In this timely and fascinating film, historian Bettany Hughes goes in search of the real truth about democratic Athens, 2500 years ago. It has been revered as the birthplace of philosophy, art, science and the greatest political idea of all time; democracy. It has been portrayed as a golden age, almost too good to be true - and maybe it was. Now Bettany Hughes throws out the stereotypes and digs deeper to find out what democracy really meant.