Hughes ventures beneath modern-day Athens to discover the treasure trove of artifacts and human remains excavated by American archaeologists over decades - vivid evidence of Athenians who lived and died at the dawn of democracy. ATHENS: THE DAWN OF DEMOCRACY reveals the sophisticated voting systems and mechanisms developed by the Athenians to underpin their democratic experiment: secret ballot systems, as well as ingenious random selection machines to thwart bribery and corruption. But voting was not as "democratic" as one might think: nine-tenths of the population was barred from voting. That right was restricted to male citizens born in Athens and whose parents were also born in the city. Neither slaves nor foreigners nor women could vote. Except for a lucky coincidence, Athenian democracy might not have survived at all. Thanks to the discovery of silver, Athens became rich overnight. Hughes explores the silver mines where slaves mined the wealth that made Athens rich and enabled its citizens to run their democratic experiment. The charismatic General Themistokles emerged, convincing the Athenians to build a fleet of warships - triremes - used with brutal efficiency at Salamis to defeat the mighty Persian fleet under the formidable King of Kings, Xerxes. The victory at Salamis gave the Athenians a clearer sense of their own identify and belief in the might of democracy. Newly empowered, they began ruthlessly to dominate the region, becoming the leaders of nearly all Greece and exporting democracy throughout an empire of their own making. As Athenian democracy hit its stride, the most famous of all Athenian generals, Pericles, built the Parthenon as a symbol of Athenian power. But he also led the country into a disastrous war - a war that would be Athens' undoing.

As Athenian democracy progressed, it became embroiled in the clash of new ideas with old beliefs; Athens started to tear itself apart. The story culminates in one of history's greatest paradoxes: the trial of Socrates, who was democratically judged to be executed for speaking his mind. Democracy grew against the backdrop of a brutal war between democratic Athens and authoritarian Sparta. Still, Athens attracted great thinkers and scientists. Art and culture thrived. At exactly the same time that democracy was emerging, a new, more realistic style of sculpture flourished. Drama provided a structured way to express deep feelings and fears, as Athenians used the theater to debate their problems on stage. Outrageous story lines - sons and mothers making love, mothers eating their children - were presented and openly discussed. Theater at every level was a democratic institution; playwrights were chosen by the state and paid by the state. When Sparta finally defeated Athens, the citizens looked for a scapegoat. Socrates had ridiculed the idea of government by non-experts and had coached many of the arrogant aristocrats who had failed in battle. When Socrates was condemned for impiety and the corruption of youth, he refused to compromise in any way and rejected an offer of exile. He stood trial and was condemned to death by drinking poison. Ultimately, Athenian democracy, despite its trumpeting of free speech, could not tolerate an attack on democracy itself. It was an extraordinary moment in history, but it was not strong enough to thrive and spread. The empire withered, eventually to be crushed by Alexander the Great. It would be another 2,000 years before society was once again able to tolerate the idea of democracy - rule by the people.