European History to 1648
gsj
democracy_1.pptAthenian Democracy
- How would you define democracy?
- Consider the definition below provided by the Greek Historian Herodotus in the fifth century BCE.
Herodotus, Histories 3.80
This passage comes from Herodotus’ description of a debate among the Persians about what type of government they should have. The debate was most likely a fictional construction by Herodotus, but it aptly illustrates the Greek definition of democracy at the time, as it agrees with other descriptions from the time and later ones from Aristotle’s Politics.
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Contrast with [monarchy] the rule of the people (democracy): first, [democracy] has the finest of all names to describe it—equality under law; and, secondly, the people in power do none of the things that monarchs do. Under a government of the people a magistrate is appointed by lottery and is held responsible for his conduct in office, and all questions are put up for open debate. For these reasons I propose that we do away with the monarchy, and raise the people to power; for the state and the people are synonymous terms.
Aristotle’s Politics
- Forms of Government
- Monarchy (The rule of one.)
- Aristocracy (The rule of the elite.)
- Democracy (The rule of the people.)
- Corrupted Forms
- Tyranny
- Oligarchy
- Demagoguery or Anarchy
In his study of politics, Aristotle outlined the Greek view of the different forms of government. For Aristotle one form was not necessarily better than another, but all could become corrupted, which led to a revolution and shift to another form of government. In a monarchy when the ruler governed in the interests of the community, the form was good, but when the ruler governed in his own interests, it was corrupted; likewise for aristocracy. When democracy functioned well it was a good form of government, but when it came to be manipulated by demagogues or degenerated to anarchy it was corrupted.
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deme=people
cratis=power
- Thesis: Athenian democracy was paradoxical in that it was both radically hierarchical and radically egalitarian.
- Hierarchical: It excluded a large segment of the population: women, slaves, foreigners, children (Only adult male citizens, perhaps 10-20% of the population could participate politically.)
- Egalitarian: It was not representative democracy, but direct democracy. All citizens made laws and decisions for the polis, not special legislators. All citizens held political office during their lifetimes.
Athenian Democracy
- I. Political Changes and Reforms to the end of the Sixth Century
- II. The Athenian Constitution (Politeia) in the Fifth Century BCE
- III. Athenian Government in Practice
I. Political Changes and Reforms in Athens to the end of the Sixth Century
- 1. By 700 BCE a ruling aristocracy replaced kings
- 2. Solons Reforms (c. 594 BCE)
- All citizens could vote, but not all could hold magisterial offices; ended slavery for debt
- 3. Period of Populist Tyrants (546-510 BCE)
- 4. Cleisthenes Reforms (c. 508 BCE)
- All citizens could hold office
II. Athenian Constitution (Politeia)
- 1 Citizenship (18; if both parents citizens)
- 2 Citizen Assembly (Ekklesia)
- Met at least once a week; all citizens could attend, speak in, and vote on laws and decisions
- 3 Political and Administrative Offices
- Chosen by lottery; term limits of one year, never two years in a row; same office only twice in one’s life
- 4 Courts
- no legal professionals only private citizens
- 5 The Theoretical Purpose: A fragmentation of power (of influential families/clans/individuals)
- The government structure made it difficult for individuals or groups (powerful families) to accumulate power.
- We think of equality in terms of rights. Ancient Athenians also considered citizens functionally equal in the sense of being interchangeable (like hoplites in the phalanx)
III. Athenian Government in Practice
- 1. Compared to Modern Democracies
- Why don’t people vote in US elections? Very low participation in modern US democracy.
- 2. Widespread and active participation in ancient Athens
- 3. A Relationship between Equality and Hierarchy?
- Patriarchy
- Slavery
- Empire
- Did direct democracy exist because of the many forms of hierarchy that supported it (participation possible because of social and political order)?
Patriarchy
- Disparity in marriage age
- Wives had limited public presence
- Prostitutes and Courtesans (hetairai); typically foreign women and slaves
- Aspasia (Pericles lover and companion)
- Pederasty among the elites (love of youths/adolescents)
Slavery
- A Slave Society:
- Fifth-century Athens perhaps 250,000 with a slave population of 80,000
- Prisoners of War
- Not a racial slavery; those who were reduced to slavery through war and piracy
- Served in Diverse Occupations
- Private slaves: artisans, managers, domestic servants, secretaries, miners
- Public slaves: police, executioners, clerks
Athenian Imperialism
- Athens as the Head of the Delian League
- Appropriated the League Treasury
- Forced Membership (“allies could not withdraw)
- Growing Dominance over Other Greek poleis
