Timeline of Western Government

Set Up Your Page Like This! Timeline of Government Year Event & Its Significance

Pre-Civilization (Before 3000 BCE) Before people had settled down into permanent towns. People lived in family based nomadic groups, living by hunting and gathering. Laws were “understood” but not written down. Justice system not organized or carefully run.

The Code of Hammurabi – 1760 BCE From Ancient Babylon, one of the world’s first civilizations. The earliest written document listing laws A very long list of very specific laws. Few people were literate-- difficult for citizens.

The Judeo-Christian Tradition- ~1500 BCE Developed by Ancient Hebrew Civilization The 10 Commandments Illiterate population: laws easy to memorize Religious nature of laws gave guidelines for religious practice and human living. Every human has dignity, and the choice between right and wrong.

Direct Democracy in Athens, Greece ( 508 B.C.E B.C.E.) Direct Democracy Councils met to determine laws and justice All citizens invited to participate (but not everyone counted as a citizen)

The Roman Republic (509 B.C.E.-27 B.C.E.) Government in which people chose a representative. Representatives made laws. The Republic ended when Caeser changed Rome into an empire.

The Middle Ages - Feudalism ( C.E.) After end of Roman Empire, Kingdoms formed around Europe. Kings claimed “Divine Right”  the idea that God chose them as king. Kings appointed nobles and lords, who ruled over peasants.

The Magna Carta (1215) Latin for the “Great Charter” The King of England (John) was a very bad king. The nobles and lords forced him to agree to limit his power. The agreement said: o A king CANNOT go to war or raise taxes without talking to the Lords about it first. The king also has to follow his own laws. This is the first document to limit the power of a king.

Model Parliament (1295) The King of England (named Edward) wanted some advice. Summoned nobles, church leaders, and 2 commoners from every town in England to discuss and vote on laws. The meeting was called “Parliament,” and it became a tradition in England.

Louis XIV ( ) France was NOT as democratic. Louis XIV (and, really, all the other Louis’) practiced Absolute Monarchy King controlled absolutely everything (money, laws, military… everything!) This Louis was famous because he was a really good king.

English Bill of Rights 1688 England had a bad king (James) that stopped bringing Parliament together. The people ran him out of town. To make that never happen again, Parliament made a list of Rights that all English people have..

The American Constitution (1789) After fighting for Independence from Britain, the new United States made a new form of government Democratic Republic, with separation of powers US Bill of Rights that gave all citizens a list of specific rights.

UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights After World War Two, people around the world wanted peace and freedom. A new organization, the United Nations (UN), made a list of rights for all people in the world. Most countries around the world follow these rules today.