The god in charge of Athens was Athena, goddess of wisdom. Like the Spartans they too wanted to protect their state but unlike the Spartans, the Athenians strove for excellence not only in being warriors but also in their everyday lives. In Athens, the ruler Draco tried to make many reforms in the city state. Underline the word or expression in parentheses that best completes each sentence. WebThe word democracy or demoskratos in Greek, is a form of government where the (ruling) power is in the hands of the people. Athens was a small city compared to Rome that honored and protected citizenship. 1 What were the disadvantages of democracy in ancient Greece? reading #2: "Greek Art." They became skilled sailors. Athens This completely contradicts the all-inclusive concept of direct democracy that the Athenian government preached so frequently. Questions/ Activities: Do reading #1 and answer these questions: * Make a list of the major characteristics/beliefs of the religion of the ancient Greeks. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. The word democracy is greek, the word demos means people and kratos means power. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. In a democracy all of the people are able to vote, and have a choice on who runs their city. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. While Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. Some of the strengths of Athenian democracy include making decisions based on the opinions of many rather than a few, giving responsibility to more citizens and making records available for public examination. The community showed little cohesion as a group. Democracy was rule by citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners (Metics) and slaves. This is the great story of Ancient Greece and how individualism changed the view Greece had on certain issues. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. In addition to simply being a peninsula, Greeces coastline has many accessible harbor locations. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Every city-state had their own coins, government, and laws. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. Originally Answered: why is Athens Greece considered the birthplace of democracy? When looking at this definition and trying to decide whether the Athenian democratic system was truly democratic, one would have to go with the answer no. During the Archaic Age, Sparta was solely focused on fighting wars and training their children for these wars. And also huge people complain about the racism and the guns. The constitution favor many people instead of few people. As stated in the article The Problem with Democracy Today, contrary to other political institutions who holds the power is not clearly stated if the regime is a, Liberal Democracy is a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of political power is limited by the rule of law. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. 4 What are the advantages of the ancient Greek system? Some people believe they were more democratic than us today, but I think they were never a true democratic government. Unlike the Romans, Athenians had a strict but fair schedule that allowed them to enjoy citizenship equally. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The five most powerful Greek city-states were; Athens, Sparta, Corinth. Athenians elected government officials through lot (Document B). They became skilled sailors. Weaknesses of the Athenian democracy include: The Athenian form of democracy was a contradiction in the sense that it did not allow participation of a large section of the public, namely, women and slaves. Even though their government was ran by the people themselves, only the men in the city could vote. The concepts of limiting individualism, encouraging positive associations, and moderating the tyranny of the majority that Tocqueville observed during his trip in America helped maintain the new democratic republic built after the revolution. Limits of Greek Democracy Socrates (469-399 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE), two of the most influential of the ancient Greek philosophers, were suspicious of the idea of equality. You cannot download interactives. The Spartan men get more and children become great warriors because they at war and war training for 23 years. Only the men truly had a say, and ran ancient Athens. Mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. What was the government like in ancient Greece? While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. Slavery. Pros: All citizens got to vote and have their opinion expressed. Democracy is now prescribed as inseparable from good governance and an antidote to corruption. The geography of the region helped to shape the government and culture of the Ancient Greeks. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. They did have officials to run the government, however. The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. (Section 2.3) 2 As the culture center of Greek, Athens had many advantages during the Gold Age. WebI think Athens had a better government because they created a democracy. Athens offered many activities for all men, women, and children. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They all spoke the same language and they all believed in the same god. These ideas are infused in various pieces of literature where the idea of democracy leaves a visible mark on society, dividing it into two scales, one being unable to, Never before have there been so many democracies in the world or so many competitive elections conducted at national, subnational and region levels. Its also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. She or he will best know the preferred format. Democracy (disadvantage) Few people were considered citizens and had a voice in government. A belief in shared power: based on a suspicion of concentrated power (whether by individuals, groups or governments). It combines two shorter words: demos meaning whole citizen living within a particular city-state and kratos meaning power or rule. Established on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution established Americas national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed rights for its citizens. What this means is that all the citizens voted on all the laws. 1031 Words5 Pages. It does not store any personal data. As I will come to. Representative democracy is a government in which citizens vote for representatives who create and change laws that govern the people rather than getting to vote directly on the laws themselves. During 750-500 B.C.E, Ancient Greece is a place that is known for some city-states, called poleis. This group of people only included white male citizens, meaning that slaves, foreign born residents, women and some men who hadnt obtained citizenship couldnt vote (Doc D). There was a constant importance of acknowledging all citizens hard work and participation. Athens is said to be the of democracy. Democracy (disadvantage) Few people were considered citizens and had a voice in government. Self- Government/Democracy: "Rule by the people." The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. It also means its citizens come first in order of importance. Athens on the other hand had a democracy as stated in Document 3, an excerpt from Funeral Orations by Pericles a quotes from this excerpt states it is true that our government is a democracy, because its administration is in the hands, not of the few, but of many.. This quote clearly states that the type of government Athens has is a. The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. As we know, this system is a norm to the Western world, in order to preserve personal freedom and make sure that the will of the people is upheld. This is why we give the ebook compilations in contribution to our knowledge of ancient Greece--its politics, philosophy, and literature, from Homer to Plato. Additionally, the reliability affected by the emotive language being employed in this article as the author utilises this language it demonstrates that bias is present. One of the most famous civilizations lies between three seas, the Aegean Sea, Sea of Crete, and the Ionian Sea. Unless someone was part of the 1 percent, Athens gave members of society more rights than Sparta. This group of people only included white male citizens, meaning that slaves, foreign born residents, women and some men who hadnt obtained citizenship couldnt vote (Doc D). Due to the fact that Sparta had a very military lifestyle, they were good at raising strong outspoken women in a society where women were kept at home. One of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. The first one is Document A: Pericles and the other one is Document B: The The Athenian Constitution. Absolutism was characterized by the ending of feudal partitioning, consolidation of power with the monarch, rise of state, rise of professional standing armies, professional bureaucracies, the codification of state laws, and the rise of ideologies that justify the absolutist monarchy. WebThe Democracy of Ancient Greece was used heavily in creating modern American Democracy. WebOne of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. Members of Spartan offices were also restricted to people who had very high social standing. The Greeks never unified, Sparta is a better place to have an exciting or joyful life because you would be isolated by mountains and oceans. Pros. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state form of government? Athens, on the other hand, was a democracy after periods of monarchies and aristocracies. These two city states shared some common characteristics whilst in some instances they were very different from each other. What were the disadvantages of democracy in ancient Greece? The countrys valleys, mountainous terrain, and offshore islands encouraged the development of many city-states. These two city-states, Sparta and Athens have unique formations of government, histories, goals, as well as societies. No i don't think Athens was truly democratic because, all the rules of ancient Athens are very unfair with all their rules and rights for all citizens. The Athenian Democracy remains a novel and captivating analysis in direct majority rules system where the general population don 't choose delegates to vote for their sake yet vote on enactment and official bills in their own privilege. When the two words are put together it forms , meaning rule of the people. All city-states differed from each other in some ways but all shared some characteristics too. Beginning with contrasts in government, Sparta, was an Oligarchy where most of the power was shared between two kings. Democracy in Athens the government officials are chosen by sweepstakes and worked for 1 year for proposing and enforcing decrees but didnt have much individual power. The two biggest city-states have always had issues. Sparta and Athens are very different from the way they are administered as well as their practices. How does Coyote kill the giant? In document A it also states that you get equal justice. And thats the way it should be. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. Pros And Cons of Ancient Athenian Democracy and Pros and Cons of American Democracy. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. Children were tortured to become strongerand all men would be fighting and stealing things just to survive. It was easy for the Athenians to see who the people are due to the population number at the time. What are the advantages of the ancient Greek system? Ancient Greece was dominated by small city-states and independent towns, rather than by one all-powerful king, because of its geography. What else does he accomplish at the same time? This meant that they may not have represented mass opinion, whereas getting all males over the age of 18 involved in politics increased the likelihood of policies representing what people wanted. There was a constant importance of acknowledging all citizens hard work and participation. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. WebThe common man, woman and children were considered subjects, who had no say in how the land was governed or any of the policies that were implemented. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. But they were loyal to their city-state. One that originates from ancient Greece, at the cradle of civilisation.The word democracy comes from the Greek meaning the people and meaning power or rule. The Role Of Democracy In Ancient Greece. Democracy in Athenian government the way that the citizens pass a vote is getting done, in elected by the assembly annually for making decisions about military matters and by showing hands. On the other hand, Sparta had an oligarchy. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Greek city-states all were very similar but had differences. 8 What are the advantages and disadvantages of ancient Greece? The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. The democracy of Athens developed around 500 B.C.E because of the current uproar of oligarchies and dictatorship. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. Hard work and equality is what makes a nation outstanding. To have a powerful and lasting empire with great prosperity you must have a series of strong leaders. In ancient Athens only the men were able to vote. I have come to this conclusion that Athens had a better system because anyone could office and they had more equal rights as a citizen in the government. Lastly, because so much of Greece is rocky, mountainous terrain, there isnt a lot of fertile soil. It is tough terrain for attackers, and its also tough terrain for the Greeks. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 5 Why is Greece the birthplace of democracy? In addition, citizens had the chance to spend time acting as council representatives, which gave them power and direct involvement with decision making. They became skilled sailors. Athens on the contrary, was a city that focused heavily on the arts and was a very relaxed and peaceful city to live in. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote took place. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. In Athen, Schools taught reading, writing, and mathematics, music, poetry, sport, and gymnastics. These mountains and oceans would make Sparta would be in a condition of prosperity and comfort. The Athens was more superior then Sparta. The people of ancient Greece took advantage of all this saltwater and coastline and became outstanding fishermen and sailors. The Roman Republic was all the more a time. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Ancient Athens has two documents that discuss democracy. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. some might say the Romans were better. Athenian citizens in that era were generally expected to have respectful qualities, like openness, a rational mind and belief in their authority, although they did have shortcomings. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. The direct democracy of Athens wasnt actually as inclusive and steady as the statement at Pericles 's funeral state, Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people (Doc C). In fact, of the 450,000 citizens of Athens in 430 BC, only about 40,000 people had the power to vote. Although, if we look at the Athens, we see that they had no issues with plentiful land, as they possessed large and populous territory. The period of prosperity in Athens was so short lived because they only had one strong leader, Pericles. What did ancient Greece do for democracy? This is one reason Ancient Athens was not a democracy. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. First, all true democracies limit majority rule in order to protect the rights of minorities. Both of these city-states shared similar characteristics such as both would remain the foundation for the Greek political world. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? Athens is the capital and the largest city of Greece. Give me balance, give me equality. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This means a lot more people got to attend political affairs. But Athens is more about the people; they are also more secure. The period of prosperity in Athens was so short lived because they only had one strong leader, Pericles. They became skilled sailors. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. Compare the advantages and disadvantages for settlers of Greece's physical geography. Every citizen in Athens is allowed to take part in government, even poor citizens. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. After Pericles died Athens could not defeat Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and also couldnt hold the truce that was signed in 421 BC which allowed Sparta to gain overall victory in the, The Democracy of Athens meant that the people rule themselves. Education was very important in Athens. In addition, it supports the idea that the people can replace their government through peaceful transfers of power rather than violent uprising or revolution. Greece is also quite mountainous. Athenss military prowess allowed them to look down on the other members of the League and treat them as members of an empire instead of equals. Ancient Athens, had a much more stronger basis than ancient Sparta. To begin with Sparta completely discarded all advanced education. Athenian democracy also had one-year term limits. Cons. The secret ballot, First of all, it is important to know the definition of democracy and its aspects. The Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 4.Every citizen was included in politics. What are the limitations of a majority rule democracy? 6 What are the pros and cons of democracy in ancient Greece? It seems fair and gives equality to all regardless of social class. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Climate was varied but moderate, with temperature between 48 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. The word democracy comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This means they may make stupid decisions that do not benefit society. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Democracy (disadvantage) Only the elite or upper class had a role in government, lower class not represented.