Foundations of Democratic Thought: Athens, Rome and Judeo-Christian Contributions

Modern World History: Dan McDowell and Abigail Anders.

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Set up notes:

Part I: Athens - Who’s who? Solon- Cleisthenes- Pericles-

Message U.S. comparison?

Socrates Plato Aristotle

(Skip lines!!!!)

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Athens, Greece Pt II

Government Structure: The Assembly The Council of 500 The Board of Generals

Judicial System Contradictions

Again: skip lines!

Athens

Olympics!Democracy!

Classical Art and Architecture!

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Solon

Came to power in 594 BCE Reorganized the government and economy to

allow for upward social mobility If a man could increase his income, he could be

eligible for office Reforms are moderate and no one is happy –

not enough for the poor, too much for the nobility

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Cleisthenes

Came to power in 508 BCE Supported more reforms, considered by later

Athenians to be a principal founder of democracy

Set up the Council of 500 to help guide general assembly

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Pericles

Came to power in 460 BCE Believed that government officials should be

chosen based upon abilities – not wealth or family

Set up the jury system Often considered the father of democracy

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Pericles

“Here each individual is interested not only in his own affairs but in the affairs of the state as well: even those who are mostly occupied with their own business are extremely well-informed on general politics – we do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his business, we say that he has no business here at all.” ~ Thucydides’ account of a speech by Pericles

1.Explain the author’s message about political participation in Athens?

2.Is a similar attitude held in the United States of America? Explain.

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Greek Philosophers

Use logic and reason to investigate the nature of the universe Socrates-socratic seminar-a question and answer approach. His

greatest pupil--- Plato-greatest work The Republic His vision of a perfectly

governed society was governed by the wisest, not by the rich and powerful. His student-----

Aristotle- examined the nature of the world and of human belief, thought, and knowledge. In Politics, he wrote “Man is by nature a political animal; it is his nature to live in a state.”

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Plato

Plato AristotleSocrates

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Plato’s Republic

“Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and

princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy and political greatness and wisdom meet in one………. cities will never rest from their evils, nor the human race.”

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Socrates

Socratic method- question/ question/ question! Believed people should seek truth and wisdom After Peloponnesian war, was accused of

dishonoring gods, condemned to death Plato was Socrates student, set up ‘the

Academy’ Aristotle was student at Academy

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Government Structure

Three major components: The Assembly The Council of 500 The Board of Generals

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The Assembly

Any male citizen over eighteen who could attend the meetings held thirty-five times a year – every one to two weeks

Anyone could speak at the Assembly, however it was a tough crowd unless you were a highly respected citizen.

Members could present laws Everyone in attendance voted on the laws

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Council of 500

Athens & the surrounding countryside divided into ten demes (or tribes).

Each demes selected by lot fifty men who were at least thirty years old to sit on the Council

Members served one year terms, could not serve two consecutive terms, and could only serve twice overall

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Council of 500

These term limitation rules ensured that many different citizens would participate and that no individual would have too much power

Being on the Council was a fulltime job; members were paid

The Council prepared the agenda for the Assembly meetings, researched the resolutions for possible problems, and made recommendations

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Board of Generals

These men replaced the Archons who had obtained power through wealth and nobility

Each of the demes elected one member to the ten person board

Job included the execution and enforcement of laws and resolutions passed by the Assembly

These were the only elected positions in Athens

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Judicial System

Juries drawn from 6000 citizens

Size varied, but were at least 201 people

Jurors were paid for their service

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Judicial System

No attorneys: accused and accuser spoke on their own behalf

The trials lasted a single day to avoid any chance of corruption in the jury

There were no appeals and all judgments were final

Non-citizens were represented by owners or employers – could not represent themselves.

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Contradictions

The Athenian democratic government was revolutionary, but we must not idealize it

Of a city of 250,000 – there were only 45,000 citizens

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Contradictions

Women had no political or social voice and were regulated to domestic affairs

Resident aliens and slaves also had no political voice Only about 6000 citizens regularly participated in the

Assembly (about 13%) – compare that to modern voter turnouts

Athens participated in the colonization of the Mediterranean region and later forced neighboring city-states to pay to keep the Delian League up and running

Pericles Funeral Oration P.

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Now, write about what you read!Your paragraph should be 5-7sentences AND answer the following questions

•Who did Pericles address in his oration?•What was the subject of Pericles’ oration? (what was he talking

about)?•When was Pericles giving his address the Athenians?•Where was Pericles giving his oration?•Why was Pericles addressing the Athenians?•How was Pericles addressing the Athenians?

What do you remember about Greece?

The Roman Republic

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Set up Notes for Rome!

Roman Republic Three social classes:

1. 2. 3.

Branches: 2 Consuls (exec.)- skip 2 lines for ea. branch Senate Assembly

Roman Law (skip four lines here)

SKIP LINES!

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Foundations

The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE when the Etruscan king was forced out

Set up a Republic which evolved over the next 200 years

Republic – A government where citizens have the right to elect leaders who make government decisions

res publica means “public affairs” First representative government

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Social Classes

Patricians – Wealthy landowners, usually part of the nobility

Plebeians – Commoners of Rome, including merchants and farmers

Slaves – Prisoners of war, debtors, and criminals

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Power Struggle

Initially Patricians held all of the power Plebeians had no rights, and all of the laws

strongly favored the Patricians During the “Conflict of Orders,” the Plebeians

struggle to gain social, economic, and political equality

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Power Struggle

As Rome begins to expand its dominion the Plebeians become more valuable as soldiers

Patricians eventually trade political rights for military service – the Assembly is set up

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The Roman Republic

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Government Structure

Three branch system created Each branch had different powers and relied

upon the other to be successful and efficient An early form of checks and balances

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Branches

Two Consuls Usually Patricians and military generals Elected for one year terms, but they could be re-

elected During a national crisis, the consuls could appoint

a temporary dictator to make quick decisions

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Branches

Senate Patricians selected by the two consuls, served life

terms Were the most influential citizens in Rome

Assembly Patricians and Plebeians elected into office The assembly held some power, but not enough

to make any significant changes

The senate and the people of

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Roman Laws

Brought system of laws to conquered lands Laws published universally All citizens received equal treatment before the

law A person was innocent until proven guilty Burden of proof stood with the accuser

What do you remember about Rome?

Judeo-Christian Tradition

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Set up Notes: Judeo- Christians

Judeo-Christian Tradition Judaism

1. 2. 3. 4.

Christianity 1 2 3

Monotheistic Legacy:

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Judaism

Covenant with god in which he would protect them and they would follow the ten commandments

God was just because of his religious laws

A high standard of moral conduct

A religion of justice, morality, and individual relationship with god

Christianity

God's kingdom open to all

Should love your fellow human beings (“Golden Rule”)

Teachings of love, equality, and equal salvation would attract poor,

Legacy of Montheistic Religions

Duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression

The worth of the individual (individualism = belief in the importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and

Connection?

What does this have to do with the United

States?

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