advantages and disadvantages of democracy in ancient greece

7 What was the disadvantage of democracy in ancient Greece? So that is why I conclude that ancient Athens was indeed not truly. In ancient Greece, demokratia, otherwise known as democracy can be battered down into demo, and kratia. 1 What are the pros and cons of Athenian society? In fact, there were internal struggles and disagreements. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. What disadvantages did Athens have? Secondly, Giovanni Sartori (1997), a Political Science Researcher states that democracy is an abbreviation that means Liberal Democracy. When you look at the literal definition of democracy in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, there is a decently large explanation. The Constitution also represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism that the United States of American stands by. The Athenian Democracy remains a novel and captivating analysis in direct majority rules system where the general population don 't choose delegates to vote for their sake yet vote on enactment and official bills in their own privilege. When women were forced to produce offspring, many of the weak babies were left to die. As I will come to. Web 2.0 has revolutionized the panorama of the information society: users have become information creators and the new web platforms have become relationship venues where new knowledge and ideas emerge. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The first known democracy in the world was in Athens. Democracy is the idea that the citizens of a country should take an active role in the government of their country and manage it directly or through elected representatives. Also, everyone is allowed to practice a religion of their choice. Oligarchy (disadvantage) Over time, middle/lower classes realized they still had little to no say in government Tyranny (disadvantage), Start studying advantages and disadvantages of government in ancient greece. One of the most famous civilizations lies between three seas, the Aegean Sea, Sea of Crete, and the Ionian Sea. For instance the way that these cities were governed and their political procedures and functions were quite different from each other. The difference in land as well as population perceives a relative historical comparison. WebOverall, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of the government having male citizens have authority, being an oligarchy government instead of a democratic government, and voting not accessible to women, free foreigners (Metics), and slaves except for male citizens. The mountains make trade within Greeces borders difficult. Although the competing city-states of Sparta and Athens were individually different as well as governmentally diverse, they both managed to become dominating powers in Ancient Greece. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. Slavery No pay labor 6%of the population had a right in democratic matters. Overall, I think Athens is better and safer to live in then Sparta. These reasons include Pericles rise to power, the different members of government and their powers, and the changes in the idea of a democracy. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. Tyranny (disadvantage) Not a guarantee that the people chosen by lottery would make effective government decisions. Overall, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of the government having male citizens have authority, being an oligarchy government instead of a democratic government, and voting not accessible to women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves except for male citizens. Some people think that ancient Athens was truly democratic, I think not. They became skilled sailors. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Being the birthplace of democracy gives Ancient Greece a very important reputation. Press ESC to cancel. The Constitution represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism by stressing liberty and inalienable rights as central values, making the people as a whole sovereign, rejecting inherited political power, expecting citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption. In America today, democracy is something we take pride in. 7 What are some pros and cons of Spartan society? The first inhabitants of Attica (the wider area of Athens), of who we are aware, lived during the Neolithic Period (6,000-2,800 BC). Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. The women had limited rights and privileges, had restricted movement in public, and were very segregated from the men. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. Democracy, a noun that means the society is governed by the people, a system of voting, and majority rules. It is a powerful word. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Originally Answered: why is Athens Greece considered the birthplace of democracy? What is democracy? They became skilled sailors. The two biggest city-states have always had issues. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. WebThe word democracy or demoskratos in Greek, is a form of government where the (ruling) power is in the hands of the people. Why is Greece the birthplace of democracy? All rights reserved. When looking at this definition and trying to decide whether the Athenian democratic system was truly democratic, one would have to go with the answer no. Mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Demo, meaning the people, and kratia meaning the power or rule. What else does he accomplish at the same time? Not many dare to explore the flaws or disadvantages. The weaknesses weighed Sparta down, so here are some of those weaknesses. What were the advantages and disadvantages of Greece? The word democracy is greek, the word demos means people and kratos means power. Representative democracy is a government in which citizens vote for representatives who create and change laws that govern the people rather than getting to vote directly on the laws themselves. Why is that so? After Pericles died Athens could not defeat Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and also couldnt hold the truce that was signed in 421 BC which allowed Sparta to gain overall victory in the, The Democracy of Athens meant that the people rule themselves. On the other hand, direct democracy is not a good chose for America. Each polis differ particular on economically, politically, and military, When in doubt, however, the city-states did not get along. In addition to simply being a peninsula, Greeces coastline has many accessible harbor locations. 8 What was the government like in ancient Greece? The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. Every city-state had their own coins, government, and laws. (Document B): The second reason is that if the court decides that someone has no right to be enrolled as a citizen he becomes. It consists of two short words: demos which means either a citizen in a particular city-state or the lower orders, and kratos which means either rule or power - but these two are not of the same meaning. Cons. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state model of government in Greece? It also represents the control of an organization or group by the majority of its members. Democracy in Athens the government officials are chosen by sweepstakes and worked for 1 year for proposing and enforcing decrees but didnt have much individual power. This group of people only included white male citizens, meaning that slaves, foreign born residents, women and some men who hadnt obtained citizenship couldnt vote (Doc D). WebThe Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. In Document 2, an excerpt from The Spartan Constitution by Aristotle theres a quote that states they praise Lacedaemon because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy.. This quote tells exactly what type of government Sparta had. Disadvantages: takes more time to make decisions, more costly. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Athens was truly democratic because everyone had the equal justice, people were voted into office, and ones social class did not determine what a person could become. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1031 Words5 Pages. Their government was Demokratia, and this excluded the women, the children, the metics, and the slaves. Greece, and especially Athens, is the cradle of democracy in the western civilization. Athens government is a democracy which means all citizens get to take part. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. As stated in the article The Problem with Democracy Today, contrary to other political institutions who holds the power is not clearly stated if the regime is a, Liberal Democracy is a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of political power is limited by the rule of law. The purpose of this essay is to prove that ancient Greece wasnt truly democratic. This is one reason Ancient Athens was not a democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville penned Democracy in America after he spent month America in the 1831, where he witnessed a new democratic system. But Athens is more about the people; they are also more secure. There was some farmland for crops, but the Greeks could always count on seafood and waterfowl to eat. The Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Moreover, the article provided a perspective that highlighted the differences in Athenian democracy such as that Athens was a direct democracy and that only some of the population was eligible, it mainly created a feeling that Athens was advanced for its time however the system had discrepancies. Spartas government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. They took politics very seriously and made sure that everyone had a voiced opinion. The people of Athens were interested in arts, music, and intellectual pursuits. In a relatively resource-poor region, a society rose from the access of foreign sources of raw materials and markets abroad. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Athens on the other hand had a democracy as stated in Document 3, an excerpt from Funeral Orations by Pericles a quotes from this excerpt states it is true that our government is a democracy, because its administration is in the hands, not of the few, but of many.. This quote clearly states that the type of government Athens has is a, Athens is superior towards Sparta throughout ancient Greek history. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. Due to the geographical disadvantages of grease The civilization was divided into many city-states instead of having one main government. Sparta was cruel, disgusting, and uninviting each day would be a struggle to survive. Unfortunately, the government makes the people feel powerless to the point where theyre forced to elect a candidate whos not impotent. Athens direct democracy had elected officials including ten generals, magistrates, and others (PBS 1). However up until 500 BCE, the concept of Democracy was a foreign concept, and the great civilizations of that era were run by monarchs, aristocrats, and religious leaders of sorts. Athens was a superior city state over Sparta. The United States has a representative democracy. To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote took place. Both of these city-states shared similar characteristics such as both would remain the foundation for the Greek political world. The biggest difference between Athenian democracy and almost all other democracies is that the Athenians had a direct democracy rather than being representative. 4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. Therefore, they could easily make decisions. One that originates from ancient Greece, at the cradle of civilisation.The word democracy comes from the Greek meaning the people and meaning power or rule. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, democracy can simply be defined as the government of the people, but lately it seems as if that definition has become invalid. While both Athenian and Roman form of democracy was a major step away from autocratic rule, but they both had their drawbacks. It had a place in the way the people of ancient times governed their lives. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. Oligarchy (disadvantage) Over time, middle/lower classes realized they still had little to no say in government Tyranny (disadvantage) What was the government like in ancient Greece? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Democracy (disadvantage) Few people were considered citizens and had a voice in government. Spartan. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. Sparta, it appears, had fewer changes to government over time as compared to Athens. Athens is more superior than Sparta through, government, economy, and culture. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? Each city-state had its own government. The Athenian democracy was not equitable, and it did not consider slaves and foreigners. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? These ideas are infused in various pieces of literature where the idea of democracy leaves a visible mark on society, dividing it into two scales, one being unable to, Never before have there been so many democracies in the world or so many competitive elections conducted at national, subnational and region levels. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Sparta and Athens are very different from the way they are administered as well as their practices. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not inclusive, other than male citizens, to gain authority in ancient Athens, Demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners(Metics) and slaves.(Document D), therefore ruling Athens was only accessible to male citizen since since women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves were not allowed to rule as a result of not being male citizens. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. Democracy is an aspect that can be included in many different governments including, republics, monarchies, and theocracies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Athens offered many activities for all men, women, and children. Now I will tell you that why direct democracy is not work in America. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Socrates did not care for the idea in general, and Aristotle thought it could, within a state, yield new forms of abuse of power. Athenians made it clear that the poor helped build the city 's power and not just the wealthy. In document A, I found that is truly democratic because your social class is not allowed the interfere with someone 's merit. True democrats would elect all officials through voting by the people. Spartas only ace was its military way of life and war tactics. This completely contradicts the all-inclusive concept of direct democracy that the Athenian government preached so frequently. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Self- Government/Democracy: "Rule by the people." The ancient civilization of Greece contained many different city-states; two of these city-states were Sparta and Athens. The council (men over sixty years elected for life) and kings acted as judges and proposed laws (PBS 1). Athens stood out from Sparta as well as the other city-states not only because of its immense population but also because it was the commercial leader of Greece and was home to a great navy. This excluded a majority of the population: slaves, freed slaves, children, women and metics (foreign residents in Athens). This basically means that if you are not wetly than they won't treat us the same as wealthy people. Both Athens and Sparta had a similar government system. It combines two shorter words: demos meaning whole citizen living within a particular city-state and kratos meaning power or rule. These mountains and oceans would make Sparta would be in a condition of prosperity and comfort. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. After Pericles died Athens could not defeat Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and also couldnt hold the truce that was signed in 421 BC which allowed Sparta to gain overall victory in the, The Democracy of Athens meant that the people rule themselves. One reason why Athens had a greater respect for human rights is that they had a direct democracy, while Sparta had an oligarchy. Democracy in Athenian government the way that the citizens pass a vote is getting done, in elected by the assembly annually for making decisions about military matters and by showing hands. Tyranny Cons: Cons: Some tyrants were corrupt. When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it. Children were tortured to become strongerand all men would be fighting and stealing things just to survive. (Figure 2). What does checks and balances refer to quizlet? Even though their government was ran by the people themselves, only the men in the city could vote. The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. Due to the fact that Sparta had a very military lifestyle, they were good at raising strong outspoken women in a society where women were kept at home. In Athens, all men born to Athenian parents were citizens, in Sparta, only the wealthy were citizens. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Democracy (disadvantage) Only the elite or upper class had a role in government, lower class not represented. But those attitudes shifted in the course of the 5th century under the influence of the Persian invasions of Greece in 480479 bce. During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. In 594 BCE, Salon, the new leader of Athens, he created a constitution that ended the political control of the wealthy. Sparta lacked in education, they were too harsh on the children in military training, and the Spartans didnt allow traveling. Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. WebDemocracy (advantage) Allowed more points of view to make decisions because a small group was in chargenot a single person. They are also carful with who can be a citizen rather then "stingy". + PRO: Though harder to find, more affordable options exist. By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. Additionally, the reliability affected by the emotive language being employed in this article as the author utilises this language it demonstrates that bias is present. What were the limitations of the ancient Greeks? Establishing government is one of the most important inventions develop human beings. The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. They became skilled sailors. Athens has a better government system then the Roman Republic. Although, if we look at the Athens, we see that they had no issues with plentiful land, as they possessed large and populous territory. The similarities show that the founders of America based the new democratic government on the Ancient Greek democracy that came two millennia earlier. What are the pros and cons of tyranny in ancient Greece? Athens was also referred to as the birthplace of democracy, a government system still in use today! Amongst those city states Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful and considered in Greek history as the most influential states to western civilisation. Due to the fact that Sparta had a very military lifestyle, they were good at raising strong outspoken women in a society where women were kept at home. In fact, it adhered to a military oligarchy most of its existence. WebThe term democracy, like many other political terms, was first discovered in Ancient Greece. The Roman Republic was all the more a time. Each polis differ particular on economically, politically, and military, When in doubt, however, the city-states did not get along. 2 What were the limitations of the ancient Greeks? This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Athens organized a group of Greek city states into the Delian League and eventually lead and dominated all of the city states in the League. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. How does Coyote kill the giant? Also, the so called Ostrakismos made it possible to ban corrupt politicians from athens. The democracy of Athens developed around 500 B.C.E because of the current uproar of oligarchies and dictatorship. Due to the geographical disadvantages of grease The civilization was divided into many city-states instead of having one main government. A body of land that has water on three sides, A narrow strip of land that connects two bodies of land, A peninsula; the southern portion of Greece, The Balkan peninsula, connected to other parts of Europe to the north, Elements of a Story and Plot : Base Literary, advantages and disadvantages of government in, Unit 2: Renaissance and Reformation Vocabulary, Of Mice and Men: Chapter 5 & 6 Review Project, Disadvantages and Advantages of Japan's Locat, Dahia Ibo Shabaka, Larry S. Krieger, Linda Black, Phillip C. Naylor, Roger B. Beck, PT600 - SysPath - Pathologies of Endocrine Sy. The most important city-states of Ancient Greece was Sparta and Athens. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. 7 What are the limitations of a majority rule democracy? Spartas kings ruled until death or forcibly removed from office. Its also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. In all fairness I believe Athens had the better system of government. From the system of creating new laws to the checks and balances that define the American government. Who was not allowed to become a citizen of Greece? 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Women were forced to go through training to become strong, to male healthy babies, it was tough. The Greeks never unified, Sparta is a better place to have an exciting or joyful life because you would be isolated by mountains and oceans. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Two of the most well known and powerful city-states were Sparta and Athens. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Athenian democracy also was cumbersome and operated slowly. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. Sparta, on the other hand, was recognized for its military strength. What are the disadvantages of having government? The secret ballot, First of all, it is important to know the definition of democracy and its aspects. Democracy. While there were opportunities for public officials to be reelected, this did mean that implementing policies became difficult, as there was not enough time to execute them. The Athenians valued their political freedom and free thought. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? What were the strengths and weaknesses of ancient Greece? In many scientific or philosophical words derived from Greek, the letter kkk is used to spell the kkk sound, as in skeptical and kleptomania. Sparta advantage. Athens on the contrary, was a city that focused heavily on the arts and was a very relaxed and peaceful city to live in.