372 CONCLUSION
course, there is not the slightest evidence RostovtzefFs own
attempt to bridge the gulf between the two contrasting pic-
tures and to subordinate everything to the predominance of
tradition and patriotism is very weak indeed and not convinc-
ing.1 The solution, which can here be outlined only very
briefly, will be found in a complete shifting of emphasis from
the one side to the other
In the course of the fourth century there occurred the
frequently mentioned disintegration of a fairly uniform society
into the two classes of bourgeoisie and proletariate as heralded
in Aristophanes' latest plays. The members of either class
lived as members of their class and no longer — or at least only
partially —as citizens of the State. In a long and gradual
process the Polls had changed from a true political community
into a society of the educated and well-to-do who enjoyed a
fairly comfortable life at the expense of a poor rabble which
was not interested in either politics or matters of the intellect
To some extent, the bourgeoisie preserved the middle-class body
which had been at the core of the citizen body of the previous
two centuries, and thus naturally received a legacy which they
were bound to cherish. The heirs retained considerable pride
in the past glory and present beauty of their city They dis-
played a local patriotism which, fighting as it usually was
against hopeless odds, now and then gamed the appearance
of the true Pohs spirit, in the end, however, it was less con-
cerned with politics than with gymnasia, games and festivals
The 'political' life of the Hellenistic city was essentially deter-
mined by two largely contrasting facts * the lack of real power
and the insistence on autonomy. As there was so little power,
the autonomy more often than not was only nominal, and at
any rate remained a purely parochial affair. There were no
true heirs to the political citizens of the classical age.
Once more, we return to the earlier period which is the
framework of this book, and to the people who are its subject.
The Athenians were a great people, and this greatness was
certainly not confined to the short period from the Persian
wars to Perikles' death. The inner disintegration, however,
1 Walbank thinks that Rostovtzeff's picture of the Hellenistic bourgeoisie is
coloured largely by his observation of the American bourgeoisie of today That is
probably true, but the incongruity of the conflicting characteristics remains,
whether applied to ancient Greece or modern America