Download Classics activity 1 Democracy

Democracy 2,500
Target Audience
AS-Level students taking a classical subject who are interested in exploring political similarities
and differences between classical Athens and the modern West.
Key Concepts
Politics, democracy, power, women, slavery, participation, voting, warfare, empire
The Activity
The year 1993 was celebrated as the 2,500th anniversary of the birth of Democracy,
since its foundation by Cleisthenes in Athens in 509 B.C. Does that make sense? Was
Classical Athens really 'democratic'? Does 'democracy' mean the same thing now as it
did 2,500 years ago?
Background Knowledge
You will need to have, or develop, a basic working knowledge of Athenian politics and the
significance of Athens in the classical world. You should also be familiar with aspects of modern
British politics: How do we vote? Who is and is not eligible? How are our voices heard? Etc.
Resources
For a solid overview and analysis of Athenian democracy, I want you to begin with Prof Paul
Cartledge's articles on the subject on the BBC History website. Begin with
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocracy_01.shtml, and then follow the links
in the column on the right: in particular, you will find the article 'Critics and critiques of Ancient
Athenian Democracy' useful, as well as external link to Dēmos – Classical Athenian Democracy'
(http://www.stoa.org/projects/demos/home). However, in producing your response to this
Activity, I want you to ground your ideas and arguments in ancient evidence. For this you will
find
the
link
to
'Internet
Ancient
History
Sourcebook'
useful:
go
to
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook07.html and scroll down to 'Athenian Democracy',
where you will find a wide range of primary literary and visual material with which to corroborate
your ideas.
Outcomes
This activity lends itself to a wide range of outcomes: you could produce an essay, a report or a
presentation. If you are working in groups, you could produce a debate: one side arguing that
Classical Athens was democratic, the other that it wasn't.
Helpful hints
This is a broad topic, so choose the areas that you find most interesting and that you feel you
best understand. Questions and issues you might address include:
- What were Cleisthenes' reforms in 509/8 B.C.?
- How did Athenians vote?
- What was the role of women in Athenian life?
- Can a slave-owning society be democratic?
- How did Athens treat foreigners inside the city?
Going further
Democracy is about more than just voting. Scholars have recently focussed on Greek drama,
games and religious processions as crucial manifestations of Athenian democracy in action.
Find out about the celebration of the Panathenaia in Classical Athens and assess to what extent
this festival was a democratic institution.