Athenian Democracy Influenced Western Political Thought

One mark Greece had on future societies in the West can be seen in the advancement of political order, namely democracy, which still prevails in not only the United States but across the globe. Democracy began development when Cleisthenes transformed Athens into a democratic state and took steps to protect the system of government from tyranny.1 The first period of Rome would later take from these concepts and became marked by the representative way in which they chose to govern themselves—as a republic.2

Today, much of the world’s governments have converted to democracies. In the Ancient World, there was only one truly notable example of a democratic society: The City-State of Athens. This is actually the birthplace of democracy, where instead of the rich or powerful ruling, it was the citizens of the city-state that held the power. This advanced way of government was so effective and well structured, it even laid the foundations for the development of our own democracy, right here in the United States, over 2,000 years in the future. Prior to Athens’s collapse during the Peloponnesian War, it truly had an efficient and very organized system of government.

Democracy has been a huge focal point for success especially in the west with countries like America, but sometimes we can see a democracy turn corrupt. This essay will be centered around the pros and cons of democracy and its roles within the ancient Greek world that helped catapult Athens into one of the world’s greatest metropolitan cities to ever exist.

For a period of less than 200 years, Athens experimented with democracy to a greater extent than any other known to that time. It is tragic to say, by way of commentary, that such an experiment derided by its own leaders, consumed quickly, and failed to enfranchise a vast majority of its people. Nevertheless, the political advances in Athens promoted the arts and sciences, architecture, theater, and literature, and set an enduring legacy for all humanity to

This history of Democracy starts in Athens Greece in the 5th century. This was widely immitated at

It's ironic that the country that would be recognized as the birthplace of democratic values contained within it a dynamic mix of government types including the entire spectrum from tyranny to democracy and everything in between. A common quote that comes to mind is that "history is written by the victors", to which Ancient Greek might be the exception. To explain this: the loosely grouped collection of city-states were actually dominated by towards the end of it's free existence by the oligarchic government of the militarly superior Spartans., however, it is the ideas of the Athenians that would primarly be carried far and wide by the concerning Macedonians and live on through the millennia. Nevertheless, we'll examine the different forms of government that existed throughout the empire of Ancient Greece.

One of the most interesting ancient societies to ever exist is without a doubt ancient Greece, which began from 8th century B.C. to 600 AD. It is from this great ancient society that the idea and structure of Democracy originates. With one of the first examples of written history records tell of Monarchy transforming into Democracy. With gods who shared human flaws, the people of ancient Greece society extracted important values and beliefs. Values that aided in the advancement of their society(Anhalt).

To begin with, the political ideas born in Greece can still be found in most countries of today. All modern governments can be roughly categorized into three types - democracy, oligarchy and the hybrid of the two. In Greece, Athens and Sparta, the two most influential city-states, respectively had a system of democracy and oligarchy. It was Athenians who invented the word “democracy” (Greek: δημοκρατία),

Blackwell, C. W. (2003, February 28). Athenian Democracy: A brief overview. Retrieved June 22, 2016, from http://www.stoa.org/projects/demos/article_democracy_overview?page=all&greekEncoding

Athenian democracy did not evolve over night; it was the product of need for change. During the 6th century BC Athens was recovering from a dark period of internal class conflicts after being subject to tyrannical rulers for over half a century. This was a time when farmers and merchants were faced with paying excessive taxes, had no representation or power at governing level and at times sold themselves in order to pay back their depts. Democracy came about because of an outcry for political freedom and it is precisely this inequality that sparked the first reforms in Ancient Athens. Solon introduced certain reforms in Athens that paved the way for the development of democracy.

Introduction: It is believed that Ancient Athens was the first form of democracy that influenced the structure of democracy today. Ancient Greece had many different forms of government within its nation. Most of these government parties are dramatically different from one another. The most contrasting forms of government listed here are democracy and tyranny. This essay will explore the contrast between monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy and democracy.

Athens sought out to uphold the ideals that they had established for a citizen ruled government so as to avoid the shortcomings that spawned from the rule of unjust kings and dictators. Athens established democracy as the ruling government in the 4th and 5th century, being a democracy entailed that the masses held power over the city-state.The ancient Greeks held different views that the modern world does not, thus, Athens was truly a democracy based on the values of the time period it was established.

Democracy became a significant way of life from 700 B.C. to the present. Around this time, the Athenians from Greece dispersed around the world and carried their way of life with them. It is a government ruled by the citizens. Cleisthenes, who was a greek ruler, incorporated the first democracy in history. Democracy developed with the ethical principles in ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, Judeo/Christians teaching, and the England feudal system.

Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century BC in the Greek city-state (known as a Polis) of Athens, comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica. Athenian democracy is the first known democracy in the world. Other Greek cities set up democracies, most following the Athenian model, but none are as well documented as Athens.

Many words have been borrowed from Greek and used in modern English. The same could be said of modern day democracy. As we look through time to unravel the Ancient Greek Empire, we can only be in awe of their masterful domain. They fought many wars, filled arenas with gladiators and beast from around the world and yet they would tumble, slowly, but they would still fall. Let us take a look at the kind of governments that would rule this vast country.