ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How did the cultures of ancient Greece
and Rome and the belief systems of
Judaism and Christianity lay the
foundation for the development of
democracy in the modern world?
Ancient Greece
Main contribution: concept of democracy
 Democracy – “rule of the people”

 Comes from the Greek words “demos” (people)
and “kratos” (rule).
Geographic isolation contributed to
development of many independent citystates, rather than one central government.
 Each city-state (polis) consisted of a city
and surrounding countryside. (Ex: Athens,
Sparta)

Case Study: Athens





Largest, most powerful city-state
C. 2000 B.C – 683 B.C. – monarchy
683 B.C. – aristocracy (rule by few nobles)
594 B.C. – the reforms of Solon
transformed Greece into a limited
democracy by extending citizenship to
more people. Still, only about one-tenth
were considered “citizens.”
508 B.C. – Cleisthenes turned Athens into
a full democracy.
Athens

Pericles led Athens from 461-429 B.C.
(the Golden Age of Greece)
 Increased # of paid public officials
 Paid jurors
○ These changes allowed even the poor to
participate in the government
 His changes transformed Athens into a true
direct democracy.
Legacy
Greek democracy ended in 338 B.C. when
conquered by Macedonia.
 Important ideas:

 The Greeks’ respect for human intelligence and
the power of human reason led them to choose
democracy over authoritarian rule.
 They were also the first to think of three
branches of government
○ Legislative – pass laws
○ Executive – carry out the laws
○ Judicial – interpret laws and settle disputes
Ancient Rome
Main Contributions: Representative
government ( a republic) and a written
code of laws
 C. 600 B.C. – Rome had a monarchy
 509 B.C. – the king was overthrown and
a republic was established.

 Form of government where citizens have the
right to elect leaders to represent them.
(Indirect democracy)
The Roman Republic
Executive Branch – two consuls –
commanded army and directed govt (1
year term limits)
 Legislative Branch

 Senate: aristocratic branch
 Two assemblies: more democratic; included
other social classes
Roman Law
Roman law applied equally to everyone in
the empire, even conquered people,
regardless of their nationality.
 451 B.C. – officials made a collection of
Roman laws called the Twelve Tables.
 A.D. 528 – the Emperor Justinian compiled
all laws since the Tables.
 Written laws were VERY important
because they established the idea of “ a
government of laws, not of men.”

Legacy of Rome

Summing it up…
 Idea of a republic
 Legal and political terms (senate, dictator)
 Every individual is a citizen of a state rather
than the subject of a ruler
 Written legal code
 Laws are to be applied equally and
impartially to ALL citizens
Judeo-Christian Tradition

These 2 religions taught individual
worth, ethical standards, and the need
to fight injustice, ideas that had a strong
impact on the development of
democracy.
Judaism
Monotheistic religion founded by Abraham
and the Hebrews’ covenant with God.
 Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) state that
humans are created in God’s image. This =
that humans have a God-given dignity.
 Comparison:

 Greeks/Romans: humans have dignity because of
ability to reason
 Hebrews (Jews): humans have dignity
by simply being a child of God
The grand irony, however….

Despite what these traditions taught,
believed, practiced, they did not always
practice it.
 Greece & Rome—did not allow everyone
(slaves, women) to participate
 Wars/violence and slavery have been
justified by the Judeo-Christian tradition for
2,000 years.