Democrazia e impero ad Atene nella History of Greece di George Grote. (Italian)

In his History of Greece, George Grote celebrates the Athenian democracy and considers it an exemplary political regime. Grote despises oligarchy and believes that Athenian popular sovereignty has put an end to factional struggles. In particular, the reform of the courts ensured respect for the law and prevented the strongest and richest from taking power. However, the popular dikasteries were also an effective system for controlling and governing the subjects of the maritime empire. Grote compares the Athenian rule with the British Empire: both are governments of dependencies, in which the subdued states freely manage their internal affairs, but depend on the dominant state in foreign policy. The disputes between Athens and its allies were discussed in the Athenian courts where, according to Grote, the Greeks found fairness and tolerance, and were thus rewarded for the loss of their autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nella History of Greece George Grote celebra la democrazia ateniese e la considera un regime politico esemplare. Grote disprezza l'oligarchia e ritiene che la sovranità popolare ateniese abbia posto fine alle lotte di fazione. In particolare, la riforma periclea dei tribunali garantì il rispetto della legge e impedì ai più forti e ai più ricchi di prendere il potere. Tuttavia, i tribunali popolari furono anche un efficace sistema per controllare e governare i sudditi dell'impero marittimo. Grote paragona il dominio ateniese all'impero britannico: entrambi sono governments of dependencies, in cui gli stati sudditi gestiscono liberamente i loro affari interni, ma dipendono dallo stato dominante nella politica estera. Le controversie fra Atene e i suoi alleati erano discusse nei tribunali ateniesi nei quali, secondo Grote, i greci del tempo trovarono giustizia e clemenza, e furono così ricompensati per la perdita della loro autonomia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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