1. Hey! That’s the Parthenon!
Democracy in Action
Hey! That’s the Parthenon!

2. Tyrants Solon Pisistratus Cleisthenes Pericles Reformed Draconian Laws
Champion of the Poor
Cleisthenes
Established the first true democracy
Pericles
Ruled during the Golden Age of Athens

3. Agora
Large open space in the middle of the city-state that contained a marketplace as well as government buildings
Citizens mingled and discussed the issues of the day before gathering for the assembly meeting

4. But…How can I vote? I don’t have any arms.
Voting
Only citizens of Athens could debate important laws
Pynx = the assembly meeting place
About 1 out of 5 Athenians were citizens
Direct democracy; voted with their hands
3 Main Branches:
The Assembly
The Council of 500
The Courts
But…How can I vote? I don’t have any arms.

5. Red Paint
All citizens were required to participate in Athen’s democracy, but sometimes there weren’t enough people present at assembly meetings
A red painted rope would be used to corral citizens from the Agora into the Pynx
If you had red paint on your shirt, you would have to pay a fine

6. Who’s getting voted off the island?
Ostracism
Ostracism literally means “judgment by shards”
Citizens would vote for the person they wanted exiled from Athens for 10 years by writing a name on a pottery shard
A quorum, or a minimum number, of 6,000 citizens required
Usually for people who were too personally powerful, or who threatened influential people
Who’s getting voted off the island?

7. Kleroterion
Device used for randomly selecting members to the jury in Athens
A small bronze plate used to identify the citizen was placed into each slot
Dice were rolled to decide the row chosen to serve on the jury for that day