The early Greek World provides a handful of examples of government. Although each of the processes used by government officials may vary from each other, the overall ability of a society to function remains the same. This paper will briefly discuss the structure of the Athenian Democracy, Spartan Kings, and finally the Macedonian Monarchy. The Athenian Democracy, initially formed by Themistocles, was greatly influenced by Pericles. After the first Persian attack, Athens found itself with a leader who lacked knowledge of aristocratic manner, but was cultured in the policies of a democratic assembly. The government consisted of three main groups, the magistrates, Strategoi or generals, and the Council of Five Hundred. These three groups made up the assembly which consisted of males who were over …show more content…
Originally Macedonia consisted of mainly rural people organized in tribes. It was not until King Philip II took over that the city was viewed as an important kingdom. As Philip set out to take over Greece he was captured and spent three years as a hostage in Thebes. During his time in captivity he began to admire Greek military tactics and learned the importance of having an efficient army. After the Battle of Chaeronea, Philip was set free and began utilizing his newly learned military strategies. While governing, he allowed cities to remain independent and only played a role in directing foreign affairs. However, before Philip could implement all of his new strategies, he was assassinated. His son Alexander took over and continued his legacy by conquering a multitude of areas with his tactical skills. In fact, Alexander the Great was known for his great knowledge of military tactics based on landscape. The Monarchy set in Macedonia was highly based on the combination of political and military power under the direction of their sole
The Athenians created the idea of Democracy which is a widely used form of government today. Solon was credited as the man who created the foundation for Athenian Democracy. He changed the whole game. He threw out the debt of the poor so they would not be slaves anymore, he outlawed the slavery because of debt so that it would never happen again, he divided the Athenian population into four different classes, and three of the richest could rise to power instead of the one before. He allowed the everyman to have a chance at power. Later Cleisthenes rose to power and he put democracy in motion. He threw away the four classes and created a council of 500 to decide things in the government. Everyon...
Athens’ governmental shift in 501 BC was unprecedented and innovative, being the first notable implementation of democracy in an ancient world inundated in monarchy. This form of government, founded by Cleisthenes, has been instrumental in Western Civilization, especially since the modern age. Democracy gave Athens life, providing not only a well functioning governing system, but also enabling the city-state to grow and survive multiple Persian invasions. However, at the dawn of the Athenian empire and the rise of Pericles, democracy began to die, and Greeks lost their love of freedom when they sought power and glory through their military conquests. I argue that Athenian’s rejection of democracy can be seen through their mistreatment of other states and their lust for power and glory.
Athenian government is democratic, and its citizens play a major role in shaping the government. Athenian ‘citizens’ are comprised only of adult males; women, children, metics, and slave...
From the start of his career in government, Pericles provided the Athenian people with the foundations of democracy. In 461, Pericles campaigned against aristocrats sitting in government, and in 451 enforced a law to prevent children of non-citizens from becoming full citizens (PBS, “The Greeks”). By managing the ties that aristocrats often made to other countries, Pericles managed to keep government from being monopolized. Unlike the aristocracy, Pericles focused on the disenfranchised, instructing Athenians to “especially obey those laws enacted for the protection of the oppressed and those which, although unwritten, it is acknowledged shame to violate” (Kagan 166, from Thucydides 2.37.3). Expounding on this social observance of fairness, Pericles most directly gave rights to the Athenians when he made possible “the full participation of its citizens in the government of city and empire” (Robertson 90). This faculty of citizens to have full access to their government provided Athenians with the start of democracy.
During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority and best met the needs of Ancient Greece. These factors empowered Sparta and led to the development of an authoritative and potent state. Other contrasting issues included women’s rights, social classes, and value of human life.
Raaflaub, Kurt A., and Josiah Ober. Origins of democracy in ancient Greece. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007.
Pomeroy, S.B. et al. A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture. Second edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
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 contained a four branch government system that was considered among the most unique in all of Greece. Unlike the democracy of Athens, Sparta was based on an oligarchy structure. The diarchy, which consisted of two kings, was the first division of this government. These figures held little influence over the state and served more as a symbol of royal heritage (Kennell 83). The second branch was the Gerousia council which acted as an advising body and hel...
Socrates and I grew up alongside the Athenian democracy, and experienced her vicissitudes in the past seventy years. We have both heard and experienced cycle of five types of governments that Socrates had mentioned. (Plato, Republic 8.547e) Our democracy was established hundreds years ago under Cleisthenes and turned to tyranny under Isagoras. In our childhood, Athens was a timarchy, and then Pericles ruled Athens with the
Ancient Greece was not a country in the way modern countries are organized today. This is because, rather than one unified government throughout the land, each city state in Ancient Greece had its own form of government and laws, quite independent of their neighbours. The poleis even created their own colonies. This paper will outline some of the similarities and differences between the various governmental styles in Ancient Greece.
Between the years of 508 BCE and 322 CE, Greece flourished under democracy. However, some question if the flourishing of Athens is due to the democracy that was in place as opposed to other factors relevant in building a successful community. This investigation will examine the effectiveness of Athenian democracy in Greek society. Relevance of Athenian democracy can be seen in foundation of many democracies found worldwide. In this investigation the right to vote, protection of minorities, use of social class, the structure of democracy and how Greek democracy has influenced the world will be addressed. The place investigated will be Greece, specifically the capitol Athens. The effectiveness of Athenian democracy can be seen in social structure, protection of minorities, and right to vote, as well as its structure and influence of other countries around the world.
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.
This week’s written assignment is to compare and contrast monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy as forms of government in Ancient Greek city-states. I will address each form of government, providing examples of each and will include applicable comparisons and/or contrasts.
In comparing the Ancient Athenian system of government, and the Modern Day American political system, there are many similarities. In Ancient Athens, democracy was developed in response to a long history of oppressive rulers who used their position of power for their own benefit. Ancient Athenians sought a government where all citizens were considered equal under the eyes of the law, and all had a fair say in the running of their country. Following a series