Download The Rise of Democracy

The Rise of Democracy
What is the ideal form of Government?
• Autocracy: Government in which one person
possesses unlimited power
• Democracy: Government in which the power
rests with the people, either directly or through
representation.
• Government: A political system for exercising
authority.
What are the main historical sources
of the democratic tradition?
• Democratic Traditions started with the Greek
City-States of Athens and Sparta.
– City-State or Polis is a political unit made of a city
and its surrounding lands.
• Monarchy: a government in which a king or queen
exercises central power.
• Aristocracy: a small ruling class that defended and
advised the king.
• Republic : A form of government in which power rests
with Citizens who have the right to elect the leaders
who make decisions.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
THIS IS SPARTA!
– Sparta: Military city-state in
Ancient Greece. Government
included two kings & a group
of elder advisors. An
assembly or group made up
of all citizens, approved major
decisions. Citizens were male,
native-born Spartans over age
thirty.
ATHENS- BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY
– ATHENS: Greek city-state where
the idea of Democracy or
government by the people,
developed.
Development of Democracy in Athens
• Solon: Greek leader who made many needed
reforms, outlawed debt slavery, opened
offices to more citizens & gave Athenian
assembly more say in decision making
• Pisistratus: Greek leader in 546 BC who gave
farmers & poor citizens a greater voice,
weakening the aristocracy.
Development of Democracy in Athens
• Cleisthenes: Greek leader in 507 BC who set up
the council of 500, whose member where chosen
by lot from among all citizens over the age of 30.
Council prepared all laws for the assembly &
supervised the day to day government business.
• Pericles-ruler of Athens 460 to 429 BC
– Established Direct Democracy in Athens, citizens took
part in the day to day affairs of government
– Believed all male citizens should take part in
government
– Paid a salary to government officials.
– Stressed rights and duties of individuals as citizen in a
democracy
– Established juries to decide people’s fates.
THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS
• Socrates –Greek philosopher, statesmen &
teacher who challenged men to seek truth &
self knowledge.
• Plato-Student of Socrates who taught reason
led to genuine knowledge. Rejected Athenian
Democracy. Wrote THE REPUBLIC in which he
stated government should regulate every
aspect of it’s citizens lives. All men are born
equal but could rise only as high as their
abilities allowed. Thought states should be
ruled by philosopher-kings.
Socrates
Plato and Aristotle
THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS
• Aristotle-student of Plato who also taught
Alexander the Great. He was leery of Democracy.
He believed the city-state was the best form of
government but wanted the middle class to run
the government under a constitution. In his book
Politics, he promoted the rule of law over the rule
of the individuals. He despised tyranny in which
an individual ruler stood above the law. He
promoted reason as a guiding force and set up a
school, The Lyceum, for the study of all branches
of knowledge.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great
• Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia
• Student of Aristotle, Alexander went on to
create an empire that stretched from
Macedonia & Greece through Persia to
Northern India. He created the Hellenistic Age
combining Persian, Greek, Egyptian and Indian
cultures. Everywhere his army went they
founded cities, the most famous of which is
Alexandria in Egypt.