The Effect Of Athenes On Athenian Democracy

In the year 507 B.C.E. Cleisthenes helped change Athenian ideals into a democracy. Those ideals still thrive in America today. However, Senator Bass claims that America has a flaw that will lead to the downfall of its democracy. Since America has a professional army, he claims, we oppose those great societies before us who sported citizen draft armies to protect their democracy. Although ancient Athens and ancient Rome are often portrayed as the first great democratic governments of history, these powerful empires were perhaps less democratic than they are usually thought of as. Athen’s political assembly was exclusive and often citizens had no checks on the statesman leading them, while wealthy Romans dominated politics and stole from the

Cicero claims, “People believe that strictness and good faith are not to be found in our courts . . . so we Senators are scorned and despised by the people of Rome”(Cicero 111). Cicero also accuses Verres by saying that he, “. . . takes enough for himself, his protectors, and his counsel, and the president of the court, and the judges”(Cicero 111). This shows the fall of Roman statesman’s morals by explaining why they are loathed by the people of Rome. Verres embezzles government money for his own use, and to avoid prosecution, bribes the court officials. Rome’s democratic values are declining because, Cicero says, the actions of Verres are not only happening in Sicily, but they are applicable to the rest of Rome. The ability of the citizens of Rome to control their government is minimized by the lack of control on the senators. The empire also could not possibly be democratic if its leaders are permitted to abuse their power. This directly contradicts Aristotle’s definition of democracy, which claims that a democratic leader must rule and be ruled in turn. While the Senators of Rome are ruling the people, they are failing to be ruled in turn and thus are not representative of a true

By constantly contradicting Aristotle's definition of democracy, they forgo their rights to be known as democracies. Athenian democracy was destroyed by tyrannical rulers like Pericles, who abused their rights as statesman and did not follow the laws set down before them. Fruitless wars were created because of negligent decisions made by leaders such as Pericles. Rome’s social divide never really allowed for it to have a true sense of democracy. The political opponents of the wealthy were often neutralized and the statesman were often corrupt. If Aristotle’s definition of a democratic government is understood, neither the Athenian, nor Roman empires can be called democratic, rendering Senator Bass’ claims