Athens: The Truth About Democracy

2007•49m

Documentary

Bettany Hughes searches out the real truth about the birth of democracy in ancient Athens 2500 years ago

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Language

Status

Ended

First Aired

July 21, 2007

Last Aired

July 28, 2007

Networks

Channel 4

Where to Watch

Region US · Lang EN

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Seasons & Episodes

Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.

Season

Episode 1

Air date: 2007-07-21

The epic story of Athens' victory in one of the greatest sea battles of the ancient world, when the Athenian triremes defeat Xerxes' mighty Persian fleet at Salamis, and the real story of the building of the greatest monument of this first democracy - the Parthenon - as a symbol of Athenian power.

Episode 2

Air date: 2007-07-28

The extraordinary new ideas of the new democracy, and the powerful and dramatic story of Socrates. Celebrated as one of the authors of the new thinking, he ultimately pushed even democracy beyond its limits and was put to death by his own city.