Prologue The Rise of Democratic Ideals
Section 1- Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome Terms to Know: 1. Government 2. Monarchy 3. Aristocracy 4. Oligarchy 5. Democracy 6. Direct Democracy 7. Republic 8. Senate
Athens Builds a Limited Democracy Building Democracy 2000 BCE Greeks establish cities known as city states.
Each city state had a unique government. - Monarchy Aristocracy oligarchy - Limited Democracy
Athens was the largest and most powerful.
Citizens participated in governmental decision making. Citizens were adult male residents. Citizens elected three nobles to rule. After a year of service the nobles became part of a larger advisory group.
Circa 600 BCE Athens suffered severe economic problems. Poor farmers sold themselves into slavery to cover their debts.
Reforms of Solon Outlawed slavery based upon debt Developed four classes of citizenship based upon wealth and not heredity. Top three classes could hold public office.
All classes could vote. Council of 400 Any citizens could bring about charges against wrong doers.
Government participation increased. 1/10 th of the population were considered citizens. Athenian Law denied citizenship to women, slaves, and foreign residents. Slaves formed 1/3 rd of the population.
The Areopagus, as viewed from the Acropolis, is a monolith where Athenian aristocrats decided important matters of state during Solon's time.
This is one of the earliest known coins. It was minted in the early 6th century BC in Lydia, one of the world's then 'superpowers'. Coins such as this might have made their way to Athens in Solon's time but it is unlikely that Athens had its own coinage at this period
Cleisthenes Enacts More Reforms Considered the founder of democracy in Athens. Balanced power between the rich and the poor.
Developed a way for all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage. Developed the Council of 500
Council proposed laws to the Assembly. Council members were chosen at random. 1/5 th of Athenian residents were considered citizens.
Greek Democracy Changes Pericles Strengthens Democracy Increased paid jurors and public official numbers. Poorer citizens could now participate.
Athens evolved into a Direct Democracy. Citizens no longer acted through representatives.
The Peloponnesian War in 431, which pitted Athens against a coalition of landbased states led by Sparta. Democracy ended in Greece after the war between Athens and Sparta.
The conflict marked the end of Athenian command of the sea. The war between the two city-states ended in a victory for Sparta.
Macedonia invaded Greece and defeated the weakened city states.
Greek Philosophers Use Reason Sought to investigate the universe. The first of these was Socrates
He asked his students to assess their most closely held beliefs. He preferred a question and answer method of teaching.
The second was Plato (a pupil of Socrates) The Republic Philosopher Kings rule
Plato s student Aristotle examined the nature of the world and of human belief, thought, and knowledge.
Legacy of Greece Greeks used reason and intelligence to develop Natural Laws. Developed Direct Democracy First to develop Legislative, Judicial, and executives branches.
Rome Develops a Republic While Greece was in decline. From 1000 to 500 BCE the Romans (The Latins) battled with Greeks and Etruscans for control of the Italian Peninsula. The Romans were the victors.
From Kingdom to Republic Beginning 600 BCE a series of kings ruled Rome. 509 BCE the aristocrats overthrew a harsh king. They established The Republic.
In Rome (as in Greece) citizenship was only given to free born males.
In the early Republic two groups battled for control. Patricians- aristocratic land owners
Plebeians common farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Twelve Tables Plebeians forced a written law code to be created. 451- a group of ten officials began writing down Rome s laws. They had the laws carved on 12 tables (tablets) and had them publicly displayed.
Republican Government Two officials called consuls (1 year term) commanded the army and directed the government. The legislative Branch was made up of a Senate and two assemblies. Patricians made up the Senate. It controlled foreign and financial policies and advised the consuls.
The two assemblies were composed of the other citizens. In times of crisis the Republic also provided for a dictator (6 month term)
Rome expanded rapidly through conquest and trade. Rome constantly bounced between civil war and authoritarian leaders. 27 BCE the Republic collapsed and came under the rule of an emperor.
Written Legal Code 451 BCE (1,000 years later) Emperor Justinian ordered the compilation of all Roman Laws. These were broken into four works.
Legacy of Rome Rome provided the world with the idea of the Republic. Refined the idea of citizenship Written legal code