The Republic: The Rise And Fall Of Athenian Democracy

Though the Athenian’s ambition to give the power of government back to the people was a noble endeavor, flaws in their system allowed for larger cracks to which sowed the seeds of its later undoing. The Democracy of Athens partly existed based on the toil and sweat of slaves allowing for their owners to have the time to participate in government (Brand, n.d, p.29). Furthermore, Athens empire building via the Delian League provided for whole populations paying into the Athenian system, providing wealth and economic growth that aided in lessening the gap in Athens between those at the top and those at the bottom. These actions by Athens embittered the allied members of the Delian League who for all practical purposes were subject to the will of Athens and treated as vassal states (Brand, n.d, p.28). These actions in particular enflamed the passions of the allied members and compelled them into declaring war on Athens (Brand, n.d, p.28).
Subsequently, the lower economic classes became too concerned about taking care of themselves instead of participating in government (Walbank, 1963, p.317-319). A growing gap between rich and poor caused the country to become divided, the poorer classes becoming envious of the upper classes and the upper classes becoming bitter feeling as they were asked to increasingly carry the economic burden of running the state (“Athenian Democracy”, n.d.). This internal weakness left the Athenians society fragmented and open to conquest from a stronger united external foe, the