Origins of Democracy Quiz Flashcards
Power
Ability to influence people
Government
Exercise of control or authority over a group of people
Democracy
Government by the people
Politics
Struggle in any group for POWER that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group
Inequality
The quality of being unequal or uneven
Rule of Law
Equality of all citizens before the law
Reform
To make changes (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it.
Tyrant (Historic)
Power-hungry, has the support of the people
Tyrant (modern)
Cruel and Oppressive Ruler
Where was the first democracy?
Athens
Did Athens evolve?
Yes
What was it called when Athens citizens attended public meetings?
Assembly (ecclesia) where they listened, talked, and voted.
Oligarchy
Rule by few.
What type of government was Athens with the nine leaders?
Oligarchy
What and who were the 9 leaders?
They were rich, aristocratic citizens called archons. They oversaw everything.
Which group was larger- rich (aristocrats) or commoners?
Commoners but rich had all the political, legal, social, and economic power.
Why was there so much inequality in Athens before reform?
Debt Slavery and laws favored the rich
Who codified (wrote down) the laws for Athens?
Draco. He made things worse, and it could have headed to a civil war.
Solon
Made legal and political reforms.
Council of 400 selection, term limit, duties, and promise?
They were selected through a lottery system open to all social classes but the bottom one, the term limit was one year, they prepared the agenda for the Assembly, and swore an oath to follow the laws and put the interests of Athens and it’s people first (civics/citizenship).
Two of Solon’s legal reforms?
Banned debt slavery, and made a jury of citizens chosen by lottery to challenge Archon’s decisions.
Three of Solon’s political reforms?
Made Assembly bigger and meet regularly, council of 400, and position of archon was open to all social classes but the bottom one.
What type of government did Athens have after Solon?
Direct democracy
Assembly’s duties?
Made the real decisions
Three reservations about Democracy?
Fear that elections would be rigged, they were scared the common man would be uneducated of the city, and the majority could make laws that worked in their favor.
Who was excluded from Athenian democracy?
Women, children, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from Athenian democracy as well as the those who did not own land.
