1. Democracy in Athens
Lesson 2

2. Background 508 BCE – power struggle through Athens
Isagoras (city’s leading judge) was trying to crush a movement for Democracy
He invited leaders from the city-state of Sparta to help him defeat this trend
Exiled Cleisthenes (popular democratic leader) and more than 700 families who supported democracy out of Athens
Athenian people began to fight back. Spartans were excellent soldiers, but the Athenians had a benefit in numbers
Spartans surrendered, Cleisthenes returned, and the democratic movement continued.

3. Experimenting with Forms of Government
Oligarchy: political power is held by a small group of people. (In Greece, these people were called the aristocrats)
-Draco: one of the council leaders who was part of the Greek aristocracy
- created a legal code that specified harsh punishment for all offenses, serious & minor crimes
- today people still use the word draconian to describe laws that seem unnecessarily harsh & severe

4. Military Tactic Changes Government
Power soon starts to shift into the hands of more people, many believe due to the way that Greek armies began to be organized
Phalanx: a formation of heavily armed foot soldiers who moved together as a unit
(Before this, soldiers would organize in a row with overlapping shields. Each man’s shield would help protect his neighbor. Would hold the shield with the left arm & spear or sword with the right.)
Because they traveled on foot, they didn’t need to be wealthy enough to afford a horse & could spend this $ on their shields & weapons
Because the phalanx was better at protecting their societies, men began to use their voices more in government.
Aristocrat leaders risked losing power if they did not consider the interest of the men using their voices.
Each city-state set up their own form
of government, leaving great political
variety in the Greek world.

5. Tyrannies Tyranny: government run by a strong ruler
Usually tyrants were members of the aristocracy
Won support by promising land & other benefits to the poor
Did not allow others to play a significant role in government
BUT were not always bad rulers.
In some city-states they governed fairly & worked to improve life for ordinary people (often tried but could not fulfill their promises)
Others ruled harshly

6. World’s First Democracy (C I V I C S !!!)
594 BCE Athenian aristocrats chose Solon to lead the polis
He ended the practice of selling people in debt into slavery
Gave some non-aristocratic men the right to vote
This set the path to democracy

7. Later Reforms
508 BCE leader named Cleisthenes made several reforms that reduced the power of the rich
Increased the # of people who could vote, extending voting to some lower class individuals
Increased the power of the assembly, which included all male citizens
Assembly met to discuss political issues & make decisions for the city-state
461 BCE Athens created citizen juries

8. The Age of Pericles
450s BCE – Created the world’s first official democracy (direct democracy)
Began paying citizens for participating in jury service & other civic duties (helped poor people to take part in government)
Began citizenship. Instead of people living as subjects, they now lives as participants.

9. Education’s Role in Democracy
Education that they received was designed to produce well-rounded citizens
Most education was reserved for boys, some girls could read & write
Started school at the age of 7
Studied literature, physical education and music
420s BCE higher education began
Lecturer style
Focused on mathematics & public speaking

10. How did Athenian Democracy Work? Business of Government
Main political body of Athens was the assembly
All free adult male citizens had the right to attend
Meetings took place 40 times a year
Everyone who attended had the right to speak no matter the social class
500 person council, known as a boule was also a key component
Council helped decide which issues should come before assembly
Members were chosen at random, had to be male

11. The Courts
Had many different courts, each decided different types of cases
Juries made up of citizens served in courts, deciding cases by majority vote
Athenian juries were much larger than modern juries (ranged from several hundred to several thousands on a single jury)
Additional laws were based to discourage bribery

12. Did Athenian Democracy have Limitations?
Athens was not completing democratic.
Women could not vote or hold office
Foreigners could never become citizens
Slaves had no rights

13. Direct & Representative Democracy
YOU LEARNED THIS LAST YEAR!!!
Direct democracy: political system in which citizens participate directly in decision making (small populations) Athens
Representative democracy: citizens elect others to represent them in government (larger populations)