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Greek culture influences the current western culture
Greek cultures influence on western culture
Greek culture influences the current western culture
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Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, “He who has a task to perform must know how to take sides, or he is quite unworthy of it.” Though such quotes sound nice they mean nothing. Glittering generalities and other forms of propaganda have been around for centuries. If one believes that the general definition of democracy is defined as a government elected or run by the people, for the people, and in equal measure then it can certainly be said that Cleisthenes succeeded in his tasks. However, the man’s history in Greece and his short-lived legacy raise questions about the bigger picture of his effect on the people of Athens and democracy as a whole. This essay will argue that Cleisthenes, called the father of democracy, was the most desirable leader of his time in ancient Greece because he actively worked to create a safe and stable government before he was elected to power, he sought to establish a government that appealed to both the upper and lower classes, and he supported his people having a say in both major and minor issues occurring every day in their city.
Cleisthenes’ rise to power was anything but graceful. He was an Alcmaenoid by birth and this meant going into politics would be a normal path, but revolutionizing the entire political structure after a tumultuous start could not have been expected. After overthrowing the Hippa’s, Cleisthenes was surpassed in the race to lead Athens by Isagoras who was supported by the king, who also favored previous political methods. At this point in time the country was practicing ostracism. This is the practice in which:
“Every year the Assembly of Athenian citizens voted, by show of hands, on whether or not to hold an ostracism. If the Demos voted to hold one, the ostracism took plac...
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