News and Society in the Greek PolisDuckworth, 1996 - 206 pages Sian Lewis explores the role of news and information in shaping Greek society from the sixth to the fourth centuries, b.c. Applying ideas from the study of modern media to her analysis of the functions of gossip, travel, messengers, inscriptions, and institutions in the polis, she demonstrates that news was a vital concern for the ancient Greeks. Specifically, the acquisition and exchange of information played a key role in determining status and power. Proceeding from a discussion of individual citizens involved in the exchange of news to an account of more complex forms of communication organized by the polis, Lewis traces the role of what we call news in a culture that was primarily oral. She contrasts the informal exchanges that occurred among travelers and merchants with the official announcements made by heralds and envoys. She also analyzes the motives behind such official announcements and the ways in which the authorities exerted control over the flow of information. Finally, she reconsiders the role of the political assembly and the origins of the public inscription, which has until now been assumed to have been the primary source of news for Greek citizens. Not for sale in the British Commonwealth except Canada or in Europe |
Contents
News Within the Community | 9 |
10 | 27 |
Official Communications | 51 |
Copyright | |
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according affairs Aischines allowed ancient announcement appear Aristophanes army assembly Athenian Athens authority Boule bringing brought carried centre century character citizens claims clear clearly communication concern considered debate decision decree Demosthenes discussed dissemination distinction effective envoys evidence example fact festivals foreign gathering give Greece Greek herald Herodotos honour idea illustrates important indicates individual inscriptions instance interesting kind king knowledge less letter Lysias matters means messenger military motive names nature offered official oral orators Peace Persian Philip Plutarch poleis polis political possible practice present question reasons received records refers relates representative role rumour says secret seen sent slaves society sources Spartan speaker speeches spread status stele story suggests Thucydides tion traders true women writing written Xenophon Xenophon Hellenika