The Beginning of Democracy: Greek Politicians and Philosophers Mr. Stagnaro Los Banos High School

Objective  To learn who began the democratic movement in Greece and why it is important for today’s democratic societies.  California Content Standards – Analyze the views of law, reason and faith, and duties of the individual – Development of Western political thought

Content  Brief History  What is democracy?  Greek Political System  Reformers  Philosophers

Brief History  Only in Athens, "rule by many" meant that all citizens had to be willing to take an active part in government.  Each year, 500 names were drawn from all the citizens of Athens. Those 500 citizens had to serve for one year as the law makers of ancient Athens.  All citizens of Athens were required to vote on any new law that this body of 500 citizens created. One man, one vote, majority ruled.  After the Peloponnesian War, Athens was ruled by a king. But for a brief period of about 100 years, Athens was a democracy.

What Is Democracy?  demokratia – “people-power” or rule by the people. Everyone in the city-state? Qualified citizens?  Landowners  Wealthy  Men  Definitions change over time

Greek Political System  By the time of Aristotle (fourth century BC) there were hundreds of Greek democracies.  Greece in those times was not a single political entity but rather a collection of some 1,500 separate poleis or 'cities.’ Oligarchy - where power was in the hands of the few richest citizens. Monarchy – power in the hands of a king. Tyranny - in cases where the sole ruler had usurped power by force rather than inheritance. Democracy - the oldest, the most stable, the most long- lived, but also the most radical, was Athens.

Reformers in Athens  Solon  Cleisthenes  Pericles

Reformers - Solon  The origin of the Athenian democracy  Poet, Statesman, not a democrat.  Crisis needing reforms – 594 BC Cancelled agricultural debts Announced all slaves were free Four class of people based upon productivity not birth  Three highest orders could hold office  Excluded: women, children, slaves, aliens, artisans, merchants

Reformers - Cleisthenes  Founder of democracy in Athens  Council of Five Hundred No more than two terms in a lifetime Every citizen would learn from political experience Divided Athens into ten tribes Each tribe would send 50 men Full time job (35 days), paid a fee

Reformers – Cleisthenes Cont.  Council of 500 duties: Qualifications of officials Allocation of funds Construction of public buildings Collected rent/redistribution of confiscated property Administering state pensions Receiving foreign delegations

Reformers - Pericles  Direct Democracy – All citizens in Athens had the opportunity to vote on every law, and not use representatives.  Increased # of paid public officials and by paying jurors. Poorer citizens could participate in gov’t

Reformers - Pericles  Equality of justice secured by the jury system which ensured:  slaves and resident aliens were represented through their patrons.  Equality of opportunity: criteria for choosing citizens for office was:  Merit  Efficiency  not wealth. Whereas Solon had used the criterion of birth for his officials Cleisthenes had used wealth, Pericles now used merit.

Philosophers  Philo = lover; sophia = wisdom  The universe is orderly and has unchangable laws  People can understand these laws by using logic and reason to explore new ideas – creates an atmosphere conductive to democracy.

S.P.A.  S – ocrates Examine closely held beliefs (freedom) Q and A approach (Mr. Stagnaro)  Socratic Method  Clarity, Accuracy, Precision, Relevance, Depth, Breadth, Logic, Significance Greatest student was Plato

S.P.A. continued  P – lato The Republic – Plato writes about his vision for a perfect society being ruled by the wisest  “Until philosophers are kings … and political greatness and wisdom meet in one … cities will never have rest from their evils, no, nor the human race.  Perfection could be achieved. Plato’s greatest student was Aristotle

S.P.A. Plato continued  Plato disliked Athenian democracy and preferred the government of Sparta.  He gave more importance to the state than to the individual.  Like the Spartans he believed that each person should place service to the community above strictly personal goals.  Plato also believed that the result of people having too much freedom is social disorder.  He distrusted the lower classes and wanted only the most intelligent and best educated citizens to participate in government.

S.P.A. continued  A – ristotle Interested in the natural world Politics  “Man is by nature a political animal, it is his nature to live in a state.”  People need the incorporation in a larger group than self.

S.P.A. Aristotle continued  Ideal form of government balanced: monarchy, Aristocracy democracy in one system.  Power to rest with the middle class: Know how to command. Know how to obey.