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The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome. A. Athens and Limited Democracy. Greek civilization begins around 2000 B.C.E. Due to geography, initially made up of independent city-states Most powerful of these – Athens City ruled by a council of three nobles.
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A. Athens and Limited Democracy • Greek civilization begins around 2000 B.C.E. • Due to geography, initially made up of independent city-states • Most powerful of these – Athens • City ruled by a council of three nobles. • Nobles are elected by adult males for one year • By 600 BC Athens in crisis, needs stronger leadership
B. Solon & Cleisthenes • Solon began to pass laws to make Athenian society more stable and fair • 1. outlawed debt-based slavery • 2. arranged society into four classes based on wealth not heredity • Cleisthenes carried the reforms further • 1. created the Assembly (allowed more people voice in government, esp. poor) • 2. created an organization to approve laws
Solon’s Reforms *Only free adult males were considered citizens = 1/10 of the Athenian population! How would that affect decisions made in Athens?
C. Direct Democracy in Greece • 490 BC – Athens goes to war with Persia • Athenian Ruler, Pericles, gives more power to the people • 1. pays citizens for government service • This allows more citizens to participate, evolving into a direct democracy • Philosophers advocate use of reason, respect for human intelligence • Direct democracy in Athens lasts for 50 years, ends when invaded by Alexander the Great
Aristotle “Man is by nature a political animal; it is in his nature to live in a state.”
D. Roman Republic • Rome is ruled by a series of kings until about 600 BC • 509 BC – Roman Aristocrats form a republic. • In a republic people vote for their representation • Roman citizens also force the creation of the Twelve Tables- a written code of law!
The Twelve Tables Why would it be beneficial to have written, rather than unwritten, laws?
E. Roman Law • Roman Law has influenced most of Western Civilization • 1. all citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law • 2. people are considered innocent until proven guilty • 3. burden of proof is on the government • 4. unreasonable laws could be discarded