Download Foundations of Democracy

August 18, 2008
1. What is Democracy?
2. What is the most common form of govt in the
world today?
3. What type of govt do we have in the United
States?
4. What religion has the most people in it
throughout the world?
5. What religion is based on the teachings of the
prophet Muhammad?
Ancient Greece
Prologue, Section 1
Greek Religion

Polytheistic:


Belief in many gods
Temples, were both:
Places of worship
 Tributes to the gods


City-states worshipped
different gods
Athens – Athena (Wisdom)
 Sparta – Nike (Victory)



Government = system
for controlling society
Many types of Govt.:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Monarchy: single person
rules with total power
Aristocracy: government
ruled by group of nobles
families
Oligarchy: government
ruled by a few powerful
people
Democracy: rule of the
people at large

Comes from—Demos
meaning people, and Kratos
meaning power
Athens Builds a Limited
Democracy

2000 BC

Greeks est. small city-state, each ran by its
own government
Athenian Democracy

Athens


Largest city-state in Greece
Est. first known democracy

Only “citizens” participated in government
Greek Citizen

Citizens were:
Adult
2. Male
3. Land-owning
1.

Elected nobles to run
city-state
Solon

594 BC:

Est. class system of
citizenship

Based on wealth, not
family:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Three highest classes
hold office
All classes can vote
Anyone can bring
charges against
anyone
All free males were
citizens
Solon
630-560 BC
Cleisthenes

508 BC:

“Founder of Democracy in
Athens”

Balance power between rich
and poor


All citizens can submit laws for
debate
Council of 500


Members chosen at random
from ALL citizens
Duty of individual to serve
Cleisthenes
Pericles Strengthens Democracy


Increased paid public
officials
Paid jurors:


people who participated
in trials
Assembly dissolved

Athens now DIRECT
DEMOCRACY:
No elected officials
 Citizens make vote on all
laws

Pericles 461—429 BC
Greek Philosophers Use Reason

300 BC

Men use logic/reason to
explain universe:
1.
2.
Universe is put together
in orderly way,
w/absolute laws
People can
write/understand laws
using logic and reason
Socrates

470 BC


Father of Philosophy
Students examine their
beliefs
Use Socratic Method
to enhance ability to
reason
 Ask more questions for
student to arrive at
answer

Wrapping Up

Write three things you learned today that
you didn’t know before
What
Who
Characteristics
Aristocracy
Ruled by the nobility
Titles passed on by heredity
, social rank and wealth
important
Autocracy
Rule by single individual
Despot, tyrant, dictator
Democracy
Rule by the people
Direct – everyone votes on
everything
Representative – vote to
have someone vote for you
Despotism/Tyrant
Single person rules
Not nice, absolute power
Dictatorship
Single person rules
Leadership unrestricted by
laws or a constitution
Monarchy
Single person rules, king
Absolute –all the power
Constitutional – must follow
the rules
Oligarchy
Rule by the Few
-based on wealth and ability
-small group rules
Single Party State
One Party Rules
Nazis or Communists


Red – Countries who are not democratic
Blue – Countries who claim to be democratic



Green – completely free
Red – not free
Tan – partly free