advantages and disadvantages of democracy in ancient greece advantages and disadvantages of democracy in ancient greece

While Athens seems to only have a democracy. As a system to control a state or community, government serves for citizens and put them first. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. Ancient Greece is also known for many things like the birthplace of the first Olympics, beautiful architecture, and famous philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Athens was more inviting and had many more fun things to do, which is why Athens is a better place to live. Additionally, the water access provides a stable fishing ground to provide food to people. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. Specifically in America, one is taught that they live in a democratic society. Climate was varied but moderate, with temperature between 48 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Ancient Athens has two documents that discuss democracy. 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. The key aspects of what makes Australia a democracy being the electoral role, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), referendumsm, the rule of law, Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy, said Benito Mussolini. It is a center for economic, political, financial and culture life in Greece. The constitution favor many people instead of few people. One of the biggest weaknesses of Athenian democracy was highlighted by Plato; the masses are sometimes ignorant, and they are likely to be swayed by rhetoric. Democracy was rule by citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners (Metics) and slaves. Hence, Absolutism was made possible by new innovations and characterized as a phenomenon of Early Modern Europe, rather than that of the middle Ages, where the clergy and nobility counterbalanced as a result of mutual. One reason why Athens had a greater respect for human rights is that they had a direct democracy, while Sparta had an oligarchy. It does not store any personal data. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. + PRO: Though harder to find, more affordable options exist. No i don't think Athens was truly democratic because, all the rules of ancient Athens are very unfair with all their rules and rights for all citizens. These factors empowered Sparta and led to the development of an authoritative and potent state. Metic. Great economy. Democracy, a noun that means the society is governed by the people, a system of voting, and majority rules. WebGreece's victory ensured the independence and security of the Greek city-states, so that Greece continued to dominate the eastern Mediterranean for centuries, which is known as Gold Age. Sparta advantage. Tyranny (disadvantage) Not a guarantee that the people chosen by lottery would make effective government decisions. 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). A belief in shared power: based on a suspicion of concentrated power (whether by individuals, groups or governments). From the system of creating new laws to the checks and balances that define the American government. WebAdvantages: Greece has mountains which were good for grazing sheep and goats, Greece is next to the Ionian sea on the west, the Mediterranean Sea on the south, and the Aegean sea on the east which enabled the Greeks to fish and to trade with older, more complex cultures, the climate was good for growing deep rooted plants like olives and grapes, so olive oil and Athens was renowned as a center of wisdom and learning. Ancient Greece is also known for many things like the birthplace of the first Olympics, beautiful architecture, and famous philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? Differences : Advantages And Disadvantages Of Athens And Sparta, Athens and Sparta are the two famous city-states in Ancient Greece. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state model of government in Greece? Due to the geographical disadvantages of grease The civilization was divided into many city-states instead of having one main government. The main disadvantage for the Athenians was that around 430 BCE, a plague struck Athens. Socrates did not care for the idea in general, and Aristotle thought it could, within a state, yield new forms of abuse of power. Greece was organized into many different city-states. For a long time, historians have kept this question in mind while studying laws and methods of the Ancient Athenians. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Government failure. 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. It was possible to prolong the rule for the next term but in case of any abnormalities a quick change of government took place. For example, if youre poor youre still able to serve the state or be part of the government. Tyranny Cons: Cons: Some tyrants were corrupt. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. It seems fair and gives equality to all regardless of social class. The ancient civilization of Greece contained many different city-states; two of these city-states were Sparta and Athens. The people of ancient Greece took advantage of all this saltwater and coastline and became outstanding fishermen and sailors. They became skilled sailors. Athens was a small city compared to Rome that honored and protected citizenship. Also, everyone is allowed to practice a religion of their choice. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. 9 What was the disadvantage of tyranny in ancient Greece? Lets look at two of them. Altogether there were over 1500 city-states, but some of these barley qualify because they are so small. There was a constant importance of acknowledging all citizens hard work and participation. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. Unlike the Romans, Athenians had a strict but fair schedule that allowed them to enjoy citizenship equally. In the period known as classical Greece in the years 800-323 BCE, Greece comprised of small city states (poleis) which were considered and operated as independent small countries. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens, was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not even using the essentials of democracy that is used today, Thus, by our standards, it was oligarchy, not democracy.(Document D), therefore ancient Athens was not using democracy as their form of government, they were using oligarchy,another form of government in which a small group of people has power and control, as their form of government instead of democracy. Pros. Spartas only ace was its military way of life and war tactics. Who were excluded from Greeces limited democracy? The Spartan men get more and children become great warriors because they at war and war training for 23 years. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Many people were disenfranchised. It showed him that his taxicab driver lacked knowledge of past history and basically judged a book by its cover. The first known democracy in the world was in Athens. The advantages of Greeks geography is that they had protection from invaders and some disadvantages were that they had a hard time farming and traveling. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Two of the biggest city-states were Athens and Sparta. 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. Due to the geographical disadvantages of grease The civilization was divided into many city-states instead of having one main government. What are the disadvantages of having government? When the two words are put together it forms , meaning rule of the people. The United States has a representative democracy. Advantages: small, easy to control, centralized. The current American democracy may have steamed from Athens, but they do not really have that much in common. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They had two kings who controlled the army and religions of Sparta. As we know, this system is a norm to the Western world, in order to preserve personal freedom and make sure that the will of the people is upheld. 6 What is the original meaning of democracy? Why was logical and public speaking emphasized more in Athens than any other city-state? They became skilled sailors. The Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And they only let men vote which means that only 12% in ancient Athens can vote.In Athens no one had freedom of thought and expression either. Two of the biggest city-states were Athens and Sparta. Today we think of democracy as majority rule. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The democracy of Athens developed around 500 B.C.E because of the current uproar of oligarchies and dictatorship. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Sparta was cruel, disgusting, and uninviting each day would be a struggle to survive. 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. A democracy is a form of government that is ruled by the people and controlled by the people. When asking what is democracy, the answer is never truly defiente. In Athens, the ruler Draco tried to make many reforms in the city state. They could veto law proposals or rulings made by the council or assembly (PBS 1). The Athenians valued their political freedom and free thought. But, since foreigners, women, and slaves were not allowed to become citizens, democracy meant equality among those whousually by birthwere entitled to be citizens of a particular place. (Section 2.3) 2 As the culture center of Greek, Athens had many advantages during the Gold Age. In fact, there were internal struggles and disagreements. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Democracy. Sparta lacked land area and was forced to seek other land in the fertile plain of Messenia. Pre-Classical Greece saw a Dorian movement take place after the Trojan war. This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. Athenian citizens in that era were generally expected to have respectful qualities, like openness, a rational mind and belief in their authority, although they did have shortcomings. They were the main city with an area of land around them. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Athens Democracy characterized in terms of unlimited political power anymore as it has transformed to a more citizen-friendly government. There was a constant importance of acknowledging all citizens hard work and participation. The people of Athens were interested in arts, music, and intellectual pursuits. Sparta is far better than Athens on the grounds that their armed force was strong and defensive. (Bulliet 99) From 1000 B.C.E to 30 B.C.E, Ancient Greeces view on individualism changed the political system Greece had, over time changed the way individuals thought and made important Intellectual changes, and gradually changed the Economic system such as bartering. This means they may make stupid decisions that do not benefit society. The word democracy comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). CON: Much of the citys accommodation is pricey. 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. After investigating the given evidence, it can be determined Ancient Athens did not always vote on important matters and only a small majority of the population could vote. Overall, I think Athens is better and safer to live in then Sparta. Lycurgus accomplished the consolidation. The mountains make trade within Greeces borders difficult. 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). In a relatively resource-poor region, a society rose from the access of foreign sources of raw materials and markets abroad. some might say the Romans were better. This article was useful to my essay as it provided detailed information on the gaps in Athenian democracy. 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. 4 What are the pros and cons of democracy in ancient Greece? The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. In ancient Athens, democracy was about aggregating, aligning and codifying useful knowledge. What were some geographic advantages the ancient Greeks had? 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. A a majority of one race or religion or political opinion is not allowed to suppress the rights of other groups. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The biggest advantage of democracy in polis was the general possibility of taking part in public life for all free citizens. WebDemocracy (advantage) Allowed more points of view to make decisions because a small group was in chargenot a single person. Prior to Athenian democracy, a few people would make decisions for the masses. During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. Establishing government is one of the most important inventions develop human beings. Sparta advantage. 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. Other contrasting issues included womens rights, social classes, and value of human life. Aristotle once said, The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. Athens was established in 3000 BC, while Sparta was respectively established in 431 BC. First of all, the economy was very strong in Athens. 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. It had a place in the way the people of ancient times governed their lives. I believe that ancient Athens was not a true democracy. Spartan. What was the disadvantage of tyranny in ancient Greece? Women were forced to go through training to become strong, to male healthy babies, it was tough. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. It combines two shorter words: demos meaning whole citizen living within a particular city-state and kratos meaning power or rule. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. What did ancient Greece do for democracy? Democracy is the modern day standard for governmental systems. Lastly, because so much of Greece is rocky, mountainous terrain, there isnt a lot of fertile soil. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. Slavery. Athens The city of Athens was named after their special goddess. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". While Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. Although, if we look at the Athens, we see that they had no issues with plentiful land, as they possessed large and populous territory. In addition, it supports the idea that the people can replace their government through peaceful transfers of power rather than violent uprising or revolution. The similarities show that the founders of America based the new democratic government on the Ancient Greek democracy that came two millennia earlier. There was some farmland for crops, but the Greeks could always count on seafood and waterfowl to eat. The community showed little cohesion as a group. It is a powerful word. together can be a bad action taken by the government. What are the pros and cons of democracy in ancient Greece? What were the disadvantages of democracy in ancient Greece? The secret ballot, First of all, it is important to know the definition of democracy and its aspects. You cannot download interactives. It also represents the control of an organization or group by the majority of its members. For example, here in the United states which is a democracy, everyone is allowed to vote and have land. Education was very important in Athens. 7 What are the limitations of a majority rule democracy? The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. This information provided significantly when comparing modern societies to ancient Greece and also in justify as to why democracy was significant to Greece. As I will come to. The first reason is because Our constitution favors many instead of the few, this is also why it's called a democracy. The mountains also make communication from city to city slow. Demo, meaning the people, and kratia meaning the power or rule. Each city-state had its own way of doing things. WebHowever, Athens under the rule of Pericles should be considered a democracy for several reasons. The word democracy has its origins in the Greek language. This meant that they may not have represented mass opinion, whereas getting all males over the age of 18 involved in politics increased the likelihood of policies representing what people wanted. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. Cinesiolgists study sceletons. Secondly, Giovanni Sartori (1997), a Political Science Researcher states that democracy is an abbreviation that means Liberal Democracy. What was the disadvantage of democracy in ancient Greece? If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. 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? Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. It took longer to make political decisions than some of the city-states that operated oligarchies did. WebThe Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Strong land army, protection. Person who pays rent, either in money or crops, to grow crops on another person's land. Athens also had much more trading power, and controlled more land than Sparta. The assembly in Sparta could veto the councils. WebIn Homeric Age, the regime of Athens is citizens can go into politics directly, just like governor who wield the supreme power, this kind of regime called Direct Democracy. Athens, on the other hand, was a democracy after periods of monarchies and aristocracies. Its also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. Why Ancient Athens is better than Sparta? Its population was over five times as great as the other small city-states. It was easy for the Athenians to see who the people are due to the population number at the time. Ancient Athens, had a much more stronger basis than ancient Sparta. The idea of liberalism first began in the 1600s with John Locke as he believed that the people should be allowed to remove the government currently ruling when they have misused their power for ulterior motives. Their members were elected by the people. (Figure 2). They are just more carful. 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. Ancient Greece was divided into many different city-state who had their different cultures, the most critical being Athens and Sparta.They adored a broad range of god and goddesses,the most imperative of whom, the Olympians, small thought to live on Mount Olympus. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. The council (men over sixty years elected for life) and kings acted as judges and proposed laws (PBS 1). Athens was a small city compared to Rome that honored and protected citizenship. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. The period of prosperity in Athens was so short lived because they only had one strong leader, Pericles. Democracy (disadvantage) Only the elite or upper class had a role in government, lower class not represented. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Athenian definition of citizens was also different from modern-day citizens: only free men were considered citizens in Athens. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? The reason why Takaki tells us the story of his interaction with the taxi cab driver is because the driver assumed since he was not white, that he was not American. Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens. Since the Spartans were only concerned with being great warriors, the Athenians became the cultural center of Greece during the Hellenic period. The concept of leadership was prevalent in the ancient world. Athenian Values. This society came to be known as one of the largest nations in Eurasia. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What are some pros and cons of Spartan society? Who were excluded from Greeces limited democracy? The answers given may be; a society where everyone votes, or by dictionary definition a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of the state; typically through elected representation. However when analyzing the etymology of the word democracy we come to find out that demos means the people and kratia means rule or power in greek. Disadvantage: Unpredictable sea, need boats to travel. She or he will best know the preferred format. WebThus, the tyrants of the Archaic age of ancient Greece ( c. 900500 bce )Cypselus, Cleisthenes, Peisistratus, and Polycrates were popular, presiding as they did over an era of prosperity and expansion.