The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome

The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome Prologue Section 1

Athens Builds a Limited Democracy • Government- system for controlling the society • Monarchy- king or monarch; rule is hereditary • Aristocracy- ruled by a small group of noble, land-owning families • Oligarchy- government ruled by a few people based upon wealth or ability • Democracy- “rule of the people” • Adult male citizens participated in governmental decisions and three nobles were elected to the assembly and later the council of advisors • Around 600 BC economic problems eventually forced farmers into slavery

Important People in Athens • Reforms of Solon (594 BC) • Outlawed debt slavery and canceled farmers debts • Created the Council of 400- prepared business • Any citizen could bring charges against wrongdoers • Citizen= free adult males; 1/10 population • Cleisthenes Enacts More Reforms • Reorganized the assembly for rich and poor • Council of 500- proposed laws and counseled the assembly • Citizens= 1/5 population • Pericles Strengthens Democracy • Increased paid public officials • Direct Democracy- citizens rule and make laws directly

Greek Philosophers Use Reason • 1. The universe is put together in an orderly way and is subject to absolute and changing laws • 2. People can understand these laws through logic and reason • SPA • Socrates- Socratic Method • Plato- The Republic; rule by philosopher-kings • Aristotle- Politics; live in a state

Legacy of Greece • Natural Laws- use of reason and intelligence to discover • Direct Democracy • Three Branches of Government

Rome Develops a Republic • Republic- power rests with citizens who have the right to elect the leaders who make governmental decisions; “indirect democracy” • Patricians vs. Plebeians • Plebeians could vote but not hold government positions

Roman Government • Twelve Tables • Written law code to protect plebeians • All free citizens had the right to protection under law and laws would be fairly administered • Republican Government • Dictator- times of crisis • Two Consuls • Senate- Patricians • Two assembles- Plebeians

Roman Law • All citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law • Innocent until proven guilty • Burden of proof rested in the accuser • Unfair laws could be set aside • Justinian Law Code- “a government of laws, not of men”

Legacy of Rome • Republic • Individual is a citizen in a state not a subject • Written law code

Judeo-Christian Tradition Prologue Section 2

Judaism • Hebrews were monotheists who believed in one god • Practiced Judaism • People had dignity simply by being a child of God and each person was responsible for the choices they made; emphasis on the worth of the individual

Jewish Law Teaches Morality • Moses forms a covenant with God • Ten Commandments- code of morality and ethics; rules of social and religious behavior • Prophets taught that people should oppose injustice and oppression and the community should assist the unfortunate

Christianity • The Teachings of Christianity • Love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and themselves • Jesus was thought as the “king of the Jews” and was crucified • Christianity – Teaching of Jesus Christ

Christianity (cont.) • The Spread of Christianity • Apostle Paul spread Christianity and stressed the importance of equality for all human beings • Religion would welcome any converts • Rome Spreads Judeo-Christian Ideas • Jewish Diaspora- spread their beliefs that all people had the right to be treated with justice and dignity • Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire

Islam • Monotheistic religion based of the teachings of Muhammad • Qur’an was a collection of teaching from god delivered to Muhammad • Emphasized dignity of all human beings and he brotherhood of all people • Muslims were required to offer charity to those in need

Legacy of Monotheistic Religions • the duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression • worth of the individual • equality of people before God

Renaissance • Roman Catholic Church- During the middle ages it controlled all political, social, and religious aspects of life • Renaissance- renewed interest in classical Greek culture; fueled by the invention of the printing press • Prepared men for public service instead of service for the church • Encouraged human potential and achievement • Individualism

Reformation • Reformation- religious reform movement in the 19th century led by the Protestants • Martin Luther- criticized the Church of selling pardons • Salvation came through faith in God not good works • Protestantism • Interpret the bible by themselves • People could find individual paths to God; didn’t need church • Questioned political authority

Legacy of the Renaissance and Reformation • By challenging authority the Reformation indirectly contributed to the growth of democracy • Introduced individuals to reading • Emphasis on the Individual

Democracy Develops in England Prologue Section 3

Reforms in Medieval England • William, duke of Normandy in France, invades England and defeats the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings (1066) • Ended Feudalism • Began Centralized Government • Development of Democracy • Henry II • Created a Jury Trial instead of feudal courts • Royal judge would visit each country • Common Law- reflected customs and principles established over time

Reforms in Medieval England • King John • Fought an unsuccessful and costly war against the France; he tried to raise taxes to pay for the war • In 1215 angry nobles forced him to sign the Magna Carta (Great Chapter) • Limited the power of the king by having them govern according to law and guaranteed individual rights and liberties • Due Process of Law- “judgment by his peers;” king could not punish subjects

Model Parliament • Model Parliament (Edward I needed taxes) • Parliament- England’s national legislature • House of Lords- nobles and bishops • House of Commons- knights and burgesses • Limited power of monarch and established representation • Parliament Grows Stronger • Eventually The House of Commons grew equal to the House of Lords and Parliament could vote on taxes, pass laws, and advise royal policies • Divine Right of Kings- king’s power came from God • Stuart Family and James I • Conflict with Puritans • Star Chamber- royal court • Money

Parliament Overthrows the King • Charles I asks for money and signs the Petition of Right • No taxing without Parliament’s consent • Couldn’t imprison citizens illegally • Couldn’t house troops • Couldn’t maintain military government in peacetime • In 1642 English civil war broke out; royalists vs. antiroyalists • Oliver Cromwell won control; antiroyalists • Establishment of Constitutional Monarchy • Cromwell established the Commonwealth of England but eventually turned it into a Protectorate “military dictatorship” • Restoration- parliament restored the monarchy under Charles Stuart II • Habeas Corpus- prevents police from detaining a person wrongfully

Glorious Revolution (1689) • William and Mary invade England and start the Glorious Revolution • Parliament limited the power of the king and could control the succession to the throne • Established a Constitutional Monarchy-powers of the ruler are restricted by the constitution • Bill of Rights- formal summary of rights and liberties believed to be essential to people • Protected free speech • Could not tax or raise an army during peace time • Excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment were forbidden

The Enlightenment and Democratic Revolution Prologue Section 4

Enlightenment Thinkers • Enlightenment- intellectual movement that tried to use the principles of reason and the methods of science to all aspects of society • Influenced by the Scientific Revolution • Thomas Hobbes • Leviation; people were by nature selfish and ambitious and needed an absolute monarchy • Social Contract-people submitted to the authoritarian ruler to prevent disorder • John Locke • Problem was that the king failed to protect the rights of the people • Natural Rights- right to life, liberty, and property • People had an absolute right to rebel if the government did not protect these rights; self-government

Enlightenment Thinkers • Voltaire • Favor of tolerance, freedom of religion, and free speech’ • Jean-Jacques Rousseau • The Social Contract- an agreement among free individuals to create a government that would respond to the people will • Government from the consent of the governed • Baron de Montesquieu • Separation of Powers- divided into three branches • Legislature- make laws • Executive- enforce laws • Courts (Judicial)- interpret laws

The Beginnings of Democracy in America • French and Indian War- battle b/w France and Britain for North America • Seven Years War in Europe • After the victory Britain felt the colonies should help pay the cost of the war; tax them • Stamp Act of 1765- no taxation without representation • No western movement for colonists • American Revolution • Battle of Lexington and Concord- April 17th, 1775 • Declaration of Independence- July 4th, 1776 • End of Revolution- 1781 • Articles of Confederation- weak central government

Enlightenment shapes the Constitution • Representative Government- citizens elect representatives to make laws and policies for them (Rousseau) • Federal System- powers of government were divided among federal, or central, government and the states, or local, governments • Separation of Powers- executive, legislative, and judicial (Montesquieu) and checks and balances

The French Revolution • Causes: • Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette took the throne with debts building up in 1774 • Inequality among clergy and nobility vs. commoners; only the poor paid taxes • Enlightenment Ideas and the American Revolution • Early Reforms of the Revolution • Estates-General was broken up and commoners formed the National Assembly • Storming of Bastille- prison • Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (Dec. of Ind.) • Rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression • Reign of Terror • Radicals that killed or imprisoned opponents

The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome