Some people believe they were more democratic than us today, but I think they were never a true democratic government. During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. Originally Answered: why is Athens Greece considered the birthplace of democracy? Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote. This is the great story of Ancient Greece and how individualism changed the view Greece had on certain issues. Every citizen in Athens is allowed to take part in government, even poor citizens. 7 What was the disadvantage of democracy in ancient Greece? If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. In ancient Athens, democracy was about aggregating, aligning and codifying useful knowledge. HomeBrowse. Not everyone gets to participate. The. The council (men over sixty years elected for life) and kings acted as judges and proposed laws (PBS 1). 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. She or he will best know the preferred format. (Figure 2). 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. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state. 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. It consists of two short words: demos which means either a citizen in a particular city-state or the lower orders, and kratos which means either rule or power - but these two are not of the same meaning. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. 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. Still, the city-states of ancient Greece had many things in common. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. The first one is Document A: Pericles and the other one is Document B: The The Athenian Constitution. The countrys valleys, mountainous terrain, and offshore islands encouraged the development of many city-states. A Monarchy is a political system ruled by one individual Athens original government was a monarchy ruled by one king, however, the king's influence began to diminish with the changing times and soon Athens was under the rule of an oligarchy. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. Ancient Greece was divided into many different city-state who had their different cultures, the most critical being Athens and Sparta.They adored a broad range of god and goddesses,the most imperative of whom, the Olympians, small thought to live on Mount Olympus. The Athenians valued their political freedom and free thought. You cannot download interactives. 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. As I will come to. They are also carful with who can be a citizen rather then "stingy". This basically means that if you are not wetly than they won't treat us the same as wealthy people. Having good harbors and water access is good for trade, and trade brings economic stability. 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. 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. Its also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. Athens owes the first penal and civil law code to Draco. Other contrasting issues included womens rights, social classes, and value of human life. The five most powerful Greek city-states were; Athens, Sparta, Corinth. Sparta, on the other hand, was recognized for its military strength. Athens was the largest polis in Greece. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? The current American democracy may have steamed from Athens, but they do not really have that much in common. What are the advantages of the ancient Greek system? The Athens was more superior then Sparta. 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 Greek divine beings were The history of Ancient Athens dates back to 6,000 years ago. Being the birthplace of democracy gives Ancient Greece a very important reputation. On the other hand, direct democracy is not a good chose for America. Geographical formations including mountains, seas, and islands formed natural barriers between the Greek city-states and forced the Greeks to settle along the coast. Athens weaknesses included its unwritten laws, lack of unity at the beginning, insatiable hunger for new territories, and constant power struggles with other poleis. Socrates did not care for the idea in general, and Aristotle thought it could, within a state, yield new forms of abuse of power. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Hard work and equality is what makes a nation outstanding. It was easy for the Athenians to see who the people are due to the population number at the time. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. 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 Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A a majority of one race or religion or political opinion is not allowed to suppress the rights of other groups. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state. Altogether there were over 1500 city-states, but some of these barley qualify because they are so small. One of the most famous civilizations lies between three seas, the Aegean Sea, Sea of Crete, and the Ionian Sea. Two of the biggest city-states were Athens and Sparta. I believe that ancient Athens was not a true democracy. The ancient civilization of Greece contained many different city-states; two of these city-states were Sparta and Athens. Great economy. The Role Of Democracy In Ancient Greece. It showed him that his taxicab driver lacked knowledge of past history and basically judged a book by its cover. In Homeric Age, the regime of Athens is citizens can go into politics directly, just like governor who wield the supreme power, this kind of regime called Direct Democracy. 5 Why is Greece the birthplace of democracy? This society came to be known as one of the largest nations in Eurasia. Not many dare to explore the flaws or disadvantages. reading #2: "Greek Art." Possibly could make faster decisions. In ancient Greece, demokratia, otherwise known as democracy can be battered down into demo, and kratia. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. The Spartans changed their society to remove all social distinction and became the greatest soldiers in Greece. The ancient Greeks were the first to create a democracy. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Lycurgus accomplished the consolidation. All city-states differed from each other in some ways but all shared some characteristics too. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. They were the main city with an area of land around them. Self- Government/Democracy: "Rule by the people." The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. 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. 8 Who was not allowed to become a citizen of Greece? Such abundance of water makes Ancient Greece good in fishing and trade. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. Metic. Geography had an enormous impact on the ancient Greek civilization. It is a powerful word. Athens was the warm welcoming city-state in Ancient Greece, most unlike the horrific neighboring city-state, Sparta. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. The ancient Greeks believed that each city-state had one or two gods keeping a special eye on that city-state. 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. 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. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. What disadvantages did Athens have? Ancient Athens, had a much more stronger basis than ancient Sparta. The rule of the people is the definition of Democracy. Their members were elected by the people. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. Mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Strong land army, protection. Apart from many smaller changes, it was mainly based on the opportunity for all citizens over 20 to take part in governing the country. Even though their government was ran by the people themselves, only the men in the city could vote. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In Athens all men are on an equality which means Not of the few but of the many (doc 3 pericles). They became skilled sailors. 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. WebThe Democracy of Ancient Greece was used heavily in creating modern American Democracy. The different city states had their own ideas on social control and values in their government. The difference in land as well as population perceives a relative historical comparison. They became skilled sailors. The concept of leadership was prevalent in the ancient world. Lets look at two of them. When the two words are put together it forms , meaning rule of the people. They became skilled sailors. Democracy is a form of government in which power lies with the people. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. First of all, the economy was very strong in Athens. Sparta and Athens are very different from the way they are administered as well as their practices. 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. Oligarchy (advantage) If the leader is strong/effective, the civilization is in good shape. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. 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. Only the men truly had a say, and ran ancient Athens. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. As records were made available for public examination, there was a means of holding public officials to account. In document A it also states that you get equal justice. And thats the way it should be. 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. WebI think Athens had a better government because they created a democracy. From the system of creating new laws to the checks and balances that define the American government. What was one advantage in the Greek world? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state model of government in Greece? It seems fair and gives equality to all regardless of social class. Demo, meaning the people, and kratia meaning the power or rule. 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 ancient civilization of greece was different from many of the civilizations in its time. 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. However up until 500 BCE, the concept of Democracy was a foreign concept, and the great civilizations of that era were run by monarchs, aristocrats, and religious leaders of sorts. if the majority of the citizens didn't like the ideas of a single citizen they were to be banished or killed. Sparta advantage. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. Athens was a small city compared to Rome that honored and protected citizenship. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. The assembly met on the hill of the Pnyx to make these important decisions. I do not believe that in the 4th to 5th century BCE ancient Athen were democratic for many reasons. Why is that so? What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state form of government? Now, there are a lot of people was worried about the system, because there are too many problems of their government. Compare the advantages and disadvantages for settlers of Greece's physical geography. Spartas government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. WebOne of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. Established on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution established Americas national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed rights for its citizens. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 6 What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state form of government? 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. 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. Athens strengths included its large size, large trireme navy, wealth, and democratic government. The most common governments in the city-states consisted of monarchies, oligarchies, dictatorships, and sometimes democracies. 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. Disadvantage: Unpredictable sea, need boats to travel. Unlike Sparta, who has an oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. Both of these city-states shared similar characteristics such as both would remain the foundation for the Greek political world. Democracy Cons: Cons: Only citizens got to vote. They are just more carful. CON: Much of the citys accommodation is pricey. Although the seed was planted in the 1600s, liberal democracy only properly took form in the 1840s in Canada. They could veto law proposals or rulings made by the council or assembly (PBS 1). Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. For example, if youre poor youre still able to serve the state or be part of the government. Therefore, they could easily make decisions. With this came many different governments for each city-state causing each city-state to have a different View On their morals. + PRO: Though harder to find, more affordable options exist. It is a center for economic, political, financial and culture life in Greece. This completely contradicts the all-inclusive concept of direct democracy that the Athenian government preached so frequently. Because of this, Athens cannot be considered democratic. In America today, democracy is something we take pride in. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. Unless someone was part of the 1 percent, Athens gave members of society more rights than Sparta. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. Logically enough, the English word itself is derived from older Middle French or Middle Latin equivalents. According to the State of the World Atlas, 44% of the worlds population live in a stable democracy. 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. Times change and with it human desires, but not many people challenge it or seem to think outside the box. Athens was full of life and the people living there appreciated all of what others had to offer: arts, music, life, and new cultures. Many people were disenfranchised. Sparta and Athens are very different from the way they are administered as well as their practices. The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. Ancient Greece is also known for many things like the birthplace of the first Olympics, beautiful architecture, and famous philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Some farmers in archaic and classic Greece werent choosing which crops to plant based on local nutritional needs. On the other hand, Sparta had an oligarchy. Democracy, a noun that means the society is governed by the people, a system of voting, and majority rules. To have a powerful and lasting empire with great prosperity you must have a series of strong leaders. The main disadvantage for the Athenians was that around 430 BCE, a plague struck Athens. What are the pros and cons of tyranny in ancient Greece? Although the competing city-states of Sparta and Athens were individually different as well as governmentally diverse, they both managed to become dominating powers in Ancient Greece. The two biggest city-states have always had issues. 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. Slavery. 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. Athens has a better government system then the Roman Republic. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Draco organized laws by putting them in a written code, letting everyone know what the laws were and, The name comes from demos-people and kratos-power, so literally power of the people. Sparta advantage. Hence, Absolutism was made possible by new innovations and characterized as a phenomenon of Early Modern Europe, rather than that of the middle Ages, where the clergy and nobility counterbalanced as a result of mutual.