The Origin of Tyranny
The Origin of Tyranny, published in 1922 by P. N. Ure, professor of classics at Reading, proposes that the tyrants of archaic Greece were not military adventurers but capitalists, men who made fortunes in the new economy of coined money and trade in the seventh and sixth centuries BC and used them to seize power. Ure examines the cases in turn: Peisistratus at Athens and the silver of Laurium, Polycrates of Samos, Psammetichus in Egypt, Gyges and the gold of Lydia, Pheidon of Argos, Cypselus of Corinth, the Tarquins at Rome and the lesser tyrants of Sicyon, Megara, Miletus and Sicily. The evidence is archaeological as much as literary, with appendices on pottery, dress and early Athenian sea power. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Origin of Tyranny
The Origin of Tyranny by P. N. Ure can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Origin of Tyranny online?
Yes. The Origin of Tyranny opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Origin of Tyranny free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Origin of Tyranny is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Origin of Tyranny in the public domain?
Yes. The Origin of Tyranny by P. N. Ure is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Origin of Tyranny?
About 11 h of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Origin of Tyranny?
The Origin of Tyranny by P. N. Ure is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
