Download 4 The Road to Independence

Greek Democracy
 One of the most important
development in ancient Greece was the
emergence, after 800 BC, of the
independent city-state, the polis.
 Prior to the city states - small, petty
cities. To organize the cities, the
primary consideration was defense.
 built on defensible positions, erecting
the acropolis. Next came the houses.
 also included the surrounding
farmlands, fields, pastures and
woodlands. suburbs and fields.
 a community that included both men
and women.
 Outside this group were slaves and
aliens, people who had no rights within
the polis.
 Citizenship was enjoyed only within
one’s own polis.
 one overall social movement that was
common to all – the movement toward
some kind of self-government by the
male citizens.
 The evolution to democratic
government was not inevitable in a
state.
 Monarchy – an officer known as king
(sometimes multiple kings). No real
power as power was vested in a council.
After tiring of a king they moved on to
the next stage.
 Aristocratic oligarchy –political
power was vested in a few nobles.
 Tyranny (a tyrant) –simply a leader, and
not in today’s sense of a tyrant, but comes
from the Greek work tyranos – leader. The
people would rally around this person,
especially for the defense of the city.
 Democracy – Perhaps the greatest gift of
the ancient Greeks to the world - Power
vested in the hands of the people
 Athenian exile, introduced democracy in
Athens.
 In 510 B.C., had his supporters enlisted the
help of the Spartans to drive out the new
Athenian tyrant.
 Exerting his influence in Athenian politics,
he proposed a scheme whereby the masses
would participate more directly in running
the state. He was very aware that the
nobles’ power was very disproportionate.
 Clans and Cliques - city states were
divided into 4 parts and each was led by a
clan. Each clan was led by a clique. Each
of the four cliques worked together to
dominate the city states.
 Council of 500 – created by Cleisthenes as
he did away with the cliques.
 This council planned business for the
public assembly.
 All male citizens above 30 could serve
for one year and the council was chosen
new every year by drawing lots.
 No man could serve more than twice:
in this way political experience was
shared by many citizens, even if this
led to government by amateurs rather
that professionals.
 A fair chance that every eligible Athenian
would be chosen to serve once during his
lifetime.
 With such a personal stake in democracy,
citizens would not conspire with those who
wanted to abolish the system.
 This form of Athenian democracy endured
for several centuries and laid a basis for
democracy in western civilization.