1

Democracy Direct DemocracyDemocracy Direct Democracy

government by the government by the people; a form of people; a form of government in government in which the supreme which the supreme power is vested in power is vested in the people and the people and exercised directly exercised directly by them or by their by them or by their elected agents elected agents under a free under a free electoral system electoral system

a form of democracy a form of democracy inin

which the people as awhich the people as awhole make directwhole make directdecisions, rather thandecisions, rather thanhave those decisionshave those decisionsmade for them bymade for them byelected elected

representatives”representatives”

2

AthensAthens 66thth Century Athens, ruled by Tyrant Hippias Century Athens, ruled by Tyrant Hippias Cliesthenes pleads to Sparta for helpCliesthenes pleads to Sparta for help 510 BC Sparta and Cliesthenes succeed in 510 BC Sparta and Cliesthenes succeed in

driving Hippias outdriving Hippias out Cliesthenes rule challenged by IsagorasCliesthenes rule challenged by Isagoras Isagoras with help of Spartans takes powerIsagoras with help of Spartans takes power 508 BC Cliesthenes flees from Athens508 BC Cliesthenes flees from Athens 507 BC Athenians revolt and overthrow 507 BC Athenians revolt and overthrow

IsagorasIsagoras Cliesthenes returns to Athens, creates Cliesthenes returns to Athens, creates

DemosDemoshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmdvYF4Vqqw

3

4

Athenian Democratic PrincipleAthenian Democratic Principle

ISONOMIAISONOMIA

Equality of all Citizens Equality of all Citizens before the Law before the Law

5

Social Structure of AthensSocial Structure of Athens Athenian Men: Athenian Men:

they were citizens of the city-state and were given they were citizens of the city-state and were given full rightsfull rights

Foreigners: Foreigners: they were not considered citizens and were not they were not considered citizens and were not

given a votegiven a vote Athenian Women: Athenian Women:

were almost like property and had to be guarded were almost like property and had to be guarded by husband or father at all times, were not citizensby husband or father at all times, were not citizens

Slaves: Slaves: were property, women were guarded by the man were property, women were guarded by the man

who owned them, given no rights and not citizenswho owned them, given no rights and not citizens

6

Democracy in AthensDemocracy in Athens Ecclesia or Peoples Assembly: Ecclesia or Peoples Assembly:

Every citizens, debated and voted on laws Every citizens, debated and voted on laws proposed by Councilproposed by Council

Magistrates: Magistrates: elected by the Assembly, they applied the laws elected by the Assembly, they applied the laws

and were the generals leading the armyand were the generals leading the army Boule or Council: Boule or Council:

500 citizens selected by lot, any citizen over age 500 citizens selected by lot, any citizen over age 30 eligible dealt with all problems in the city, ex. 30 eligible dealt with all problems in the city, ex. prices of goods, taxes, war. prices of goods, taxes, war.

Heliaea or People’s Court: Heliaea or People’s Court: 6000 jurors selected by lot, judges for criminal 6000 jurors selected by lot, judges for criminal

trialstrialshttp://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/