The Rising And Decline Of The Attic Orators And Their Relations With Athens' Democracy

The Attic Orators are an important group who mainly existed in the Classic Times of Ancient Greece. They have risen up at the end of 5th century B.C. and popularized at 4^th century B.C.. With the conquering of Macedonian in Athens and Greece area, however, the Attic Orators quickly disappeared from the scene. Early in the time of Ancient Greece and Rome, scholars have launched a research on Attic Orators and many results of research from them. In Middle Age, people had more interests in rhetoric than in orators and therefore there were little of research results. Since modern times, people have erupted a research passion on the Attic Orators again and so many research results have been produced. Regrettably, most of these research results have inclined to research on single orator or oratory text. The thesis try to break through the research mode of single orator or oratory text by placing Attic Orators in the background of Ancient Greece's evolving from prosperous to declining as a group.The thesis consists of three parts—introduction, the text and the conclusion.The introduction briefly introduces the condition of the Attic Orators research and significance of choosing this topic.The text makes an omni faceted historical observance from four aspects. Part One mainly discusses the long history of oratory tradition in Ancient Greece and the rising of Attic Orators. Part Two summarize a clear outline about Attic Orators' prosperous and the real reason: one is the development of Rhetoric itself;other is radical changes of situations in Athens outside. Part Three summarize a brief process about Attic Orators' decline and its reason: one is the loss of freedom in politics and Athens' importance as a cultural center in Greece region, or more extensive area, Mediterranean area;other is the development of Rhetoric' bad tendency—Asian Style;Part Four point out that orators are a necessary part in the operating of Athens' radical democracy by an complete inspecting on the historical roles in right directionand fault direction. The rising of Attic Orators are the result of democracy's development and the decline also related to the democracy's degenerating.In the end, it is concluded that the research on Attic Orators group hasn't been meticulous and deeply although great efforts were made. Therefore further research on Attic Orators group is required.