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The Greek Roots of
Democracy
Democracy
• Democracy is a form of government
where the citizens have governing
power. It can be traced back to ancient
Greece.
Geography of Greece
• Mountainous country in Southern Europe
along the Mediterranean Sea.
• Rugged terrain
• Greeks built small, isolated city-states.
• City-state: a political unit made up of a city
and the surrounding lands.
City-States: Polis (small population and not united)
Temples worship
polytheistic gods (priests)
Acropolis: high city with palace (king)
Seat of Government: made of
noblemen, landowners and wealthy families
Middle class: merchants, farmers, artisians
Marketplace
Workers, slaves, etc.
Rulers
• Between 700 and 500 BC there were many
changes in rulers.
• Originally ruled by kings.
Bronze Age:
• Power shifts to wealthy landowners (aristocracy)
– Served as military defenders of the city: controlled
weapons.
– (Common men could not afford to be soldiers as they
could not afford to purchase armor, horses, and
chariots).
Technology of War: Iron!
• Changes in military technology allowed the
middle class to gain power.
– In 650 BC iron weapons replaced expensive
bronze, allowing ordinary citizens to purchase
armor and become soldiers.
– When citizens felt leadership was too
tyrannical, they could exercise armed
resistance. (roots of democracy)
Creates greater equality among the social classes of
Ancient Greece.
Temple: Polytheistic Gods (Priests)
Ruling Aristocracy (wealthy families)
Military Citizens: Middle class
Slaves
Sparta and Athens emerge as dominant city-states.
Sparta
• Transforms into a
military state around 600
BC.
• Boys left home at the
age of 7 and lived in
military barracks. They
trained to be lifetime
soldiers. Very militaristic
and disciplined society.
• Girls encouraged to stay
healthy so they could
marry and have many
babies (future soldiers).
Sparta
• The government was
controlled by two
kings (monarchs).
Assembly
– advised by a council of
elders.
• Major decisions had
to be approved by an
assembly.
– An assembly is a group
of citizens. In Sparta the
assembly consisted only
of native born male
Spartans over age 30.
Elders
K
K
Athens
• Birthplace of
democracy
• Originally
controlled by a
monarchy
• Power shifts to the
aristocracy around
700 BC.
Athens
• Under the aristocracy
Athenian wealth and
power grew
• Ordinary citizens
discontent
Aristo
Aristo
– resented the power of the
nobles.
• Discontent fueled by debt
slavery
– Citizens who found
themselves in debt had
to sell off lands to the
nobles.
– Many were forced to sell
themselves into slavery
to pay off their debts.
Aristo
Aristo
Aristo
Tyrant
Aristo
Aristo
Aristo
Aristo
Aristo
Athenian Reformers
• Solon: 594 BC abolishes debt slavery and
expands Athenian assembly.
• Pisistratus: 546 BC takes control of the city and
gives farmers and poor greater voice in
government.
• Cleisthenes: 507 BC establishes council of 500.
– 500 member legislature
– All male citizens over 30 eligible
– Slaves and women still excluded
Athenian Reformers
• Pericles: Establishes direct democracy
– In direct democracy each citizen gets an equal say in
government; women and slaves still excluded.
• Athenian assembly expanded to 6,000
– Government officials given salary allowing poor men
to serve
• Juries created to make final decisions in court
trials.
• Created civil works projects to improve
infrastructure and economy.
GODS/PRIEST
“Boule”
MONARCH/TYRANT
ARISTOCRACY
Council of 500
WEALTHY
LANDOWNERS
Made laws
Assembly:
6000+ Citizens
Jury system
1000+ citizens
Determine
outcomes of legal
situations.
Voice in governmental decisions
Oversee daily business/govt
decisions
Athens
Sparta
The Peloponnesian War
• 431 BC Sparta attacked
Athens.
• Fighting lasts 27 years.
• 404 BC Sparta captures
Athens
• Instills Military Discipline
and overrules Athenian
democracy.
Early Philosophers
• Socrates
• Plato
• Aristotle
Built on each other’s ideas
and set the foundation for
later Enlightenment ideas.
LEGACY OF THE GREEKS
Philosophers: lovers of wisdom
• Men start thinking about Gods,
natural law, power and men’s
control over each other.
• Early science (astronomy)
• Human behavior and relationship to
each other (morality and ethics)
• “Golden Rule” morality
• Foundations of democracy and
various forms of government.
• Common man took more active role
in government and leadership.
Alexander the Great
• 338 BC Greece conquered by neighboring
Macedonia ruled by King Philip.
• Philip’s son, Alexander, inherits throne at age
20, continues to expand the empire.
• Alexander’s tutor was Aristotle who would
teach him ideas of democracy and written law
• By 327 BC he had conquered an empire
stretching over 2,000 miles, earning himself
the name Alexander the Great.
Empire of Alexander the Great
Macedonia
Hellenistic Age
• Rule of the Macedonians blend of Greek,
Persian, Egyptian, and Indian cultures
blended together.
(Which theme of geography does this demonstrate?)
The End of Alexander’s Empire
• Alexander dies in 323 BC with no heir
• Empire divided among three generals
and quickly crumbled because of power
wars.
• Allows new empire to emerge: Rome.