GRSJ224/History of Democracy
Democracy is a system of government by the eligible population, most commonly through elected representatives. The earliest origins of this a representative democracy can be traced back to ancient Athens, during the 6th century B.C.E.
Athenian democracy
Athens established what is now considered the first democracy in 508 BC. A system of direct democracy, qualifying citizens voted directly on legislation. Only citizens who were adult males, that were not slaves, and owned land were considered eligible to participate in the democratic process.
After toppling the tyrannical leadership of Hippias, Cleisthenes and Isagoras were left in a struggle for power. With the Spartan king Cleomenes I's aid however, Isagoras was able to gain the upper hand and exiled Cleistenes and hundreds of other Athenians. The Athenian people asserted their support for the council, and forced Isagoras and his allies to flee the city, to eventually be banished. Cleisthenes and the hundreds of other exiled Athenians were recalled, and Cleisthenes accepted leadership over Athens. [1]
Cleisthenes, known today as "the father of Athenian democracy", made significant contributions to Athenian democracy following his rise to leadership. Most notably, he reduced the amount of power held by the Athenian nobles, instead placing power in the citizen's assembly.
Decline and criticisms
The Thirty Tyrants were a Spartan oligarchy set to govern Athens following its defeat in the Peloponnesian War during 404 BC. [2] Once in power, the Thirty diminished power held by the citizens of Athens, stripping rights and property from the Athenians. Led by the former student of Socrates, Critias, the Thirty Tyrants executed and exiled Athenians indiscriminately. [3]
Internal criticism from citizens lead to further weakening of Athenian democracy. Another pupil of Socrates, Plato, praised the Spartan political system for its stability. During his time in Athens, Socrates himself was put on trial and subsequently executed for his philosophical questioning. His constant questioning of the democratic system and the political views adopted by many of his followers lead to a general resentment, which lead to the majority of his jurors to convict, and then execute him. [4]