The Rise of Democracy

What is the ideal form of Government? Autocracy: Government in which one person possesses unlimited power Democracy: Government in which the power rests with the people, either directly or through representation. Government: A political system for exercising authority.

What are the main historical sources of the democratic tradition? Democratic Traditions started with the Greek City-States of Athens and Sparta. – City-State or Polis is a political unit made of a city and its surrounding lands. Monarchy: a government in which a king or queen exercises central power. Aristocracy: a small ruling class that defended and advised the king. Republic : A form of government in which power rests with Citizens who have the right to elect the leaders who make decisions.

Ancient Greece

THIS IS SPARTA! – Sparta: Military city-state in Ancient Greece. Government included two kings & a group of elder advisors. An assembly or group made up of all citizens, approved major decisions. Citizens were male, native-born Spartans over age thirty. ATHENS- BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY – ATHENS: Greek city-state where the idea of Democracy or government by the people, developed.

Development of Democracy in Athens Solon: Greek leader who made many needed reforms, outlawed debt slavery, opened offices to more citizens & gave Athenian assembly more say in decision making Pisistratus: Greek leader in 546 BC who gave farmers & poor citizens a greater voice, weakening the aristocracy.

Development of Democracy in Athens Cleisthenes: Greek leader in 507 BC who set up the council of 500, whose member where chosen by lot from among all citizens over the age of 30. Council prepared all laws for the assembly & supervised the day to day government business. Pericles-ruler of Athens 460 to 429 BC – Established Direct Democracy in Athens, citizens took part in the day to day affairs of government – Believed all male citizens should take part in government – Paid a salary to government officials. – Stressed rights and duties of individuals as citizen in a democracy – Established juries to decide people’s fates.

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS Socrates –Greek philosopher, statesmen & teacher who challenged men to seek truth & self knowledge. Plato-Student of Socrates who taught reason led to genuine knowledge. Rejected Athenian Democracy. Wrote THE REPUBLIC in which he stated government should regulate every aspect of it’s citizens lives. All men are born equal but could rise only as high as their abilities allowed. Thought states should be ruled by philosopher-kings.

Socrates

Plato and Aristotle

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS Aristotle-student of Plato who also taught Alexander the Great. He was leery of Democracy. He believed the city-state was the best form of government but wanted the middle class to run the government under a constitution. In his book Politics, he promoted the rule of law over the rule of the individuals. He despised tyranny in which an individual ruler stood above the law. He promoted reason as a guiding force and set up a school, The Lyceum, for the study of all branches of knowledge.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia Student of Aristotle, Alexander went on to create an empire that stretched from Macedonia & Greece through Persia to Northern India. He created the Hellenistic Age combining Persian, Greek, Egyptian and Indian cultures. Everywhere his army went they founded cities, the most famous of which is Alexandria in Egypt.