• Democracy -
• Developed through various reforms
• The Greek Reformers & Philosophers:
– 4 th century B.C.E. in Athens, great thinkers appeared.
– Used logic and reason to investigate the nature of the universe, human society, and morality.
– The Greeks’ respect for human intelligence and power of reason allowed the ideas of Democracy to flourish.
– Human ability to reason simply means that humans can question and analyze the world around them to come up with the best decision out of a variety of possibilities.
– Without faith that humans can reason, democracy can not function.

• 621 B.E.C. - Athenian noble elected to lead Athenian
Assembly
• 1 st in series of reformers that helped transform Athens from an aristocracy (government of the rich) to a democracy…took almost 200 years!
• Credited with putting down first written laws of
Athens (prior – only verbal, making it difficult for all citizens to know what they could and could not do)
– Severe (modern English term draconian meaning
“severe” or “harsh”)
– Written “in blood, not ink”
– Written laws meant that judges could not show favoritism or make up laws

• 594 B.C.E. – 2 nd reformer that helped transform Athens from an aristocracy to a democracy
• Rewrote Draco’s laws
• Helped the poor
– All male citizens had right to vote
– Established new, more representative assembly of citizens to make political decisions. Had 400 members chosen by lot (Lottery)
– Ended debt enslavement
– Canceled land mortgages
– Limited amount of land a person could own
• In the US, which laws or policies benefit the poor?

• 508 B.C.E. – Determined to establish a democracy
• Enlarged Athenian Assembly created by Solon
• Removed aristocrats from leadership positions
• Created Council of 500 to represent the different classes
– Created and administered laws after they were approved by
Assembly
• Officials were elected
• Executive power
– Ten generals called strategi (singular strategus)
– Elected for one year
• Citizenship granted to some freedmen (former slaves) and to some immigrants
• Ostracism
– Names written on ostrakon once a year
– Most votes = ten years of exile

461 B.C.E. - Pericles came into power following the Persian Wars and continued to develop democracy in Athens.
• Strengthened Greek democracy by increasing the number of paid public officials and by paying jurors.
• This enabled poorer citizens to participate in government.
• Through greater citizen participation,
Athens evolved into a direct democracy.
• This is a form of government in which citizens rule and make laws directly rather than through representatives.
• The Acropolis, the center of political and religious life for Athenians…which we will tour later, and other buildings were either built or influenced by Pericles.
• Oh…and he had a mistress…Aspasia

The result of the tyrants and reformers was the creation of the most democratic government in world history. All officials were chosen by lottery; the revised assembly had full and final authority of the making and execution of laws; juries were comprised of all citizens who chose to take part in the trials.
By the middle of the 5 th century B.C., Athens had developed into a direct democracy.
 citizens were males, 18 years old, fathers had to be citizens
 legislative branch passes laws
 executive branch carries out laws
 judicial branch conducts trials with paid jurors