The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece - by Josiah Ober

Ober investigates the extraordinary success of ancient Greece, exploring why its city-states flourished economically, politically, and culturally. He attributes Greece’s rise to innovative institutions that promoted competition, collaboration, and citizen participation. Using data from archaeology, history, and political science, Ober explains how these factors fostered prosperity and cultural achievements. The book also examines the decline of classical Greece, revealing how internal conflicts and external pressures led to its fall.