Greece The Birth Place Of Democracy - 1087 Words

Unit 2: HIST 1421 Written Assignment Although Greece is the birth place of Democracy, Greece was not always a democratic country. In many parts of Greece other forms of government ruled. For instance, in Sparta, the government was an oligarchy; and in Athens before democracy, they were an aristocracy. When leaders took over land and their word became law, it was considered a tyranny. Many places ran by a royal family or bloodline were considered monarchy. A monarchy by definition is a form of government with a monarch at the head. This means that it is â€Å"a state or nation in which the supreme power is actually or nominally lodge in a monarch. A supreme authority is vested in a single and usually hereditary figure, such as a king or queen,†¦show more content†¦In last week s reading material we learned that in Athens the government was practically ruled by the aristocrats even though Solon tried to reform the government. Even during Cleisthenes s reform, the aristocrats still had the money and influence to control the government. This brings us to the next form of government referred to as an aristocracy. By c. 700 B.C. It was aristocracy that was rule, not monarchies of the earliest poleis. (The British Museum, n.d.) Aristocracy is defined as â€Å"a class of persons holding exceptional rank and privileges, especially the hereditary nobility. A government or state ruled by the elite or privileged upper class, usually the rich.† (Dictionary, n.d.) Around c. 600 B.C. In Athens, Solon converted the previous government into four classes and established the aristocracy before Cleisthenes reformed the government into a democracy around c. 500 B.C. (Joshi, 2010) Ancient Greece and specifically Athens is the birth place of the democracy that we know today. Cleisthenes reformed the previous aristocracy into a democracy. Democracy is a form of government simply defined as â€Å"a government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.† (Dictionary, n.d.) It all started in the polis of Athens. Democracy allowed Athenians to attend and speak at assembly if you were a citizen; which during Ancient Greece did not includeShow MoreRelated Greek And Roman Influence On Western Civilization Essay581 Words   |  3 PagesRoman. Greece with their golden age and Rome with its great Empire and Republic and also together. Their are many ways in which western civilization is like the ancient Greek civilization. They started the Olympic games. Greeks come up with the idea of an alphabet that it still used today. They were the first to think of the idea of democracy. They had common people participate in their government and to elect a leader. Their trials had an actual jury made up of commoners. Greece was theRead MoreThe Greeks : The World s First Inventors Of Democracy, Politics, And Art1349 Words   |  6 Pagesand were one of the world’s first inventors of democracy, politics, Philosophy, science, and art. During the time of the Greeks, it would see some of the world’s most significant leaders and politicians. People like Themistocles and Pericles who would lead them in war against the Spartans and others. Great thinkers such as Socrates, who lead the Greeks during its last great empire. Athens would soon rise to greatness during the second invasion of Greece by the Persian Army, but on the backs of itsRead MoreOutline of Ancient Greece Society and Culture1833 Words   |  7 Pagesmen †¢ Men were in charge of the family or household. †¢ Treated with great respect †¢ Men laid on couches and had slaves attend to them while eating dinner †¢ Women and children ate in separate room. †¢ Considered the most important people in ancient Greece. Roles of women †¢ Not allowed to eat or sleep in the same room as men. †¢ Not allowed to go to the Olympics or marketplace of a city. †¢ Ran the household and managed the slaves. Roles of children †¢ All girls were taught how to cook, weave, and cleanRead MoreThe Contributions Of The Ancient Greeks And Romans754 Words   |  4 Pagesmodern world. Greece was the birthplace of: World famous mathematicians: Thales of Miletus-Thales Theorem, Pythagoras of Samos, who coined the term, mathematics, (that which is learned.) As well as Pythagoras’s Theorem, A (2) +B (2) =C (2) Euclid (Eukleides)of Alexandria, treatise on geometry, the Elements. Origins of Architecture. Modern skyscrapers are still designed in the image of the great Greek Columns. Mathematical theories were applied to building the great architecture of Greece. FoundationsRead MoreWas the 5th Century Bce a Golden Age for Athens?1324 Words   |  6 Pagesdevelopment in Ancient Greece, and specifically in Athens. 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The polis defined a public and communal space, the Agora, for the purpose of leading public affairs. The affairsRead MoreAncient Greek Of Ancient Greece1582 Words   |  7 Pages(Cartwright). A polis offered security for its inhabitants and gave organization to government through structure, function and hierarchy. The city of Athens is at the center of Ancient Greece. Most of what we know about ancient Greek culture depends on records from this principal polis. Athens is the birthplace of democracy and has been called the frame of western civilization. The polis of Athens included about 2500 square kilometers of territory. Surrounding poleis ranged somewhere in the 250 squareRead MoreHow Strongly Ancient Societies Affected The Formation Of Today s Society1434 Words   |  6 PagesThe current essay aims to investigate how strongly ancient societies affected the formation of today’s society, by analyzing several characteristics basically originating from civilisations of Ancient Antiquity such as Greece and Rome. The civilized culture is dated back to ancient Greeks and Romans. Their contribution to philosophy, literature and politics has undeniably helped to form notions of modern Western cultures. This is because, assorted essential features in the life of Ancient GreeksRead MoreHisto rical City Of Sparta And Sparta951 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant city-states that played a significant role in how ancient Greece developed. Two of the most famous city-states, also known as the â€Å"superpowers† are Athens and Sparta. These two could not have been more different when it came to geography, government, society and ideas. As time passed Sparta and Athens went from being allies to absolutely hating each other. By around 650BC Sparta became a very dominant power in ancient Greece. They were situated in the southeastern Peloponnesus on a plainRead MoreDemocracy Of Ancient Athens : Democracy891 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy in ancient Athens In ancient Greek life one of their trademarks was the polis, or city state. â€Å"The city-states were small, independent communities which were male-dominated and bound together by race.†(Steven Kreis 2000) Membership in the polis was important and was only passed down to someone within the citizen family, being male. In a polis, citizens are part of a selected part of a group that is superior to the rest of society. The members that are not part of the body of citizens are