The Role Of Democracy In Athenian Democracy
While democracy in ancient Greece may not have survived in it’s original, non-representative state, it has still left a lasting impact on modern day democratic society. Athens was the birthplace of democracy, being the first place to adopt it as it’s political system.
Athens having been the great economic power it was, showed the world that a government where the people hold equal power to each other, can work, that a small group of ruling elite isn’t necessary. Even after the fall of athenian power, Pericles, a man who forged Athenian culture, made the ideals of democracy widespread (Doc 7). Athenian culture lived on and morphed, until, over time it became a part of modern day democratic cultures, and in what way is this more evident than
in the US political system (Doc 8). Athens had a system of direct democracy, which, at the time was able to function well, and was sustainable. In current times, this wouldn’t work in the US given the large population; however, the ideas of democracy have stayed prevalent in representative democracy, the current US system.
Democracy was a political system that encouraged freedom both socially, and economically, one that stood the test of time to even today, from ancient greece, to modern day US, truly a cultural achievement contributed to modern day society, by none other than Greece.
Beyond this, the Greeks also created what is now called, a monarchy, a system of government where one person holds all of the power, this system is also very common, used in Pre-Modern Australia, England, and Canada. All of these were hereditary rule and were decently effective given their large economic powers respectively. One more idea that is still practiced in modern day politics was the idea of debate. Debate may not have been created in Greece, however, this is where it was popularized. One more contrary idea to democracy and debate were oligarchies, another political system formed in Greece. While not the prettiest system for commoners, it was one that stayed alive during the feudal era, where many modern day civilizations were solidified, an important stepping stone, though not permanent, still leaving a huge impact on modern day culture.
Athens having been the great economic power it was, showed the world that a government where the people hold equal power to each other, can work, that a small group of ruling elite isn’t necessary. Even after the fall of athenian power, Pericles, a man who forged Athenian culture, made the ideals of democracy widespread (Doc 7). Athenian culture lived on and morphed, until, over time it became a part of modern day democratic cultures, and in what way is this more evident than
in the US political system (Doc 8). Athens had a system of direct democracy, which, at the time was able to function well, and was sustainable. In current times, this wouldn’t work in the US given the large population; however, the ideas of democracy have stayed prevalent in representative democracy, the current US system.
Democracy was a political system that encouraged freedom both socially, and economically, one that stood the test of time to even today, from ancient greece, to modern day US, truly a cultural achievement contributed to modern day society, by none other than Greece.
Beyond this, the Greeks also created what is now called, a monarchy, a system of government where one person holds all of the power, this system is also very common, used in Pre-Modern Australia, England, and Canada. All of these were hereditary rule and were decently effective given their large economic powers respectively. One more idea that is still practiced in modern day politics was the idea of debate. Debate may not have been created in Greece, however, this is where it was popularized. One more contrary idea to democracy and debate were oligarchies, another political system formed in Greece. While not the prettiest system for commoners, it was one that stayed alive during the feudal era, where many modern day civilizations were solidified, an important stepping stone, though not permanent, still leaving a huge impact on modern day culture.