Greece Contributions to Western Democracy

Setting the stage

Archaic Age 700-500 BCE• Beginning of the Polis (City-

State)- Definition: Area that

comprises a central city and the surrounding area that makes up a self-governing unit

• Sparta, Athens, and Corinth were major City-States

Aristocats & Tyrants

Most city-states ruled by aristocrats or tyrantsAthens was a deeply divided societyOn the verge of violence in late 7th century BCEStruggles over debts, economic opportunity, and power

ARISTOCRATS & TYRANTS

Discuss!

1. What are city-states?2. What struggles did ancient Athens

face in the late 7th century BCE?

Solon’s Reforms 594 BCE

Ended debt slaveryCouncil of 400- Set agenda for assembly

(ekklesia)Citizens divided by wealth- 4 divisions of societyAny citizen could be taken to trial- All citizens could be jurors

Divisions of citizens

$500+

$300-$499

$200-$399

$200 and less

Could hold lower office Could

attend the assembly (ekklesia)

Both could hold high

office

Only male citizens could

participate

Discuss!

1. How did the Council of 400 further democracy in Athens?

2. How did Solon’s other reforms bring Athens closer to democracy?

Cleisthenes Reforms 508 BCE

Council of 500- Intended to break

family rivalries and political factions

- Ended class divisions based on wealth, organized people based on location

Council of 500

Attica divided into 3 parts: plain, coast, & city- Ten tribes with people in each part of AtticaEvery year each tribe would randomly select 50 men to go to the Council of 500- Decide on ekklesia business and foreign

affairs

Pericles 495-429 BCE

Paid public servantsMade more stringent policy on citizenshipEkklesia met more frequently under PericlesMen held public office for one year terms so as not to gain too much power

Discuss!

1. How did the reforms of Cleisthenes and Pericles further democracy in Athens?

2. Which of the 5 Principles of Democracy do the reforms of Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles fulfill?

3. In what ways does ancient Athenian society not meet our ideal of democracy?

Socrates 470-399BCE

Plato’s teacherGain knowledge through questioning- Socratic QuestioningEvil men are just ignorantDisliked democracy- Mob rule

Plato 428-348 BCE

Wrote The Republic- What is justice?Three divisions of society- Producers= craftsman, farmers, etc. - Auxiliaries= warriors - Guardians= rulersThree divisions of the soul

RationalSpiritual

- AppetitiveSociety should be ruled by philosopher kings

Aristotle 348-322 BCE

Wrote The Politics- Good forms of government

‣ Monarchy, aristocracy, politeia (constitutional)

- Bad forms of government‣ Tyranny, oligarchy, direct

democracy (not constitutional)Strong Middle ClassDivision of Powers; any good government could be corrupted

Plato & Aristotle