Ancient Greek Democracy: Readings and Sources (Interpreting Ancient History, 2)

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Summary: The riddle of the birth of democracy
Review: This is an excellent resource for the study of Greek democracy, because of/despite the course textbook format, which doesn't intrude at all. With selections from ancient Greek writers, and essays, recent or classic, by scholars in the field it gives acomprehensive update on a subject that is too little studied or known. Especially useful is the detailed bibliographical essays on the recent scholarly books on the subject which non-specialists would never have heard of or can't locate.
That democracy was a broader Greek phenomenon that the Athenian, and its persistence somewhat latter than one thought (many of the city states of Alexanders empire became 'democracies' of a sort)is brought out in the text, that and much else from recent research. It is important to see and understand the history of democracy (and empire) for obvious contemporary reasons, especially as we see the Roman juggernaut slowly overtaking this unique and not long enduring birth.
Great resource.