Democracy In Athens

Pericles political intelligence, his way of communicating with the people, and his military status and tactics were legendary and exemplify why he was the one to create a better life for the people of Athens. When Pericles became leader of Athens, the Delian league was having extreme success in the Persian wars. Thucydides describes Pericles as being “the first citizen” of Athenian democracy (History, n.d.). During Pericles reign the Assembly, the council and the courts were all significant parts of the democratic system of government. The Assembly made the executive decisions, the council were the committee for the assembly, and the courts where were citizens made decisions depending on what the majority of the people wanted (Hornaday, J. 2009). The money that the Delian league made in the Persian wars Pericles used to restore monuments all over Athens. This clearly showed how successful the league was and how strong it had become since being created (Crystalinks. n.d.). The radical democracy during Pericles reign made sure that citizens were paid to take part in public affairs this was known as “pay for service”. This enabled several 1000 thetes males and male citizens in general to take part in the assembly and popular courts (Purdue University. (n.d.). Pericles was necessary for democracy to become as successful and powerful as it did which ultimately influenced current modern

The principal of Democracy is something that we often fail to appreciate. Democracy means a government that allows the public to be heard by having periodically held elections.

Even though Athens was the birthplace of democracy Athens, itself, was not a democracy. The reason why they are not considered a democracy is because of the 240,235 people only 12% or 29,900 of the population were allowed to vote. Men were the only citizens who could vote (Document C). The Franchise was open to all the men who were citizens by birth only. Both parents had to be citizens as well. Women weren’t allowed to be part of the Franchise (Document B).

Pericles was an important man for Athenians. Indeed, he was so influential to Athens that Thucydides claimed him as “the first citizen of Athens”. He, Pericles, led countrymen for the first two years of the war and made the “Delian League into an Athenian empire”. Pericles’ thoughts regarding the war were more obvious after his death than while he was still alive. He had said that Athens in one-way or another forgot to take care the most important things. For example, he said, “Athens will be victorious if she bided [Athens] and took care of her navy” meaning that during the course of the war Athens as a city itself forgot how to take care of the things that made Athens an influential and precious city. In addition, Thucydides claimed that Pericles’ successors were a big factor of the position of Athens while approaching the war. His successors instead of helping Athenians confront the war as an important case of matter, did the opposite. Instead, they took care of “private business”, which were only beneficial for their private ambition. However, such bad decisions and

Pericles was great as a leader, and he used all his skills as a logical man in order to occupy Athenians who weren’t involved in the army and who were unskilled. Because he did not want them to just get benefited from national income for doing nothing, he proposed to them different plans for public works and buildings where all kinds of industries could be involved. Since he didn’t have money of his own he was spending public money for building, and that is what he was accused of by Thucydides and other members of his party. Using the knowledge of psychology of people, Pericles knew how to persuade people in the Assembly. He didn’t have his own money, but still made the Athenians believe as though he did; and his reply to the accusation was as follows:

Athens government for most of its run was a democracy. Democracy is basically a government that gives more power to the people so that they do not get swindled. As stated by David Sacks author of the Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, “[Democracy] helped prevent power from being monopolized by the wealthiest citizens.” . The power the people had made huge benefits for the people of Athens. People getting benefits satisfied them causing a more sturdy and calm society.

In the ancient democracy people directly made the laws, in today’s modern democracy we have something called the democratic republic in which we have elected representatives who make decisions for us. Athenian citizens participated in direct democracy in which they had meetings and they voted on all the issues they were discussing. This system is completely different from modern democracy system, like in the united states people elect officials who represent them in the congress who then discuss and vote on issues. Also, in ancient Athens elections were determined by the lottery system, the people who were elected as representatives of the government, the magistrate, the assembly members, and the council of 500 they all were chosen by a simple lottery system. Unlike in the united states we elect a president who serves as a head of the executive branch. Then we have two elected senators from each state that represent their state, then we have members of the congress who represent the people. We elect these representatives to represent us the people and make laws that affect us. When we compare to this to ancient Athens, no one person was the head of the boule or assembly, they all ruled together. People who was chosen by the lottery system to run as represented electives in the council or 500, the Assembly and the courts didn’t have any special legal training. In the Modern day and age, people who are nominated and elected as representatives for the government have some back ground in politics. Also, people who work as lawyers and judges must attended Law school, get a degree, have enormous training to be eligible and get hired for the required position. We see some similarities of voting and how the government system works and how people help with decision making as such and we also have special meeting places for the elected

He wanted to take away the divide between the rich and the poor. In 430 BC, Pericles gave a speech honouring the soldiers who were killed in the war. He first started by sharing his views on democracy, he spoke out for equality in the law making sure he mentioned the inequality between the rich and the poor. He initiated this by paying public officials. He changed the rule so that the poor could afford to hold office. Citizens had to be a free male, over 18 and the son of Athenian born parents. He made it more of a direct democracy where all citizens could participate in running the government. Pericles made sure it was clear that all individuals could vote on laws and that it wasn't limited depending on social class or wealth. It benefited Athenian society as everyone became equal and no one was favoured. It also boosted tourism as everyone was now able to visit the temples and take part in festivals. They were not all rich but were all examples of democracy. It ultimately helped enable freedom of speech, religion and restored faith back into the

Pericles did a lot for the Athenians to improve their humanity and welfare. In this period such important advances were made in a collection of fields including government, art, philosophy, drama and literature. Pericles had three main goals as a leader, the first, to strengthen and establish democracy, where he would influence and concede for all citizens to speak, vote and hold office. Pericles wanted all citizens equal before the law. His second goal was to strengthen the

Greece was split into to different parts which were Athens and Sparta. Neither one of those two sides got along. Supposedly the Greeks had a democracy. Or did they? In their so called democracy women didn’t have democratic rights, men were held to a higher standard than women, and slaves were not allowed part in it. The Greek democracy mainly depended on the athenian side of Greece. The Greek democracy developed around the 5th century B.C. . In the athenian part of Greece people had certain rules. There were rules that had to do with voting. They vote with pottery and scratch the person’s name they voted for onto it. The person who had the most votes, the person that won the election, was taken away for up to 10 years at a time. We found out they do that just because that person wants power and thinks that they are the top dog. Mr. or Mrs. super important. Another thing that takes place in Athens is social classes. No matter what your social class or social status was you had a job. Everyone had a part so everyone has to play a role. The poor men had important jobs like rowing the warships, farmers, and laborers. But the wealthy had more say so than the poor did. Even if you were an Athens citizen. Women didn’t have political rights. Slaves had no rights at all even though they worked. They worked in homes, shops, and mines. They were often seen as prisoners of war. Athens and Sparta always fought. The athenian people had a special ceremony for the people that died in the war.

During the dawn of the Greek civilization, rulership consisted of one king that rule the entire occupied land. Such system included only family members, tribe members, and wealthy individuals to receive whatever good the empire had to offer. It took many years until new reforms came about in regards of rulership. The Athenian democracy was developed by the efforts of the leaders and philosophers who were encouraged to think and answer the why freely. Although it was called a democratic system, only male citizens had the opportunity to participate. In this essay, I will discuss how the Athenian democratic system was developed, why, and the efforts of the Greek thinkers in developing the Athenian democracy. Additionally, we will have the

Described by Thucydides as “the foremost Athenian and most able in speech or action [at the time of the Peloponnesian War,]” Pericles ushered in what was widely known as the “Golden Age of Athens” (31). He often exercised great prudence in his decision making and was widely admired by the Greek people. The man stressed justice, the worth of the Empire, and cleaving one’s personal interests to those of the city. Through his eloquent speeches and definitive actions he captured both the hearts of the Athenians and territory as a premier military commander. The people readily accepted his authority, and became accustomed to it. This would only lead to problems down the road, however, as other rulers took up the mantle of Athens. They would only be but a gilded echo of Pericles, unable and unwilling to follow his path. Therefore, though Pericles did not intentionally set Athens up to fail, because of the oratorical skill, leadership style, and character he possessed, success could only be truly achieved by and through him.

The form of democracy that Pericles put into effect was not favored by everyone. This is mainly because the people did not believe that the uneducated should have a say in any way. They thought that the poor may use this power against the rich. There was a point in time when the Athenian democracy experienced difficult phases and the rich blamed the poor for this misfortune. Some believed that giving the poor power was illegitimate.

The Parthenon would not have been possible without the efforts and supervision of Pericles, one of the greatest historical leaders. Pericles dominated Greek politics for over twenty years. He gained his political start with the help of Ephialtes, together they reorganized the voting process to involve a popular assembly destroying the power of the Areopagus or the old noble council. This action completely reformed the democratic system in Athens. This reform was affluential part to the legend of the power of Athenian democracy. (PBS)

During the reign of Pericles, he brought the idea of citizenship to the people of Athens. In Pericles’ Funeral Orations he stated that “Not membership of a particular class, but the ability which the man processes.” Pericles says that in society, your class does not matter, what matters is how you contribute to democracy. He also shows the idea of citizenship again when he says, “everyone is equal before the law.” Pericles is showing that citizens will be equal no matter what so you should not be afraid to participate because the law will treat you equally. Once again Pericles demonstrates the idea of citizenship when he said, “power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole of the people.” Once more, Pericles shows that everyone has a right to be a part of democracy and encourages you to be a part of. Others would say that because not everyone had the same rights, the rule of Pericles’ was not a Golden Age, however