Democracy: From the ashes of Athenian wars

What this episode covers

Democracy is often treated like humanity’s greatest political achievement. A system built on freedom, equality, and the voice of the people. But its origins were anything but peaceful. Democracy was born in chaos, shaped by violence, and war. In this episode, we travel back with historian Jennifer Roberts from the City College of New York and the City University of New York Graduate Center to ancient Athens, where the world’s first experiment with democracy emerged. Long before modern elections and constitutions, Athens was a city teetering between tyranny, aristocratic power, economic crisis, and constant warfare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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This episode is 42 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 15, 2026.

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Democracy is often treated like humanity’s greatest political achievement. A system built on freedom, equality, and the voice of the people. But its origins were anything but peaceful. Democracy was born in chaos, shaped by violence, and war. In...

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