Herodotus 3.80-3.83, a well reasoned argument in favor of popular rule is made. it is followed by a condemnation of popular rule in favor of monarchy. The language of both of these arguments is the same as made by Hobbes, Locke, Payne and the Jefferson/Hamilton. I was a US history major, a high school teacher, and a reasonably bright person and I NEVER heard that the roots of Democracy can be found being discussed 2500 years ago. What did I miss, who has made these connections that I should be reading?
OK, thank you for the Bailyn recommendation, I read it years ago but on refreshing myself with it, it too makes passing mention of Democracy in Athens 500 BC and then focuses on Locke, Hume, Paine, etc. What is the line between Athens, 500 BC and North America 1750 AD?