This research focuses on the tumultuous period of the tyranny of the Peisistratids in Athens. During these exciting years, grand festivals were institutionalized, impressive buildings were erected, the population rapidly increased, and remarkable progress was made in all the arts.

This research examines the artistic, archaeological, and literary evidence available for this period. To a large extent, it observes Athens through the eyes of Herodotus, the Father of History, and allows us to witness a process during which the foundations for the birth and development of democracy are laid in the following century.

This book, well-written and easy to read, was designed by the University of Bristol for teachers and students, but it also appeals to anyone who wishes to easily and quickly learn about their ancestral heritage.