What Are The Pros And Cons Of Ancient Athenian Government

Question #1:

The ancient Athenians were the first society to give the vote and say of the people to citizens and not oligarchs or tyrants. As a people, they wanted to distance themselves from the despots of the east and other city states that dominated the area. The Athenians were the first to utilize a constitution as brought in part of the reforms of Solons. This was the rules and laws that the government had to follow, how it would operate and what limits the government itself had imposed. Voter apathy was punishable with a fine, seeing as they considered political action one of man’s greatest forms of expression. The Athenians regularly met to discuss politics in assemblies and at the agora. This is where males of age could openly discuss

Minogue notes that the Greeks “Studied constitutions and generalized the relation between human nature and political associations” (Minogue 27) believing that like the seasons, man went through many different forms of government. From despotism back to democracy in cycles. The greatest benefit to their citizenship is that they lived in a direct democracy, and had many opportunities to express their opinion regardless of who they were and what their background was. A poor person that had worked hard had the same vote that a rich person who had life handed to them. Oligarchs had no say over the masses. Instead of voting for a politician to represent them (As America is now) their vote directly mattered in political affairs, not the person they voted on in hopes they share their view. Every opinion from every voter was given the time of day to be listened to inside the Agora. The negative to citizenship, was that it was fairly limiting politically. The only people in Athens with a vote were free born men over the age of 18. Professor Paul Cartledge notes that descent from a naturally born from an “Athenian mother as well as father - was strictly insisted upon.” (Cartledge) Keeping this voting group

Minogue argues that, and for great reason. The Romans were the first to introduce splitting power into more groups. This was an effective way to fight off the despotism of tyrants and to make sure one did not hold much power over an entire empire. While the Roman Empire was ruled over by a Kings in its early days, after the last one met an unfortunate end the power of absolute monarch was abolished. Kings were seen as demanding of servitude, far from how the rulers wanted the empire to be for its people. In its place, two Consuls held the highest position over the Empire. This is an equivalent to a president that we have in modern America. The Roman senate helped split power as well. The senate advised the Consuls on their actions and what they were doing with the Empire. Tension and stand offs happened when these two parties disagreed. Much like in America when one branch disagrees with each other or does not want to let the other party gain much power. Another influence America took from the Romans was giving the typical person a way to represent themselves. When the plebeians of the empire demanded a fair say they protested against how the patricians treated them and equated it with them having too much power. After that successful protest, they were