Preview

Essay On Ancient Athens Dbq

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
453 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Essay On Ancient Athens Dbq
Angel Ugalde

Was Ancient Athens truly democratic? The definition of democracy is “ rule by the people”, so.. was Ancient Athens ruled by the people? No Ancient Athens was not TRULY democratic, evidence supports why it wasn’t. “The franchise is open to all men who are of citizen birth by both parents” (Document B) Basically in order to be a citizen, both your parents have to, and you have to be a male. This is not just. Women should have say in what they believe is right and wrong, so pretty much ancient Athens wasn’t ruled by the people, so therefore isn’t truly democratic. “ On occasion of their enrollment, the current citizens give their votes first on whether the new candidates appear to be the age set by the law” (Document B) Although the people have a say in whether he is of age, only the men have a opinion. In a way Ancient Athens was truly democratic, but at the same time wasn’t. 29,000 or 12% had an ability to …show more content…
(Document D) This precisely states that Ancient Athens was a truly democratic in a sense, but still is run by the male citizens. Today's democracy in America is run by representatives of the people, in fact today’s democracy is run by all citizens over the age of eighteen. Athenian demokratia is run by male citizens, and are essentially their own representatives.
“Once a year Athenians would meet and vote on a simple question: Is anyone … becoming a threat to the democracy?”( Document E) In addition to this if a simple majority agreed and said yes that person was exiled for ten years. Although it may settle further anti-democracy problems it did not have to be exercised. It was an intelligent idea, however it was pretty much unfair.
So was Ancient Athens truly democratic? Ancient athens was not truly democratic. There are so many reasons why it indeed wasn’t. They may have not had representatives but overall the good weighs out the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Democracy Dbq
    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Democracy Dbq

    Although they were more un-democratic they did show basic signs of democracy. During the time of Athenian democracy Pericles was one of the major rulers. He said that they were a model for the entire world to follow because power was for the many rather then the few (Doc 5). One should proceed with caution while absorbing this information because these words were said during a funeral service. He might of exaggerated so they can make the families of the dead feel pride, and that there family members didn’t die in vain. This Society was also considered a direct democracy were citizens vote on issues. One example of this was when the citizens voted on ostracism of others in the societies. They voted to ostracize people when they felt they were acting toward the promotion of tyranny also promoting democracy.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mesopotamia Compare And Contrast Essay
    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mesopotamia Compare And Contrast Essay

    Like Mesopotamia, Athens might be well known for their system of law and order. Athens saw the beginning of democracy and government like we know it today. In Athens, government now included citizens, not just representatives like in previous systems. For one of the first times in history, regular citizens could play key roles in how their community and government was…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Greeks Matter
    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Greeks Matter

    One caller mentioned that the term democracy was a contradiction when it came to the Greeks because of slavery. However, Cahill mentioned that to the Greeks, slavery was just a way of life and that the Greeks didn’t see any wrong in the practice. He continued to say that it takes time for ideas to evolve and change for the better. Also that only a minority of the Greek population participated in democracy (10%-20%) and that children, woman, resident aliens and slaves did not.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Compare Greco-Roman And Judeo-Christian Influence On Democracy
    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Compare Greco-Roman And Judeo-Christian Influence On Democracy

    Soon after, Solon became the leader. He outlawed slavery based on debt and made four classes of citizens – this time divided by wealth, not ancestry. Only members of the top three classes could hold public office, but all citizens could vote in the assembly. Citizens were all resident, free, adult males. He also set up the Council of Four Hundred, which prepared topic to be discussed by the other council, and introduced the notion that any citizen could report someone that they think broke a law. Democracy was started in order to have isonomia, an ancient Greek term meaning “equality of all.” With only about 10% of the Athenian population being citizens, and only some of even those able to hold public office, this clearly wasn’t yet achieved, and it is nothing like the modern democracies today. Still, the concept of the general public being able to participate in their governments was very new and this was already a huge step forward.…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Greek Democracy Dbq
    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Greek Democracy Dbq

    Greek democracy was in some way unfair. There were many both fair and unfair things about Ancient Greece. One unfair thing was that only males who were citizens were allowed to vote, no women, no men who weren’t citizens. That was unfair. Mainly men had power over everything and to me that was unfair. One fair thing is that all men were treated equally in some way. Just because you were “poor” or not extremely rich didn’t mean that you could not have a job. Slaves were used. Peasants were used. The image in document 3 shows a photo or drawing on pottery of slaves working really hard at their job and peasants at a market. This goes to show a fair side of Greece. Greek democracy was very lenient towards their military. They even paid their military…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    this is a short two page essay comparing greek democracy to american democracy. it shows how they have very little similarities.
    • 606 Words
    • 2 Pages

    this is a short two page essay comparing greek democracy to american democracy. it shows how they have very little similarities.

    The Athenian government was the first democracy known to the world. Athens had a government where all of the citizens took part in the decision making. Thus, everyone who qualified as a citizen could participate and did not have to be an elected representative. For one to be considered a citizen they first had to be born in Athens and had to be free. Next, once turned eighteen years of age he had to have at least two years of military training then serve in the navy or army. After he has served he could then vote. After the age of thirty he could be considered for council. The women of Athens were also considered to be citizen however they did not posses any political power. The Athenian democracy had three main branches which were the assembly, the council, and the jurymen. The assembly had the reasonability of making the policies for Athens. The assembly could be considered the legislative branch and it was made of eligible Athenian citizens. The council enforced administrative matters and the policies. They were also in control of the military and finances. The council was made of five hundred citizens and could be considered the executive branch. The jury men had the important yet tedious job of resolving disputes of the people. There were six thousand jurymen to manage…

    • 606 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ancient Athenian Democracy: Not True Democracy
    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page

    Ancient Athenian Democracy: Not True Democracy

    Ancient Athens was not truly democratic. First off, democracy is a system of government in which power is invested in the people who rule either directly or through freely elected represenative. An example of democracy; You have two treats, the dogs can pick only one treat to eat. I will let them both pick, and not only one. Democracy is equal. Ancient Athens wasn’t.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Roman Republic, Athenian Democracy and the United States
    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Roman Republic, Athenian Democracy and the United States

    In the city of Athens, the change from Monarchy to Democracy was a slow but steady process. Democracy was found here in there in the government of Athens (cite website), in which these institutions eventually created a direct democracy. This democracy consisted of three main structures, the Assembly, the Council, and the People’s Court, and there were the Council of Areopagus, the leaders, who overlooked the Assembly. The assembly was the regular gathering of Male Athenians, around six thousand, in which they discussed matters of Athenian life, allowing all decisions and proposals to be determined by a vote. Although women couldn’t vote, voting rights were given to all males, all with equal power and they carried on…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Han China Dbq Essay
    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Han China Dbq Essay

    Athens had a bit of a different form of government called a democracy. The citizens of Athens decided who would rule their country. “No man is kept out of public…

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Athenian vs. United States Democracy
    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Athenian vs. United States Democracy

    Just because the democratic system of early Greece was during a different time period it doesn’t mean that our systems were different Actually our systems our quite similar. Like our modern voting districts, the Athenian…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Life as a Woman in Athens
    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Life as a Woman in Athens

    Being a woman in Ancient Athens was not what the movies and Plays led me to believe. The Athenian Democracy was a democracy of the minority. Every man, no matter their class had equal say in the ruling of the government. But Women, Slaves and Foreigners had zero civil rights and no influence on how things were done.…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Athens vs Socrates
    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Athens vs Socrates

    The Athenians designed a new system of government called democracy. Every Athenian citizen can speak and vote in assemblies in order to determine how the state will be ran. In this manner, an Athenian can voice his opinion on forming and modifying the policies that will affect him at home. The right to make a public speech at assemblies is given to every citizen in an attempt to encourage debate among the issues. This debate ensures that the citizens are well informed and have given careful thought to the consequences of their vote, since the majority of the group gets to have its way on the outcome of a specific policy. Thus, Athens has developed a system which allows its citizens to determine how life should be led.…

    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rise of Democratic Ideas
    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rise of Democratic Ideas

    Ancient Athens, Greece was a direct democracy. It began in 461 B.C. and ended in 338 B.C. Ancient Athens defined their citizens as any male who is 18 years old or older, and has citizen parents. Like Ancient Rome, Athens had separate branches of government which helped them organize and maintain society. Pericles, an influential statesman, contributed a lot to the history and legacy of Ancient Athens. He helped rebuild Athens after the Persian Wars. He also contributed greatly by promoting the idea of a direct democracy. Athens had an organization of government by the Council of 500. It was an idea contributed by Cleisthenes. The Council of 500 helped carry out the everyday work of the assembly. Citizens of Athens did everything and made decisions based on reason. Athenian democracy contributed to the rise of democratic ideas because Athenians were the first ones to develop the 3 separate branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative). It was a big contribution because our government today consists of three separate branches also.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Greek Civilization Dbq
    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Greek Civilization Dbq

    Part of Pericles’ plan for Athens was to increase the number of public officials with paid salaries and use direct democracy. Pericles plan for democracy was also for the poor to not be discriminated for social rankings. He also wanted the citizens to serve his country at any position on the social scale but you have to be a defined citizen. Pericles once stated “…power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people”. Athens went through a period of time of power struggles between the rich and poor. Today there are many countries that use democracy as a form of government.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

    Gradually, Athenian leaders agreed that more Greeks should be allowed to participate in the Great Council's decision-making process. They developed a political system now known as a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, people not only vote for leaders, but actually serve in the government. In order to decide who should be allowed to serve in the Great Council, Greek leaders developed the idea of citizenship. Those Athenians who were citizens had the right to participate directly in government. But how was citizenship determined? Greek leaders decided that only men who owned large plots of land were citizens. Women, slaves, and people with little or no property were not given the rights and responsibilities of Athenian citizenship. While the Ancient Greeks restricted democratic rights to a small portion of the population, the…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics