A Gateway to Corruption? The Role of Gifts in Ancient Athenian Democracy

Funder	Arts and Humanities Research Council
Recipient Organization	University of Liverpool
Country	United Kingdom
Start Date	Sep 30, 2024
End Date	Sep 29, 2027
Duration	1,094 days
Number of Grantees	2
Roles	Student; Supervisor
Data Source	UKRI Gateway to Research
Grant ID	`2928849`

Grant Description

This project considers the changing role of gift-giving in the development of Athenian democracy and aims to establish whether a changing political culture created new opportunities for corruption. Beginning with Solon's reforms (c. 594BCE) it will trace the development of key democratic institutions (lawcourts,

assembly, elections) alongside gift-giving practices, and examine if this development increased the potential for 'corrupting' gifts (bribes). The relationship between democratic development and corruption will be traced and the impact of fourth-century 'anti-corruption' reforms will be assessed.