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Athenian Democracy • How would you define democracy? • Consider the definition below provided by the Greek Historian Herodotus in the fifth century BCE. Herodotus, Histories 3.80 Aristotle’s Politics • Forms of Government • Monarchy (The rule of one.) • Aristocracy (The rule of the elite.) • Democracy (The rule of the people.) • • • • Corrupted Forms Tyranny Oligarchy Demagoguery or Anarchy deme=people cratis=power • Thesis: Athenian democracy was paradoxical in that it was both radically hierarchical and radically egalitarian. • Hierarchical: It excluded a large segment of the population: women, slaves, foreigners, children (Only adult male citizens, perhaps 10-20% of the population could participate politically.) • Egalitarian: It was not representative democracy, but direct democracy. All citizens made laws and decisions for the polis, not special legislators. All citizens held political office during their lifetimes. Athenian Democracy • I. Political Changes and Reforms to the end of the Sixth Century • II. The Athenian Constitution (Politeia) in the Fifth Century BCE • III. Athenian Government in Practice I. Political Changes and Reforms in Athens to the end of the Sixth Century • 1. By 700 BCE a ruling aristocracy replaced kings • 2. Solons Reforms (c. 594 BCE) – All citizens could vote, but not all could hold magisterial offices; ended slavery for debt • 3. Period of Populist Tyrants (546-510 BCE) • 4. Cleisthenes Reforms (c. 508 BCE) – All citizens could hold office II. Athenian Constitution (Politeia) • 1 Citizenship (18; if both parents citizens) • 2 Citizen Assembly (Ekklesia) – Met at least once a week; all citizens could attend, speak in, and vote on laws and decisions • 3 Political and Administrative Offices – Chosen by lottery; term limits of one year, never two years in a row; same office only twice in one’s life • 4 Courts – no legal professionals only private citizens • 5 The Theoretical Purpose: A fragmentation of power (of influential families/clans/individuals) – The government structure made it difficult for individuals or groups (powerful families) to accumulate power. – We think of equality in terms of rights. Ancient Athenians also considered citizens functionally equal in the sense of being interchangeable (like hoplites in the phalanx) III. Athenian Government in Practice • 1. Compared to Modern Democracies – Why don’t people vote in US elections? Very low participation in modern US democracy. • 2. Widespread and active participation in ancient Athens • 3. A Relationship between Equality and Hierarchy? – Patriarchy – Slavery – Empire • Did direct democracy exist because of the many forms of hierarchy that supported it (participation possible because of social and political order)? Patriarchy • Disparity in marriage age • Wives had limited public presence • Prostitutes and Courtesans (hetairai); typically foreign women and slaves – Aspasia (Pericles lover and companion) • Pederasty among the elites (love of youths/adolescents) Slavery • A Slave Society: – Fifth-century Athens perhaps 250,000 with a slave population of 80,000 • Prisoners of War – Not a racial slavery; those who were reduced to slavery through war and piracy • Served in Diverse Occupations – Private slaves: artisans, managers, domestic servants, secretaries, miners Athenian Imperialism • Athens as the Head of the Delian League – Appropriated the League Treasury – Forced Membership (“allies could not withdraw) • Growing Dominance over Other Greek poleis