Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

What are the key features of Athenian democracy, and have these key…

- - - - Greek Dark ages followed the breakdown of the Mycenean Civilization in 1100 BC until the 9th centaury BC; when city states began to emerge (and developed into oligarchies)
      - In Athens the nobility were in control of the state (much like the how the nobility was in charge of the western world for the majority of history)
      - During the 8th and 7th centauries a middle class emerged out of the free men due to the Hoplite
        At the same time the lower classes were beginning to make demands
        All this led to growing tensions- which threatened civil breakdown
    - - Solon: Around 594 BC tensions begin to ease due to the statesmen Solon and his reforms
        
        He established a law that 'all' citizens could vote in matters of the state
        
        He appeased the upper class by introducing graded oligarchy in which power corresponded with wealth
        
        Upper Class = Highest Office
        
        Middle Class = Lesser Office
        
        Lower Class = Selected for Juries
      - Cleisthenes: in 507 BC he introduced direct democracy; which enabled citizens to vote on all policy concerning the State of Athens (unlike contemporary democracy)
        
        "The Father of Democracy"
        
        Reorganised citizenry into units into geography, which broke down the traditional class system
        
        Government positions were randomly selected rather than inherited
        
        Reconstructed the Boule (council of 500) into the Ecclesia (the assembly)
        
        In 501 BC command of the military was handed over to elected generals
      - Ephialtes: In 462 BC he became the leader of the democratic movement in Athens
        
        (Along with the help of Pericles) He dismantled the Areopagus council - transferring power to the boule, Ecclesia and citizen councils
        
        Ephiates was assinated in 461 BC
      - Pericles: Took over after the death of Ephialtes - one of the most famous democrats in Ancient Athens
        
        He was leader of the city for 30 years (461 BC - 429 BC)
        
        Introduced pay for those serving in the courts, so all classes could take part in the political system
        
        Helped to drive Athens' foreign policy to assist the city in asserting dominance over the Delian League
        
        Despite an unsuccessful revolt - that was a consequence of the construction of the Parthenon - he was a popular leader and continued to be elected as general
  - - - Cleisthenes reforms were probably the most influential in the development of direct democracy
        
        The most popular being the Ecclesia which gave all Athenian men over 18 the vote. The Ecclesia met regularly to discuss important matters of state
      - Decisions would be reached show of hands (the majority winning)
  - - - He brought people together by using geography
- - - - For the better part of 2 millennia democracy was poorly regarded by political thinkers
        
        Thomas Jefferson said 'it was nothing more than mob rule'
        
        Jean-Jaques Rousseau stated that only gods can live democratically - people are not gods
      - Balance: Might Vs Right
  - - - IMPERIALISM
  - - - people in the modern world are too disengaged with politics