Living the life of luxury with the Persians & Greeks
HistoryExtra podcast
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The Politics of Luxurious Displays in Athens
Athens captured Persian booty on the battlefield, but their democratic ideals tell them no man should be able to wield political power through his wealth. So ostentatious displays of individual wealth is a very negative thing in this period. They use some of that wealth to rebuild because as Jamie mentioned, the Persians sacked Athens and burnt it. By the four 40s, four 50s, Athens has emerged at the head of what is now an empire.
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