Foundations of
Democracy:
Greece and Rome
Unit 1: Day 1
August 19, 2015
Warm-Up: Using what you remember from
Social Studies Classes in the past, match up the
following terms with an Ancient Civilization.
Terms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Monotheistic (1 god)
Philosophers
Democracy
Hammurabi’s Code
The 12 Tables
Pharaoh
Caste System
Polytheistic (many gods)
Reincarnation
Pyramids
Ancient Civilizations
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Ancient India
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Hebrews
*Hint: Some terms may apply to
multiple civilizations!
Answers
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ancient India: Polytheistic, Caste System, Reincarnation
Ancient Greece: Polytheistic, Democracy, Philosophers
Ancient Rome: Polytheistic, Democracy, The 12 Tables
Mesopotamia: Polytheistic, Hammurabi’s Code
Ancient Egypt: Polytheistic, Pyramids, Pharaohs
Ancient Hebrews: Monotheistic
DEMOCRACY:
A form of government in which the people hold the
power and make decisions through voting.
Ancient Greece
• Ancient Greece was
divided into many
polis, or city-states.
• Each city-state had it’s
own form of
government.
• Example:
• Athens- democracy
(people vote)
• Sparta- oligarchy
(leaders of the military
decide everything)
Athenian Democracy
• Athens is where
democracy was
“born”.
• Athenian Democracy
was a direct
democracy where
every citizen voted
directly on every
issue.
Athenian Democracy
Note: every CITIZEN could vote on every issue
• To be a citizen in Athens you had to be:
• Male
• Over 18
• Free-born (not a slave)
• The population of Athens was about 250,000 but only
43,000 people were actually considered citizens and
could vote.
So, is this really a democracy?
Ancient Rome
• The Ancient Romans
borrowed many ideas
from the Greeks,
including their
polytheistic religion
and their government.
• They developed the 12
Tables- the first
written legal code that
all citizens had to
follow.
Roman Republic
• The Romans created
a representative
democracy, or
republic, where
citizens voted for
individuals to
represent them and
make decisions on
their behalf.
Roman Republic
• Only Roman citizens could vote for a representative:
• Had to be male
• Had to be “free” (In Ancient Rome slaves could earn or buy
their freedom, but former slaves could never vote)
• Could be Plebian (lower class) or Patrician (upper class)
• The representatives made up The Senate:
• About 300 men
• Had to be a Patrician (wealthy, landowning)
• Made all decisions on war, laws, and taxes
So, was this really a democracy?
Graphic Organizer
• Using today’s notes, you will create a Venn diagram
comparing and contrasting the democracies of Ancient
Greece and Ancient Rome. You will need at least three
distinct characteristics in each side of your Venn diagram, and
two characteristics in the center.
• Finally, you will answer the following questions using evidence
to support your answer:
Which form of democracy (Athenian or Roman) was more fair?
Which form of democracy was more efficient?
Homework
*due tomorrow!
• Read p.134-141. Answer only the following
questions:
• 1 (vocabulary)
• 4 (Sparta vs. Athens government)
• 5 (Plato vs. Aristotle)