The civilization that fought off the Persian invasion of 480BC, tore itself apart in the long Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta in the late fifth century and was overpowered by Macedon in the latter part of the fourth century is the subject of this book. It defines the basic and distinctive features of Greek society during the late archaic and classical eras. The central chapters are devoted to a survey of the Greek world according to its functional and occupational categories, and examine in turn the tribes, landowners, peasants, colonists, traders, craftsmen, slaves, soldiers and sailors who composed one of the greatest civilizations in history...