How Did Athens Influence Greek Politics

The leaders who instigated democracy in Athens, Greece in the 6th and 5th century BCE created a functioning system of government that attempted to benefit its citizens. However, the system of democracy included weaknesses that didn’t support all people to the best of its ability and was overthrown in the end due to war. Several significant leaders were necessary in the commencement of Athenian democracy. These included Solon, Cleisthenes and Pericles. All three had heavy influence in the establishment of democracy, but it was Pericles who truly prospered it. Solon was an aristocratic, not a democratic, but he still believed in supporting the people. Cleisthenes began land reforms which made all of Attica connected as one. Pericles made Athens

This alliance became known as the Delian League. The time period for this is roughly 450 BC. The League members recognized Athens as the head of the League. Athens soon became very authoritarian in dealings with the member states often preventing them from independent and finally transferring the finances for the League from Delos to Athens. These funds simply became tribute to Athens.

King Philip ruled ancient Greece from 359 BC right up to his death in 336 BC. After his demise, his son, Alexander, took up his fathers mantle and continued his work as a ruler. Thus began the reign of one of the greatest rulers in human history, Alexander the Great, who ruled almost all of the Mediterranean. Alexander’s empire strectched from Greece to India, spreading Greek ideas throughout and many cities were named after the great ruler. Alexander’s reign only lasted 13 years, but his impact has left a mark on human history as many cities throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe still bare his name and the fact that his death triggered the start of a new era.

In this paper, I intend to show that ancient Athenian democracy influenced western political thought, specifically, western democracies. By influencing such modern day democracies, ancient Greek culture remains a presence in contemporary life.

Greece, Rome, and the Renaissance had a large influence on the American colonies in literature, art, and law because majority of the population brought over the ideas from the Old World to the New World looking for religious and social freedom.

Zeus controlled many people during the Greek religion phase. He ruled the sky and thunder. He ruled as king of the gods of Mount Olympus. Zeus came from a very popular group of leaders in his family. One being his father Cronus. Cronus led the titans and become the youngest of the first generation of the titans. Cronus overthrew his father and become the leader during the Golden Age. Then, Zeus’s mother Rhea, which came from the earth goddess Gaia and the sky god Uranus. Cronus descended from the same line of family. Rhea is considered as “mother of gods. Zeus being the youngest of all siblings become the one with the most weight on their shoulders having to perform like all of his other siblings. He fathered many children where they would

The Greek influences inform modern American culture through their complex system of government, and from their advanced conceptual practices of modern-day mathematics. Also, the revolutionary progresses of this ancient era have impacted societies as a whole, from some of their ingenious inventions which have been innovated and modified into the most recognized designs of latter-day civilizations. Besides from informing, the Greeks not only continue to inspire American culture from their successes, but also, many other cultures of the world, and their artists, in distinction to the perceptive ancient art, poetry, and literature of that time.

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).

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Sparta, it appears, had fewer changes to government over time as compared to Athens. In fact, it adhered to a military oligarchy most of its existence. Pre-Classical Greece saw a Dorian movement take place after the Trojan war. Along with the Aetolians, they invaded the Peloponnesus from across the Corinthian Gulf (Halsall, 1999). The Aetolians settled while the Dorians divided into two forces and continued on where one force took over Messenia and the other moved into Laconia and Sparta. This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. In fact, there were internal struggles and disagreements. The community showed little cohesion as a group. This crossroad marked a change to the government. Lycurgus accomplished the consolidation

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

Greek influences on the American Democracy is exceptionally similar in today American society.Giving example, homosexuality was a subject that existed and was common.Mature men showered younger boys with gifts which was acceptable as long as it haulted with marrage.In todays cultures not everyone accepted the idea of two men together but according to goverment it is now lawful.Times have evovled around that subject.Since the changes in law i belive more people have adopted the idea as normal. Here in the united states legitimate marriages orrur through out states.Everyone should be themselves despite there relationship liking without

Referring to the textbook, the assassination of Philip II led to twenty year old Alexander becoming the King of Macedonia. He is commonly referred to as "Alexander the Great". He, like his father, had a dream of invading the Persian Empire. The textbook mentions that Alexander had claimed to be descended from the Greek Hero, Heracles. Alexander also mentioned that he was pharaoh of Egypt. Going in order of the timeline, Alexander gained control into Asia minor whenever he defeated Persian king Darius III at the battle of Issus 333 B.C.E. From there he he extended control over Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. Another battle with the Persian led to victory, whenever he fought at Gaugamela in 331 B.C.E.. The next move was to take over the Persian treasuries in Babylon. Darius had fled and Alexander was on a quest to find him, but Darius III was killed by his own men. With the control of the persians, he pushed his boundaries into Northwest India. Winning a brutally fought battle at the Hydaspes river, took a toll on

Democracy comes from two Greek words: a noun demos which means, "people" and a verb, kratein, which means "to rule" (Ober 120). Democracy first appeared in Athens towards the beginning of the fifth century B.C. The biggest difference between Athenian democracy and almost all other democracies is that the Athenian version was a direct democracy rather than being representative. Democracy came about in Athens as a result of the growing navel power and the reforms made by leaders such as Cleisthenes and Pericles.

one essential conviction, expressed in the word democracy itself: that power should be in the hands of the people. Although democracy today has been slightly inefficient in this idea, with the wealthy, elite class challenging this right, “it nevertheless claims for itself a fundamental validity that no other kind of society shares….” To completely understand the structure of democracy, one must return to the roots of the practice itself, and examine the origins in ancient Greece, the expansion in the Roman Empire, and how these practices combined make what we recognize as today’s democratic government.