Athens – the Birth of Democracy

Where does the concept of democracy come from? What events led to the emergence of this totally new type of governance, in the 5th century B.C.E.?
Archeologists, historians, geneticists, artists, and geologists examine the origins and the workings of this direct democracy, explore both its bright and dark sides, and compare their research and findings to a corpus of ancient texts discovered over time.
From brilliant innovations to an implacable, even cruel, form of imperialism, the history of Athenian democracy is enthralling. This film sets out to explore this political and human adventure, taking us on a journey through time to the western world’s cradle to better understand its legacy.