Greek Democracy

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Greek Democracy

• I Ancient Beginnings
• II External Threats
• III Forms of Government
• IV Athenian Democracy
• V What do we learn about democracy?

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I Ancient Beginnings

• Dracon (624)
• middle class v. landowners
• Solon (594)
• class politics and limited democracy
• Cleisthenes (510)
• land reform and democracy

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Greek Democracy

• I Ancient Beginnings
• II External Threats
• III Forms of Government
• IV Athenian Democracy
• V What do we learn about democracy?

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II External Threat

• The Persians
• Marathon (490)

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Marathon
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II External Threat

• The Persians
• Marathon (490)
• The Spartans
• Peloponnesian War (431-404)
• Tyranny of 30
• Democracy restored (403)
• Socrates death (399)
• Plato (427-347)
• Aristotle (384-322)

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Greek Democracy

• I Ancient Beginnings
• II External Threats
• III Forms of Government
• IV Athenian Democracy
• V What do we learn about democracy?

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III Forms of Government

• monarchy oligarchy - democracy

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Greek Democracy

• I Ancient Beginnings
• II External Threats
• III Forms of Government
• IV Athenian Democracy
• V What do we learn about democracy?

10
IV Athenian Democracy

• land reform 10 districts urban/rural/coastal
• Each district sends 50 to council
• One district presides for one tenth of year
• President for one day by lot
• Nobody can serve twice
• That is 10,800 presidents in 30 years or about
  half of the adult citizenship
• War, taxes and alliances need approval of popular
  assembly
• 6000 judges by lot per year
• Participants get paid (diets)
• Ostracism 6,000 votes means ban for 10 years for
  one person with the most votes

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Greek Democracy

• I Ancient Beginnings
• II External Threats
• III Forms of Government
• IV Athenian Democracy
• V What do we learn about democracy?

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What do we learn about democracy?

• Territory
• Population
• Citizenship
• Participation
• Isonomy
• Social equality