Democracy in Ancient Greece

Greek Democracy

by Teacher Magus Segura

Ostraka​, voting ballots in ancient Greece.

​Acropolis, Athens 482 B.C.E.

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​Democracy (G)

​Demos = people

​Kratos = rule/power

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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.

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​People can replace their government through peaceful transfers of power rather than violent uprising or revolution.

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​People have a voice.

​Differences from today's Democracy

• I​n Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint.​

• ​The Athenian definition of “citizens” was also different from modern-day citizens: only free men were considered citizens in Athens.

• Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote.

Direct Democracy​

• ​Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens.

• Those 500 citizens had to actively serve in the government for one year.

• During that year, they were responsible for making new laws and controlled all parts of the political process.

• When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it.

• To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote took place.

Multiple Choice

Democracy comes from two Greek words: demos- kratos, these words mean:

• people and rule

• people and vote

• vote and power

• rule and power

Multiple Choice

People who choose Representatives can replace them if they feel they're not doing a good job.

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

In Athens, if adults who were required to vote, did not vote, they would have what consequences?

• fine and public beating

• fine and expulsion

• fine and marked with red paint

• fine and marked with an "X"

Multiple Select

Who were not considered citizens in Old Greece?

Choose all that apply (3)

• Women

• Men under 13 years of age

• People who were owned by other people

• Old people

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

We call it Direct Democracy because:

• Regular people were chosen to represent the government

• Elected officials represented the government

• There were rule makers elected by the people

• The king chose the parliament

Multiple Choice

If you were chosen as a member of the government, how much time would you actively serve?

• 12 months

• 3 years

• 8 years

• 6 months

​Representative Democracy

​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.

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​https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/democracy-people-power/?utm_source=BibblioRCM_Row#democracy

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​What are the differences from Direct to Representative Democracy?

Multiple Select

Choose the three branches of Greek government:

• Council/ The Boule

• Jury/Dikasteria

• Magistrate

• The Assembly/ Ekklesia

Multiple Choice

Now that we are more egalitarian, are we more democratic?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

In the modern world, could we apply the original Greek Democracy? If so, how?

• By using the internet for casting votes

• By calling people on the phone and asking them

• By having more elections

Multiple Choice

What's today's problem with Democracy?

• Politicians create laws and this allows corruption

• Politicians are all corrupt

• People who vote don't do it conscientiously