This a well researched academic paper that traces ancient democracy and offers a detailed explanation of its similarities and differences with modern democracy. Professor robert garland of colgate university takes us back to ancient greece and unpacks the development and workings of athenian democracy. Second, because this picture compares and contrasts greek democracy and current american representative democracy. Athenian democracy was probably true democracy in that all citizens, that had the right to do so, gathered together at once in a public forum to decide and time themselves. It is interesting to note that when american democracy was created in 1787, it wasnt inclusive. American democracy is just sort of a shorthand way to refer to our style. What is the difference between democracy in ancient athens and. Is athenian democracy more advantageous than the democracy we. The athenian democracy compared to todays democracy. First, i will outline the key points of athenian and american democracy, then compare and contrast them.
Legislative made the laws the boule and the ecclesia comparing and contrasting. We like to think we live in a democracy but an ancient athenian might beg to differ. Rhodess reader focuses on the political institutions, political activity, history, and nature of athenian democracy and introduces some of the best british, american, german, and french scholarship on its origins, theory, and practice. Ancient athens democracy for kids and teachers ancient. You can edit this venn diagram using creately diagramming tool and include in your reportpresentationwebsite. Canadian democracy vs athenian democracy ancient athens. The golden age athenian democracy and our modern democracy had many similarities. Athenian democracy and present democracy essay 1006 words. Start writing about how are athenian and american democracy similar with this example essay. Was ancient greek democracy better than todays american democracy. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. Also, like our current democracy, in athens you had to be 18yearsold to vote. Trust was implicit, truth was held to its highest standard for every citizen, lawmakers could be impeached, and these principles guided daily life for every athenian. What are other examples of democratic societies besides athens.
The athenian system of democracy was different from the modern system because the athenian government only granted the rights of citizenship to men who owned property and who had completed their military training. In this daring reassessment of classical athenian democracy and its significance for the united states today. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous several hundred years. The acropolis of athens is a potent symbol of the history of democracy.
Athenian democracy vs us democracy flashcards quizlet. Democracy is a system of processing conflicts in which outcomes depend on what participants do, but no single force controls what occurs and its outcomes. Is the city state the only kind of state in which true democracy can exist. Asked in ancient greece, athens how was athenian democracy different from modern day american democracy. Limiting my answer to american democracy today, we have. In classical athens everyone had the right to vote on any issue that was before the state.
Ancient democracy vs american democracy democracy in ancient. Despite the publicity the electoral college received in 2000, samons says, many americans still believe that our country is a democracy and look to athenian democracy as something we should strive for. Here are some qualities of the ancient governing system that were unique to the time period. They are the same and american democracy is collapsing for the same reason.
Democracy is a form of government in which a substantial proportion of the citizenry directly or indirectly participates in ruling the state. Basically, the citizens of athens voted for the legislative acts themselves rather than the people who implemented these acts. One, because democracy began during the classical period and has changed the world ever since. The system of governing in the modern world known as democracy has a rich historical background that originated in athens, greece. As he describes more fully in a new book, democratic ancient greek city. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century b.
Athenian democracy an imperfect system that led to mob. Ancient athens and the iroquois confederacy will be compared to show how democracy has evolved over time. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Athenian democracy was probably true democracy in that all citizens, that. It is important to understand how democratic processes began and to comprehend the relationship between modern democracy and ancient athenian democracy. Like our modern democracy, the athenian democracy was created as a reaction to a concentration and abuse of. Why is athenian democracy considered a model for american democracy. Modernday democratic governments owe a lot to the democracy of ancient athens. Compare and contrast american democracy and athenian. The athenian political body did not stand entirely unified in its support of imperialist action but most of the citizen populace supported the related endeavors. America, alongside many nations, recently celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the invention of democracy in ancient athens and its links with todays democracies in america and around the globe. A politician would present an issue and anyone who was there to hear the issue could vote. Now although many may in fact say that the american democracy is the best, many do not know that america government is a derivative from athens very own government. Business life of ancient athens the business life of ancient athens is an informative book about different aspects of ancient businesses and ancient ways of dealing with money.
Athenian democracy vs modern democracy essay 366 words. Each citizen had a vote, which was used to vote on issues. Athenian democracy is similar to modern democracies in that it grants a broad portion of the public a say in governance. The demise of the athenian system came as a result of warring between citystates. Athens democracy developed during the sixth and fifth centuries and continued into the fourth. The greek system of democracy was seemingly incorruptible. Athens had a government where all of the citizens took part in the decision making. Is the united states a democracy in the classical sense of the word. A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. The democracy was inseparably bound up with the ideals of liberty and equality, the rule of law, and the direct government of the people by the people. The athenian democracy the athenian democracy, also known as the classical democracy, was a direct democracy, where people did not elect representatives, but participated actively and directly by voting on legislation and executive bills in their own right.
Pericles needed to confront this challenge, and much of the funeral oration is therefore a direct comparison with sparta. And how does it compare to democracy in our world today. Athenian democracy democracy in ancient athens home. First, athenian democracy was exercised by a very limited number of people who were living in athens. It is my bet that just as we may not want to recognize athens democracy as properly democratic, so too an ancient athenian would not recognize many of our democratic systems today as true democracies. Ancient athens was the first documented society to practice democracy while the iroquois confederacy was one of the first democratic systems on the north american continent. Of course, the levels of ignorance couldve been low because the number of voters was also low in comparison to today, but more on that later. The good thing about democracy in ancient athens was that there was a lot less voter ignorance. Democracy makes all forces struggle repeatedly to realize their interests and devolves power from groups of people to sets of rules. It was not a representative democracy like that of the west, where professional politicians elected by the people do the actual decisionmaking. The term democracy comes from the greek language and means rule by the people.
Read this essay sample on in what ways is athenian democracy similar to american democracy. During the 40 annual meetings of the ekklesia, any of the roughly 40,000 male citizens of athens was allowed to appear and. Get an answer for compare and contrast athenian democracy and modern democracy. Then ill do the same for athenian and american society, concluding with a comparison between the two societies. Next they will compare the pros and cons of aristocracy to democracy, and then finally students will finish up by examining the similarities and differences between the athenian democracy system and the american democracy system. The elitism of the athenians was perhaps intended by the founding fathers to be prominent in the us, but thankfully, the two parties system in place now is a big leap from what. Whats wrong with democracy from athenian practice to.
How does athenian democracy differ from american democracy. Sep 17, 2009 well for starters athenian democracy was considered a true democracy while american democracy is hardly a democracy at all, but it all has to do with scale. Ancient greeces most famous export to this day is arguably democracy. They did not have any influence on the government at this time. Democratic techniques were much different in ancient athens than they are in present day, in countries like the united states. Compare and contrast athenian democracy and modern. Athenian democracy 2nd edition by john thorley, 2004. Lessons of ancient greek democracy for the modern world the. A venn diagram showing american democracy vs athenian democracy. Comparing ancient athenian democracy to american democracy. Athenian democracy was based on government by permanent mass meeting. Most american politicians and citizens of whatever political persuasion. Here are some qualities of the ancient governing system that were unique to the. Theyre both rule by the people at least they claim to be.
Mar 18, 2010 but at the same time we should not be too complacent as to think that we are more democratic now. Athenian democracy was a direct democracy made up of three important. Ancient civilizations was ancient greek democracy better than todays american democracy. Much academic political philosophy in the us is therefore. I think we talk about our regime now as if its a democracy, he says. In fact, the ancient athenian system closely resembled the american republic brought on by the founding fathers and some have even referred to it as oligarchy. What happens to democracy when it is applied to a society with a large dispersed population. Ironically the term democracy is the most used term to describe the american government even though it has little meaning in our government today. Athenian democracy the system of governing in the modern world known as democracy has a rich historical background that originated in athens, greece. Unfortunately, the majority of the american voters today have very little idea about what and who theyre actually voting for, despite or perhaps because of the media efforts. After reading, students are asked to determine 3 differences between democracy in athens and democracy in the united states. Unlike usas representative democracy, the athenian democracy was direct.
The majority of the population was excluded from taking part. The athenian democracy was the first known democracy in written history. Comparing ancient athenian democracy to american democracy democratic techniques were much different in ancient athens than they are in present day, in countries like the united states. How was ancient greek democracy different from democracy in the united states today. Relevant examples are used and a student analytical approach is used to come up with a.
Ancient athens democracy for kids and teachers ancient greece. How is athenian democracy similar to american democracy. In the 5th century bce, the athenian democracy was made up of a set of assemblies and courts staffed by people with very short terms some as short s a dayover onethird of all citizens over the age of 18 served at least one year. Using this knowledge, students will then take a position as to whether the expansion of citizenship and voting rights to all people creates a. Samons has written an original and very provocative book. Mytilene athens thinks twice a big mistake interactive, atens government assembly at work. Today, modern america fights for those inequalities to become extinct in society. Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to compare and contrast how different ancient writers saw athenian democracy and the role of citizens in that system. The athenian government was the first democracy known to the world.
Was ancient greek democracy better than todays american. Two thousand five hundred years after the founding of democracy in athens, the united states of america is a larger, wealthier, and more powerful democracy than any athenian could have imagined. Well for starters athenian democracy was considered a true democracy while american democracy is hardly a democracy at all, but it all has to do with scale. Athenian democracy vs canadian democracy how are they alikethey both have jurys in court caseshad some form of democracy had different levels of governmentthe council of 500, the assembly, the court, federal, provincial, municipal.
Ancient democracy vs american democracy democracy in. Nov 05, 2015 this feature is not available right now. Taking into account both primary source material and the work of modern historians, athenian democracy examines. Athenian democracy developed around the sixth century bc in the greek citystate known as a polis of athens, comprising the city of athens and the surrounding territory of attica, is one of ancient greek democracy, and is often described as the first known democracy in the world. A form of direct democracy in ancient greece was practiced in ancient citystate of athens for about 100. Philosophers defined the essential elements of democracy as a separation of powers, basic civil rights, human rights, religious liberty and separation of church and state. The uncertainty of outcomes is inherent in democracy. Compare and contrast athenian democracy and modern democracy. The political system of ancient athens was a democracy. This book, however, assumes that most students will want to know how the democracy worked in the period they are most likely to study, and whilst it does not aim to be an exhaustive study of athenian democracy, it presents a chronologically based account of the development of athenian government up to the end of the peloponnesian war, linking. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. From this new political climate arose new ideas that are still used today such as the separation of religion from government.
But there are many facets of greek democracy that didnt catch on. Athenian democracy vs american democracy free essays. Democracy in ancient greece served as one of the first forms of selfrule. The citystate of athens and surrounding territory of attica was the first government to have a true democracy.
Fifthcentury athens is praised as the cradle of democracy and sometimes. This early attempt at a fair and equal government run by the citizenry was unprecedented, and it served as a model for all the democratic governments that came after it. These representatives create and change the laws that govern the people. Greek democracy vs representative democracy by don nelson classical period.
For now, american democracy, the full version, has to prove that it can outlast soviet communism in longevity. The athenian democracy compared to todays democracy essays. Athens defeat by macedon in 322 began a series of alternations between democracy and oligarchy. In what ways is athenian democracy similar to american democracy. Our current system american govt athenian govt only men can be a part of the govt and vote judicial both were made up of every day athenian men women can vote. Democracy ancient greece national geographic society. Short reading comprehension activity where students read about democracy in athens and democracy in the united states. The united states of american has a representative democracy. In what ways is athenian democracy similar to american. But at the same time we should not be too complacent as to think that we are more democratic now. Women, slaves, children, and resident aliens did not have citizenship and could not vote. Like our modern voting districts, the athenian countryside was divided into units.
Athens is called a democracy because the many rule, not the few. An experiment for the ages answers these questions and more with 24 captivating lectures. The constitutional change, according to thucydides, seemed the only way to win muchneeded support from persia against the old enemy sparta and, further, it was thought that the change. In 1770, alexander tyler, a scottish history professor at the university of edinburgh, in his book cycles of democracy, had this comparison with the fall of the athenian republic some 2,000 years earlier. The fifth century bc witnessed not only the emergence of one of the first democracies, but also the persian and the peloponnesian wars. It is thus distinct from governments controlled by a particular social class or group or by a single person. John thorley provides a concise analysis of the development and operation of athenian democracy against this backdrop. Aug 19, 2019 ostracism, in which a citizen could be expelled from athens for 10 years, was among the powers of the ekklesia. Compare and contrast athenian democracy with american democracy.
In both these systems citizens had to be registered to vote on laws and public policies. In athens, all citizens were allowed to vote as long as they were educated, male, and over the age of 18. Athenian democracy is considered a model for american democracy in a way that only people who are 18 years old and over have the rights to vote. Athenian democracy and imperialism the democratic ideals evident in ancient athens contrast with the imperialist actions and empire building that the government and military excelled at. From athenian practice to american worship paperback april 23, 2007. American democracy through ancient greek eyes by strauss. Democracy building 2012 the democracy in athens represents the events leading up to modern day democracies.
449 455 1531 741 1505 618 156 1149 1232 139 866 468 1224 1014 706 997 325 265 382 286 840 1063 472 1118 1204 1308 1145 25 855 323 1058 1393 1086 245 455 264 101 1053 542 1300