Greeks, seemingly bringing an end to their glory? Drawing on a massive body of newly available data and employing novel approaches to evidence, Josiah Ober offers a major new history of classical Greece and an unprecedented account of its rise and fall. Ober argues that Greece's rise was no miracle but rather the result of political breakthroughs and economic development. The extraordinary emergence of citizen-centered city-states transformed Greece into a society that defeated the mighty Persian Empire. Yet Philip and Alexander of Macedon were able to beat the Greeks in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, a victory made possible by the Macedonians' appropriation of Greek innovations. After Alexander's death, battle-hardened warlords fought ruthlessly over the remnants of his empire. But Greek cities remained populous and wealthy, their economy and culture surviving to be passed on to the Romans—and to us. A compelling narrative filled with uncanny modern parallels, this is a book for anyone interested in how great civilizations are born and die. This book is based on evidence available on a new interactive website. To learn more, please visit: http://polis.stanford.edu/. |
| a political and culture center in greece: German Foreign Policy and Greek Martyr Communities Charalampos Babis Karpouchtsis, |
| a political and culture center in greece: Encyclopedia of Diasporas Melvin Ember, Carol R. Ember, Ian Skoggard, 2004-11-30 Immigration is a topic that is as important among anthropologists as it is the general public. Almost every culture has experienced adaptation and assimilation when immigrating to a new country and culture; usually leaving for what is perceived as a better life. Not only does this diaspora change the country of adoption, but also the country of origin. Many large nations in the world have absorbed, and continue to absorb, large numbers of immigrants. The foreseeable future will see a continuation of large-scale immigration, as many countries experience civil war and secessionist pressures. Currently, there is no reference work that describes the impact upon the immigrants and the immigrant societies relevant to the world's cultures and provides an overview of important topics in the world's diasporas. The encyclopedia consists of two volumes covering three main sections: Diaspora Overviews covers over 20 ethnic groups that have experienced voluntary or forced immigration. These essays discuss the history behind the social, economic, and political reasons for leaving the original countries, and the cultures in the new places; Topics discusses the impact and assimilation that the immigrant cultures experience in their adopted cultures, including the arts they bring, the struggles they face, and some of the cities that are in the forefront of receiving immigrant cultures; Diaspora Communities include over 60 portraits of specific diaspora communities. Each portrait follows a standard outline to facilitate comparisons. The Encyclopedia of Diasporas can be used both to gain a general understanding of immigration and immigrants, and to find out about particular cultures, topics and communities. It will prove of great value to researchers and students, curriculum developers, teachers, and government officials. It brings together the disciplines of anthropology, social studies, political studies, international studies, and immigrant and immigration studies. |
| a political and culture center in greece: A Companion to Ancient Greek Government Hans Beck, 2013-01-22 This comprehensive volume details the variety of constitutions and types of governing bodies in the ancient Greek world. A collection of original scholarship on ancient Greek governing structures and institutions Explores the multiple manifestations of state action throughout the Greek world Discusses the evolution of government from the Archaic Age to the Hellenistic period, ancient typologies of government, its various branches, principles and procedures and realms of governance Creates a unique synthesis on the spatial and memorial connotations of government by combining the latest institutional research with more recent trends in cultural scholarship |
| a political and culture center in greece: The Journal of Social Forces , 1922 |
| a political and culture center in greece: Polis & Politics Pernille Flensted-Jensen, Thomas Heine Nielsen, Mogens Herman Hansen, Lene Rubinstein, 2000 Contains 35 articles devoted to different aspects of the Greek polis and is intended not only as a present for Mogens Herman Hansen on his sixtieth birthday, but also as a way of thanking him for his significant contributions to the field of Greek history over the past three decades. |
| a political and culture center in greece: American Opinion , 1981 |
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