Rhetorical Insights

The transcript discusses the speaker's personal experience with social class differences and how it influenced their interest in rhetoric and political discourse. The speaker's dissertation focused on contradictions in Athenian oratory, revealing insights into class dynamics and democratic stability. The speaker challenges traditional views of the post-Peloponnesian War period, highlighting the resilience and success of Athenian democracy.

What personal experience influenced the speaker's interest in the dynamics between elites and non-elites?

• Living in a foreign country

• Working in a government position

• Transferring to a troubled high school

• Attending a private school

What contradiction did the speaker find in the orator's speech?

• The orator supported both sides of a political argument.

• The orator ignored the existence of social classes.

• The orator criticized the elite while also claiming to be more elite.

• The orator praised both the elite and the common people equally.

What was the focus of the speaker's first published article?

• The role of women in ancient Greece

• The economic systems of Athens

• Views of sea power in 4th century BC

• The architecture of Greek temples

How does the speaker view the period after the Peloponnesian War?

• As a time of decline and failure

• As a period of economic prosperity

• As a vibrant and successful recovery

• As a time of political instability

What question does the speaker aim to answer about Athenian democracy?

• What were its economic impacts?

• Why did it fail so quickly?

• Why was it a success for so long?

• How did it influence modern democracies?