CHAPTER 1: SOURCES OF
DEMOCRATIC TRADITION 2000
B.C.E.-C.E. 1689
SECTION `1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
I. The Rise of Greek City-States
A. Between 750-500 B.C.E., Greeks changed different forms of gov’t
B. Monarchy - king or queen ruled
C. noble landowners - served as military defenders; could afford bronze
weapons and chariots
D. middle class - merchants, farmers, and artisans began to take power
E. middle class challenged noble landowners for power
F. citizens began to protect city-states since iron weapons were cheaper
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
The Rise of Greek City-States Cont.
G. This created 2 main city-states: Sparta and Athens
H. Sparta: Very disciplined military society; had a king and council of elders;
only males over 30 could participate
I. Athens: Importance to individual and citizens rights; idea of democracy
originated; set up legislature; women and slaves could not participate in
politics
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
II. The Persian Wars
A. By 500 B.C.E., Athens the wealthiest Greek city-state
B. Threats from Persians lasted 20 years, but were able to withstand and
defeat Persian forces due to support from Sparta
III. Athens in the Age of Pericles
A.
B.
Athens became the most powerful city after the Persian Wars
C.
“Direct Democracy”—most of the citizens participated in making decisions
From 460-429 B.C.E., Athens’ economy thrived and government became
more democratic under Pericles - known as Age of Pericles
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
III. Athens in the Age of Pericles Cont.
D.
Citizens had to serve on the jury to make final judgment in a trial; were
paid to serve
E. Believed in civic duty (responsibility)
F. Began to move away from god’s law to natural law
G. Peloponnesian War—lasted 27 years; Sparta defeated Athens; ended
democracy
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
IV.Greek Philosophers
A. Thinkers and “lovers of wisdom”
B. Used observation and reason to figure out why things happened
C. Their search for knowledge influenced modern science and Western political thought
D. Focused on ethics and morality  idea of goodness and human behavior
E. Sophists (Athens) focused on success
F. Socrates  Stonemason and philosopher, used the art of questioning to find truth
and self-knowledge
Plato  student of Socrates; believed that reason led to knowledge
•
•
•
•
wrote Republic  divided society into three classes
Worker  produce the necessities of life
Soldiers  defend the state
Philosophers  rule the state
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
IV.Greek Philosophers Cont.
H. Aristotle  student of Plato; analyzed all forms of gov’t (monarchy to
democracy) & found problems with them all
•
favored constitutional democracy  ”rule of the many” called polity
(middle class)
•
•
wrote Politics  rulers should also follow laws
His teachings were used by constitutional gov’ts today
SECTION 1: THE GREEK ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
V. Alexander and the Hellenistic Age
A. Alexander was tutored by Aristotle
B. conquered 2,000 miles of territory and became Alexander the Great
C. spread Greek ideas
D. Stoicism  most influential philosophy after Alexander’s death; founded by
Zeno
•
E.
preached high moral standards  all people equal (even women & slaves)
Greek ideas about law, freedom, justice, and gov’t have influenced
political thinking even now