This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". So that is why I conclude that ancient Athens was indeed not truly. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. By our understanding it was an oligarchy, not democracy. The mountains make trade within Greeces borders difficult. WebThe ancient civilization of greece was different from many of the civilizations in its time. Adversely, it is not a social norm to ask yourself why this system is in place, or if it is truly what man hungers for? Originally Answered: why is Athens Greece considered the birthplace of democracy? This excluded a majority of the population: slaves, freed slaves, children, women and metics (foreign residents in Athens). Unlike the Romans, Athenians had a strict but fair schedule that allowed them to enjoy citizenship equally. Along with the Aetolians, they invaded the Peloponnesus from across the Corinthian Gulf (Halsall, 1999). Athens was more inviting and had many more fun things to do, which is why Athens is a better place to live. WebWidely thought of as the birthplace of democracy, Athens is Greece's central hub and has contributed much to the worlds of art, theatre, architecture, philosophy and politics. By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. Athens owes the first penal and civil law code to Draco. Differences : Advantages And Disadvantages Of Athens And Sparta, Athens and Sparta are the two famous city-states in Ancient Greece. Sparta, it appears, had fewer changes to government over time as compared to Athens. WebThe Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. What are the pros and cons of Athenian society? What are the disadvantages of having government? He found its concepts to have unique strengths and weaknesses that he believed could be the inspiration for the new government of post-revolution France. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Democracy is an aspect that can be included in many different governments including, republics, monarchies, and theocracies. In Athen, Schools taught reading, writing, and mathematics, music, poetry, sport, and gymnastics. There was a constant importance of acknowledging all citizens hard work and participation. Greece, and especially Athens, is the cradle of democracy in the western civilization. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. They are also carful with who can be a citizen rather then "stingy". Monarchy (advantage) Middle class realized that they could make changes (leads to democracy) Tyranny (advantage) Cinesiolgists study sceletons. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. Greece was organized into many different city-states. To begin with Sparta completely discarded all advanced education. In the period known as classical Greece in the years 800-323 BCE, Greece comprised of small city states (poleis) which were considered and operated as independent small countries. Athens was the largest polis in Greece. Advantages: meet outside often, healthy outdoor lifestyle, they had good temperature for farming and prospering, very moderate climate. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Ancient Greece was dominated by small city-states and independent towns, rather than by one all-powerful king, because of its geography. The biggest advantage of democracy in polis was the general possibility of taking part in public life for all free citizens. Advantages: small, easy to control, centralized. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. With this came many different governments for each city-state causing each city-state to have a different View On their morals. Both Athens and Sparta hold historic value for Greece and the world. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ancient Greece? A source that shares this view is the Ted-Ed video this also similarly to historian Paul Cartledge states that Athens was a direct democracy and also that not all of the population had the right to. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In ancient Athens only the men were able to vote. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Draco organized laws by putting them in a written code, letting everyone know what the laws were and, In historical Europe, many of the countries were ruled by tyrants who dictated the citizens daily lives. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. For instance the way that these cities were governed and their political procedures and functions were quite different from each other. Athenian democracy also had one-year term limits. They took politics very seriously and made sure that everyone had a voiced opinion. Why is Greece the birthplace of democracy? Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. There was a thriving city. Spartas government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. While Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. 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. According to Peter Joyce (2005), the democratic government was initiated in the Greek city state of Athens in the fifth century B.C., so as a consequence, the word democracy derived from two Greek words, demos (meaning people) and kratos (meaning power) , which means government by the people. However, they choose the candidates based on the (1)facades they create, which causes the people to become (2)distorted by their seemingly noble intentions. Two of the biggest city-states were Athens and Sparta. WebHowever, Athens under the rule of Pericles should be considered a democracy for several reasons. Apart from many smaller changes, it was mainly based on the opportunity for all citizens over 20 to take part in governing the country. Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. The five most powerful Greek city-states were; Athens, Sparta, Corinth. Pros: All citizens got to vote and have their opinion expressed. Cons. 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. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. What was the limits of democracy in ancient Greece? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Give me balance, give me equality. Pros And Cons of Ancient Athenian Democracy and Pros and Cons of American Democracy. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The secret ballot, First of all, it is important to know the definition of democracy and its aspects. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority and best met the needs of Ancient Greece. 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. Its population was over five times as great as the other small city-states. When you look at the literal definition of democracy in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, there is a decently large explanation. However, in Athens, girls did not receive an education like the boys in Athen did but, instead, were expected to become housewives. 5 What are the disadvantages of Constitution? 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. The word democracy comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). What are the pros and cons of tyranny in ancient Greece? If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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, Athens is superior towards Sparta throughout ancient Greek history. 9 What was the disadvantage of tyranny in ancient Greece? In addition, citizens had the chance to spend time acting as council representatives, which gave them power and direct involvement with decision making. Unfortunately, the assembly was open to all citizens except women. What was the government like in ancient Greece? From the system of creating new laws to the checks and balances that define the American government. Both Athens and Sparta had a similar government system. Now I will tell you that why direct democracy is not work in America. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. They used to stay in caves located near the sea and their main occupations were hunting, fishing, farming and later on they started sailing and making pots. When women were forced to produce offspring, many of the weak babies were left to die. It was possible to prolong the rule for the next term but in case of any abnormalities a quick change of government took place. 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. This society came to be known as one of the largest nations in Eurasia. They became skilled sailors. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Athens? This essay will focus on the reasons of why government is necessary in our society and why Direct Democracy is not fit for modern United States of America, although brought a splendid time for ancient Greece. And they only let men vote which means that only 12% in ancient Athens can vote.In Athens no one had freedom of thought and expression either. This basically means that if you are not wetly than they won't treat us the same as wealthy people. 4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? Sparta is far better than Athens on the grounds that their armed force was strong and defensive. 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. As records were made available for public examination, there was a means of holding public officials to account. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. She or he will best know the preferred format. The Spartans changed their society to remove all social distinction and became the greatest soldiers in Greece. Who were excluded from Greeces limited democracy? The constitution favor many people instead of few people. They were only given a cloak - no shoes or other clothes, and not enough food so they had to steal (to learn survival skills). (Figure 2). Lets look at two of them. According to the State of the World Atlas, 44% of the worlds population live in a stable democracy. Athens organized a group of Greek city states into the Delian League and eventually lead and dominated all of the city states in the League. WebOne of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. It was easy for the Athenians to see who the people are due to the population number at the time. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Self- Government/Democracy: "Rule by the people." Being the birthplace of democracy gives Ancient Greece a very important reputation. 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 current American democracy may have steamed from Athens, but they do not really have that much in common. Geography had an enormous impact on the ancient Greek civilization. The assembly in Sparta could veto the councils. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This completely contradicts the all-inclusive concept of direct democracy that the Athenian government preached so frequently. 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. 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. They could veto law proposals or rulings made by the council or assembly (PBS 1). Still, the city-states of ancient Greece had many things in common. Monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy and democracy were all forms of government found at different times and in different city-states in Ancient Greece. The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. The countrys valleys, mountainous terrain, and offshore islands encouraged the development of many city-states. The goal of a vote was not to decide which special interests could muster the most votes, it was about how to bring together the information and know-how of the citizens to solve public problems. Democracy was rule by citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners (Metics) and slaves. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In Athens, all men born to Athenian parents were citizens, in Sparta, only the wealthy were citizens. I do not believe that in the 4th to 5th century BCE ancient Athen were democratic for many reasons. Women could own property. Australia and New Zealand followed not long after as they began to use the secret ballot system to elect political leaders. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. Democracy is the modern day standard for governmental systems. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. The two biggest city-states have always had issues. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. He distinguishes three aspects: democracy as a principle of legitimacy (power not derives, Advantages And Disadvantages Of Democracy, Democracy. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Slavery No pay labor 6%of the population had a right in democratic matters. Possibly could make faster decisions. Athenian Values. All rights reserved. Sparta and Athens had differences and similarities in the way they governed their city states, in how they established their military forces, how they treated women, their marriage customs and social gatherings. After investigating the given evidence, it can be determined Ancient Athens did not always vote on important matters and only a small majority of the population could vote. The Athens was more superior then Sparta. In document A it also states that you get equal justice. And thats the way it should be. In Sparta, Boys were taken from parents at age seven and trained in the art of warfare. Although the seed was planted in the 1600s, liberal democracy only properly took form in the 1840s in Canada. The biggest difference between Athenian democracy and almost all other democracies is that the Athenians had a direct democracy rather than being representative. It is a powerful word. 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. It does not store any personal data. 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). Questions/ Activities: Do reading #1 and answer these questions: * Make a list of the major characteristics/beliefs of the religion of the ancient Greeks. Athens stood out from Sparta as well as the other city-states not only because of its immense population but also because it was the commercial leader of Greece and was home to a great navy. 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. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. Advantages: small, easy to control, centralized. Athens is the capital and the largest city of Greece. Some of the major issues with government are the political lies and schemes it takes to get to the top and remain there. One of the main advantages of Athenian, Before the Age of Absolutism, institutions, such as the Church, legislatures, or social elites, restrained monarchical power. 1 What are the pros and cons of Athenian society? One of the earliest known democracies was in Athens, a city-state in southern, ancient Greece. 7 What are some pros and cons of Spartan society? Sparta also has a great military strength, it is much better than Athens military because the men go to war at the age of 7-30. Since the Spartans were only concerned with being great warriors, the Athenians became the cultural center of Greece during the Hellenic period. 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). Oligarchy (disadvantage) Over time, middle/lower classes realized they still had little to no say in government Tyranny (disadvantage), Start studying advantages and disadvantages of government in ancient greece. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. While there were opportunities for public officials to be reelected, this did mean that implementing policies became difficult, as there was not enough time to execute them. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. 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. In America today, democracy is something we take pride in. 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. Women had no contributing role in politics. CON: Much of the citys accommodation is pricey. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. But Athens is more about the people; they are also more secure. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote. In addition to simply being a peninsula, Greeces coastline has many accessible harbor locations. What were the strengths and weaknesses of ancient Greece? But they were loyal to their city-state. Athens, on the other hand, was a democracy after periods of monarchies and aristocracies. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. One of the most famous civilizations lies between three seas, the Aegean Sea, Sea of Crete, and the Ionian Sea. Also, the so called Ostrakismos made it possible to ban corrupt politicians from athens. Although, if we look at the Athens, we see that they had no issues with plentiful land, as they possessed large and populous territory. In Document 2, an excerpt from The Spartan Constitution by Aristotle theres a quote that states they praise Lacedaemon because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy.. This quote tells exactly what type of government Sparta had. What are the limitations of a majority rule democracy? These mountains and oceans would make Sparta would be in a condition of prosperity and comfort. Today we think of democracy as majority rule. Lycurgus accomplished the consolidation. Democracy is the modern day standard for governmental systems. The Greek divine beings were During the Archaic Age, Sparta was solely focused on fighting wars and training their children for these wars. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state. Unless someone was part of the 1 percent, Athens gave members of society more rights than Sparta. What are the disadvantages of Constitution? The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. 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. 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. Thus, a key part of democracy is that the people have a voice. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? The main disadvantage for the Athenians was that around 430 BCE, a plague struck Athens. 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.