Athens: The Dawn of Democracy

When most people in the West think of the Golden Age of Athens, they think of a shining society founded on the principles of equality, free speech and democratic ideals. They venerate Ancient Greece as the cornerstone of Western civilization. It is true that this period saw the rise of philosophy, the flourishing of the arts and the creation of a great political ideal. Yet, Athens became a warlike state that carved out an empire to enrich itself, an empire that couldn't tolerate criticism from…