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Essay on ancient greek government and now
Ancient greek government essays
Essay on ancient greek government and now
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Politics in Greece
Term Paper
DECEMBER 7, 2015
POLS 3402
Ariel Walker
Intro Greece is one of many countries that have had its vicissitudes that have occurred frequently throughout history. There have been multiple leaders, wars, debts, and losses that have been recorded through history. Although Greece has had its many eras, “Each era has its own related sphere of interest.” (History of Greece). The complications that originated in ancient Greece are now reoccurring in present day to an extent. Fortunately, Greece is a country that is very strong; they are not afraid to fight for what they feel is right. It also helps that Greece stays out of any worldly dilemma that does not have anything to do with them. Of course, there have been
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The lottery system also prevented the establishment of a permanent class of civil servants who might be tempted to use the government to advance or enrich themselves. However, historians argue that selection to the boule was not always just a matter of chance. They note that wealthy and influential people–and their relatives–served on the Council much more frequently than would be likely in a truly random lottery. “ (History)
The random selection had its trials and tribulations but it was still successful. Although this form of government was an experiment, it lasted for 100 years and ended after Athens lost the war with Sparta. The people of Athens remained strong and their leader, Pericles made a statement guaranteeing that: “it is true that we (Athenians) are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few, with equal justice to all alike in their private dispute” –Pericles (Donn, n.d.) The last branch of the political system that tied all three together is the Dikasteria. This particular
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Since there was no law enforcement, the Dikasteria were in charge of all legal concerns as well as any court issues. If in court they also practiced majority rules when decision making for Greece. The Dikasteria consisted of 500 males that were not younger than 30. Unlike all of the other political parties, this particular branch was the only to pay the members with money from allies and sponsors since Greece was technically tax-free. The political reform was the first organized political party and was further more utilized years down the road, and is still being used to this day. Luckily, this system was created sooner than later, because it has really helped keep Greece organized throughout the years. Through the wars and different leaders, the system practically remained intact, as it was reliable and sturdy. The Ekklesia, Boule, and Dikasteria are the roots the Greece’s current day political system and are still being used to run the country. The political parties were not named the same, but they just about have the same duties at the end of the
By the fourth century B.C.E. there were hundreds of Greek democracies. Greece was not a single political entity it was a collection of about 1500 separate poleis or cities scattered around the Mediterranean and black sea shores. The cities that were not democracies were either oligarchies or monarchies (often times called tyrannies). Of the democracies, the oldest, the most stable, the most long-lived, and the most radical, was Athens.
It is surprising indeed that Even today, tyrannies and dictatorships exist in the world when more than two and a half thousand years ago the ancient Athenians had developed a functional and direct form of democracy. What contributed to this remarkable achievement and how it changed the socio-political. scene in Athens is what will be considered in this paper. The paper will have three sections, each detailing the various stages. of political development from the kings of Attica to the time of Pericles when, in its golden age, Athens was at the height of its. imperial power.
The Ancient Greeks were nothing if not influential. Ever since it 's formation in the 8th century B.C., Greek civilization has impacted many of the world 's greatest thinkers and shaped the landscape of Western Civilization. Aside from their art and philosophy, the Ancient Greeks were particularly interested in politics and, in the case of Athens, a new system of government known as: democracy! Long before the American founding fathers declared their independence from Britain, Athenian citizens governed their own state and voted to solve political turmoil. However, ancient Athens was no perfect twin to American democracy, and being an upstanding Athenian citizen meant more than simply voting and going about one 's business. A standout Athenian
Four rulers, Draco, Solon, Pisistratus, and Cleithenes, greatly influenced the political development of Athens. However, Athenian democracy cannot really be called a true democracy since there were several flaws in the government and the way in which it functioned. Upper class male citizens over the age of thirty were the only Athenians who held any right to vote. The democracy in Athens consisted of an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Together, nine anchors, a Council of five hundred, an Assembly, and a court chosen by lot governed the city-state with limited power. The Assembly was made up of five hundred men who were chosen from a list of those who were eligible to serve on the council. All branches of the government were capable of vetoing one another. It was also customary to expel from the country any speaker who became too powerful. This rule could easily be abused and often infringed on the freedom of speech that most democracies have. However, as stated in the Athenian Constitution, male citizens were equal and the government’s focu...
During the age of Pericles, the ideal form of government was believed to be a government formed by all of the citizens regardless of wealth or social standing. This was known as democracy, literally meaning “ government of the people” [Document 3.] This government favored the many instead of the few. Athens was a direct democracy, meaning every citizen participated in debates. Western civilization used this philosophy of government by many, and created an indirect democracy where citizens elect officials to make and enforce laws.
Sparta contained a four branch government system that was considered one of the most unique in all of Greece. Unlike the democracy of Athens, Sparta had a diarchy which consisted of two kings. These figures held little influence over the state and served more as a symbol of royal heritage. The second branch was the Gerousia council which acted as an advising body and held influence over court decisions. This council was comprised of the two kings and of twenty-eight elected elders who served a life term. The minimum age of an elder on the committee was sixty. The Ephors, the third b...
Contemporary notions of democracy have undoubtedly evolved from their foundations in ancient Greece and Rome. However, despite noble intentions, democracy in Greece and Rome was neither fair, equal, nor representative. These civilizations practiced direct democracy, whereby all eligible citizens would actively engage in democratic processes and gather to debate state matters (Hirst 2012). Influential Greek historian Herodotus remarked that, under such a system, “there is, first, the most splendid of virtues, equality before the law” (Herodotus & Thucydides et.al 1955 p.223).
Sparta had two kings and twenty-eight elders. This system was very important to maintaining their orderly, stable society since if a king died in battle away from home or was sick the other king would govern the country keeping it in order. There were not only the two kings but the twenty-eight elders who would also help govern the country and make laws. Within the oligarchy there was the citizen assembly. WIthout the citizen assembly laws could be passed that would not benefit the state or those who lived in the community. The citizen assembly ensured that the laws would benefit all except the slaves. (Helots) All citizens were men thirty years and older. At this age men were able to become citizens due to the facts that they had survived wars and were considered wiser from their experiences. Lastly but not least there are the five Ephors. The five Ephors were elected by the citizen assembly and their jobs were to make sure that the government was just and not corrupted. Their job was to observe laws and help maintain the king's authority. This is more effective than Athens political system since, rhetoric speakers in Athens would write their speeches somewhat based on people's emotions to be elected. While in Sparta you had to be elected and earn your place within government. In conclusion their oligarchy was important to the city-state's survival by
Pomeroy, Sarah B. Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
These governments came in different styles such as a monarchy which was led by a king. Another form of government that was seen among the Greeks was aristocracy in which the polis was ruled by a small group of noble, land owning families. One of the more notable polis of ancient Greek was that of Sparta in which they used the oligarchy as there form of government. This type of government is where the people are ruled by a few powerful people. Finally, there was democracy which means “rule of the people” (The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome 1-7). This was the government that Athens utilized and helped establish. These varying types of government can be seen throughout governments today, however, it is the government established by the Athenians and their political structure that had a greater impact on the west than that of its Greek polis counterparts.
The death of Pericles was a significant event in the course of the Peloponnesian War; however, even without Pericles' leadership the Athenian Assembly had countless opportunities to prevent their loss and chose not to take them. The fickleness and inefficiency of democracy ('the mob') allowed the Athenians to be easily influenced and therefore electing populists such as Cleon, Lysicles and Hyperbolus into dominant leadership roles. Election, via democratic means, of such populists, meant that the Athenians would take a much more aggressive approach to the war and therefore abandon the policies that Pericles had previously established. So in turn, democracy the institution for which the Athenians fought tirelessly to protect, rather than the death of Pericles, ironically became the dominant factor influencing the final outcome of this Ancient Greek civil war.
The march towards developing a democratic society is often obstructed with societal unrest due to the influence of the status quo on the instruments of power. Before the rule of Solon, Athens underwent this same rule, as there was much discontent among the social classes in Athens. The society suffered financial disparity that often was the trigger for the war among the rich and poor in the society. This was a major factor that forced Solon into power to institute policies that would see a reformed Athens. By so doing, the society was looking for an avenue that would guarantee democracy and a society that is fair for everyone. The city-state of Athens was the epicenter of the revolution for the Athenian democracy during the fifth century BC. In the Athenian democracy, the electorate voted for the legislation of bills instead of a direct democracy where the electorates are tasked with electing representatives who later developed the bill. Among the first people who made significant contributions to the development of the Athenian democracy were Solon (594 BC), Cleisthenes (508/7 BC), Pericles (495 – 429 BC) and Ephialtes (462 BC). Pericles was the longest serving democratic leader who contributed much development in democracy in the city. This paper will give an account of the age of the Pericles.
The Athenian’s political system differed from the rest of Greece at this time. At the beginning of the 7th century BCE, Athens was ruled by a monarchy, which soon fell out of thrown out control by aristocrats. After the monarchy fell, Pisitarious took over the Athenian political system and began to rule as a tyrant. He kept a strong grip on the Athenian’s trade, and in 1510 BCE, the citizens of Athens overthrew Pistarious. The Athenian’s created the council of 500 to supervise
The Greeks system of democracy was an entirely new concept when it was created, and one that has had lasting affects as it continues to influence present day politics around the globe. Modern day democracies may very well not exist if it wasn’t for the success the Athenians had with democracy. Today we look back at these ancient civilizations and we try to better our current society by learning from their mistakes and building on their success.
The older of the two, Ancient Greece was a civilization for three centuries, from 800 B.C. to 500 B.C. Ancient Greece advanced in art, poetry, and technology. More importantly, Ancient Greece was the age where the polis, or city-state, was invented. The polis was a defining feature in Greek political life for a few hundred years (Ancient Greece).