This book traces the development of political thought from the pre-Socratic tradition of ancient Greece through to the classical schools of Athens and Rome. The key ideas of central texts such as Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics are presented in the context of their intellectual precedents and successors. Readings range in style from the humorous satire of Aristophanes's Assemblywomen to the instructive dialogues of Plato and Cicero.

Clear, readable translations are used throughout, and helpful introductions and annotations make the readings as accessible as possible. Quotes from modern writers like Freud and Nietzsche are included to illuminate connections between ancient ideas and more recent thought.