0:00:08.022,0:00:12.766 It’s 427 BCE and the worst internal [br]conflict ever to occur 0:00:12.766,0:00:16.416 in the ancient Greek world [br]is in its fourth year. 0:00:16.416,0:00:18.620 The Peloponnesian War is being fought 0:00:18.620,0:00:24.226 between the city-states of Athens and[br]Sparta, as well as their allies. 0:00:24.226,0:00:28.721 The Athenians can’t match the formidable [br]Spartan army on land. 0:00:28.721,0:00:30.701 So they’ve abandoned the countryside 0:00:30.701,0:00:34.606 and moved inside the walls surrounding [br]their city and port, 0:00:34.606,0:00:40.266 now provisioned by a superior fleet [br]and extensive maritime empire. 0:00:40.266,0:00:42.397 The cramped conditions have taken a toll 0:00:42.397,0:00:46.096 and a recent plague wiped out [br]a third of the population. 0:00:46.096,0:00:48.436 But city life goes on. 0:00:48.436,0:00:53.026 Archias and Dexileia live [br]in the center of Athens. 0:00:53.026,0:00:54.958 As a painter of high-class pottery, 0:00:54.958,0:01:00.652 Archias is relatively well-off and takes [br]great interest in the city’s affairs. 0:01:00.652,0:01:07.216 Dexileia, on the other hand, can't[br]participate in politics or own property. 0:01:07.216,0:01:10.866 The couple are grateful to the gods that [br]three of their four children, 0:01:10.866,0:01:12.646 a son and two daughters, 0:01:12.646,0:01:15.537 have survived past infancy. 0:01:15.537,0:01:18.765 Many parents see daughters as a liability 0:01:18.765,0:01:21.744 since they require dowries [br]to find husbands. 0:01:21.744,0:01:24.055 But Archias is confident that his wealth 0:01:24.055,0:01:28.687 will allow him to make good matches[br]for them without going bankrupt. 0:01:28.687,0:01:31.986 Like many Athenians, [br]the family owns slaves. 0:01:31.986,0:01:35.587 Originally from Thrace,[br]they were captured in war. 0:01:35.587,0:01:39.746 Thratta does most of the housework [br]and helps raise the children. 0:01:39.746,0:01:41.671 Philon is a paidagôgos, 0:01:41.671,0:01:45.888 who supervises the son’s education, [br]teaching him reading and writing. 0:01:45.888,0:01:49.715 Archias is up early because there’s [br]a meeting of the Ekklêsia, 0:01:49.715,0:01:51.346 the assembly of citizens, 0:01:51.346,0:01:53.637 taking place at dawn. 0:01:53.637,0:01:55.816 Before setting out, he burns incense 0:01:55.816,0:01:59.577 and pours a libation at the small shrine [br]in the courtyard 0:01:59.577,0:02:02.136 on behalf of his entire household. 0:02:02.136,0:02:06.976 Dexileia will remain at home all day, [br]teaching her daughters domestic skills. 0:02:06.976,0:02:11.516 Later, she’ll retire to the inner [br]courtyard for some fresh air. 0:02:11.516,0:02:13.786 When Archias arrives at the agora, 0:02:13.786,0:02:16.166 the civic and commercial heart [br]of the city, 0:02:16.166,0:02:19.556 he finds the square swarming [br]with his fellow citizens, 0:02:19.556,0:02:24.316 native-born adult males who [br]have completed military training. 0:02:24.316,0:02:27.997 Attached to the central monument is [br]a noticeboard with the meeting’s agenda. 0:02:27.997,0:02:30.726 Today, there’s only one item [br]of discussion: 0:02:30.726,0:02:33.215 what to do with the people of Mytilene, 0:02:33.215,0:02:35.055 a city on the island of Lesbos 0:02:35.055,0:02:39.505 where a revolt against Athenian rule [br]has just been put down. 0:02:39.505,0:02:44.357 The meeting takes place on a hill west [br]of the acropolis known as the Pnyx. 0:02:44.357,0:02:46.216 The word means “tightly packed," 0:02:46.216,0:02:51.105 and the crowd of 5,000 citizens [br]makes it clear why. 0:02:51.105,0:02:55.416 The heralds purify the hill by sprinkling [br]its boundary with pig’s blood 0:02:55.416,0:02:57.697 and call for order. 0:02:57.697,0:03:00.506 As everyone sits on benches [br]facing the platform, 0:03:00.506,0:03:03.387 the presiding officer opens the meeting [br]with the words: 0:03:03.387,0:03:05.556 “Tis agoreuein bouleutai?” 0:03:05.556,0:03:08.527 “Who wishes to address the assembly?” 0:03:08.527,0:03:15.075 One by one, citizens speak, some advising [br]mercy, others bent on vengeance. 0:03:15.075,0:03:18.737 A motion is proposed to execute [br]all the Mytileneans 0:03:18.737,0:03:20.465 and enslave their women and children 0:03:20.465,0:03:24.705 because they betrayed their Athenian [br]allies during a time of war. 0:03:24.705,0:03:29.246 A majority raises their right hands [br]in favor. 0:03:29.246,0:03:34.326 Once the meeting’s over, Archias heads [br]back to the agora to buy food and wine. 0:03:34.326,0:03:37.026 Hundreds have gathered there [br]to discuss the results, 0:03:37.026,0:03:39.737 many unhappy with the decision. 0:03:39.737,0:03:43.457 When Archias returns home, [br]he tells Dexileia about the debate. 0:03:43.457,0:03:46.387 She thinks that killing the innocent [br]as well as the guilty 0:03:46.387,0:03:48.398 is harsh and counterproductive, 0:03:48.398,0:03:50.346 and tells him as much. 0:03:50.346,0:03:54.626 Around dusk, Archias goes to [br]a friend’s house for a symposium. 0:03:54.626,0:03:58.687 The nine men drink wine and[br]discuss the meeting well into the night. 0:03:58.687,0:04:05.073 Archias shares his wife’s opinion urging [br]mercy, and his friends eventually agree. 0:04:05.073,0:04:08.126 Before dawn, something [br]unprecedented happens. 0:04:08.126,0:04:10.527 Heralds circulate throughout Athens 0:04:10.527,0:04:14.015 announcing the council [br]has called another meeting. 0:04:14.015,0:04:16.186 The second debate is equally heated, 0:04:16.186,0:04:19.915 but a new resolution, [br]to execute only the leaders of the revolt, 0:04:19.915,0:04:22.012 narrowly passes. 0:04:22.012,0:04:23.350 Yet there’s a problem – 0:04:23.350,0:04:26.112 a ship with orders to carry out [br]the first resolution 0:04:26.112,0:04:28.278 was dispatched the previous day. 0:04:28.278,0:04:33.146 And so another ship quickly sets sail [br]to countermand the order – 0:04:33.146,0:04:36.166 a race of democracy against time.