Ancient greece government: Democracy (Ancient Greece) | National Geographic Society

A Match Made in Ancient Greece

After the US Constitutional Convention of 1787, a concerned citizen asked Benjamin Franklin whether the delegates had devised a monarchy or a republic. “A republic, if you can keep it,” Franklin replied. In choosing democracy and education as her inaugural-year theme, President Cristle Collins Judd reinvigorates his challenge.

Democracy is a product of education. The ancient Greeks coined the word democracy and tried the experiment only after centuries of instruction by epic and tragic poets. By questioning traditional values and assumptions, the Greeks’ poet-teachers encouraged their fellow citizens’ understanding of blameworthy and praiseworthy attitudes and behaviors to evolve. Archaic Greek social and political norms and institutions were hierarchical and autocratic or aristocratic, but mythical tales transmitted in poetic verse taught that “noble” and “base” were not products of birth and wealth but manifestations of individual choice and conduct. The Greeks themselves never fulfilled the egalitarian promise of this insight; they continued to keep slaves and to subjugate women. But over many centuries, Greek myths gradually moved the Greeks to despise tyranny and to experiment with broader forms of political participation, exemplified most famously by the Athenians’ direct democracy of the fifth century BCE.

“Noble” and “base” were not products of birth and wealth but manifestations of individual choice and conduct.

Education enabled the Greeks to develop the world’s first democratic political institutions, but today our own democratic republic and institutions of higher education supporting it face existential threats from without and within. Worldwide, we are witnessing the rejection of the rule of law, the rise of populism, the introduction (or reintroduction) of violence into the political process, and brutal power grabs by vicious demagogues and strongmen, who may even have been popularly elected. Simultaneously, many people have begun to dismiss education, particularly in the humanities, as useless or counterproductive. Reasoned intellectual inquiry has come to seem suspect, and feelings have begun to replace facts.

By valuing education, however, the Greeks achieved a historically unprecedented movement away from tribalism and autocracy and toward civil society and nonviolent, democratic political participation. Exposing violent rage as short-sighted and self-destructive, the Greeks’ poet-teachers introduced their status-obsessed, bellicose contemporaries to a new, more constructive mode of resolving conflicts: self-restraint combined with productive conversation. Educated by their own literature, the Greeks prized intellectual inquiry and came to recognize that violence promotes violence and brutality breeds brutality. Over many centuries, ancient Greek literature encouraged the Greeks to distinguish truth from falsehood. It exposed lying as a useful survival skill in a lawless community ruled by a warlord or tyrant but toxic in a lawful community governed by democratic institutions. Greek literature emphasized the tyrannical potential of mob-ocracy (a warning we ignore today at our peril, particularly as we develop 21^st-century digital technology).

[Lying was] a useful survival skill in a lawless community ruled by a warlord or tyrant but toxic in a lawful community governed by democratic institutions.

Ancient Greek literature and history remind us that without education, we become undiscerning dupes of demagogues and despots. Without education, democracy becomes merely a disguise worn by tyranny. We don’t wake up totalitarian or fascist one morning; we go to sleep a little more totalitarian or fascist each night. “A government of laws, and not of men,” as John Adams famously put it, requires citizens capable of valuing the rule of law; capable of prioritizing democratic institutions, obligations, and freedoms; and educated to meet the challenges of preserving them.

Social Culture of Ancient Greece

Modern society owes a lot to the ancient Greeks. The lives that they led, their belief system, and even the way they created buildings have left lasting impressions that can still be seen today. For many, ancient Greece is considered to be the cradle of Western civilization. By taking a look at their way of life, it is possible to see some similarities to today’s world as well as some of the traditions that were pushed aside in exchange for others. The fact the people vote in a democracy, read using an alphabet, and enjoy the Olympics every couple of years can all be traced back to the ancient Greeks.

Social Hierarchy

There were four main social classes of people within Athens. The highest class was made up of people born in Athens. Others from different locations could never aspire to fit in with this social group. This upper class was responsible for everything from the government to education and philosophy. If there was any type of work that needed to be done, slaves were required. Most homes in ancient Greece had slaves to take on these menial tasks. The middle class was made up of people that may not have been born in Athens but were working hard at their trade. They were considered free but weren’t given the same rights permitted to the upper class. The lower class of people were just one step above the slaves. In fact, many were once slaves that had gained their freedom. They had even fewer rights than the middle class. And finally, slaves were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They had no authority and absolutely no rights. Many of the slaves were brought in from other countries. In some cases, their work could eventually pay for their freedom. Sparta had a slightly different social arrangement, with only three classes: citizens, slaves, and craftsmen or traders.

• The Portrayal of Women in Ancient Greece
• Fragments of Childhood: Growing Up in Ancient Greece
• The Populace of Athens: Slaves
• Ancient Greece: Athens vs. Sparta (PDF)
• When Did Ancient Greece Become a Slave Society?

Society

The city-state was the central part of ancient Greek life. It was here that all institutions of government, religion, and learning were housed. It was also here that the first principles of democracy were created. In Athens, the people started out with a monarch but transitioned to a government made up of assemblymen who were able to vote. In Sparta, society was set up a little differently, as the focus was on soldiers and war. In both Athens and Sparta, men played an active role in public life, spending time participating in government, learning new things, or working. Meanwhile, the women stayed within the home to carry out the tasks for the household. While slaves may have done most of the upkeep of the home, Greek women were focused on managing their homes. Many would sew clothing for their families or to sell.

• Background Briefing: The Polis, The City-State, and Urban Life (PDF)
• Athenian Democracy: A Brief Overview
• Daily Life in Ancient Greece
• Social Networking in Ancient Greece
• Myth and Society in Ancient Greece

Education

The education of boys and girls varied greatly in ancient Greece. Girls received an education from their mothers and were taught things like weaving and skills necessary to manage a household. Many were also taught to read and write. Boys attended schools and had a much more varied educational experience. In addition to reading and writing, they were also schooled in things like poetry, math, and physical education. While the training was strict, the experience paled in comparison to that of the students of Sparta. Spartan boys were removed from their families at the age of seven and started their work toward becoming soldiers. Because the girls would one day be the mothers of more soldiers, they were taught things like athletics and even dancing to ensure that they remained in good physical shape.

• Plato and Play: Taking Education Seriously in Ancient Greece (PDF)
• Growing Up in Greece
• Education in Ancient Greece
• Ancient Greek Philosophy
• The Athenian Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

Art

Greek art has had a tremendous influence on the world around us. Think about how many places pillars can be seen in architecture: This is a contribution from the Greeks. The Parthenon is a great example of this style of architecture, and when comparing this structure to something like the White House, the similarities are striking. Outside of architecture, Greek theater is something else that continues to influence the modern world, as the two major genres of theater, comedy and tragedy, were created by the Greeks, forming the basis of modern plays, movies, and TV shows. Today, some art from ancient Greece is still around, including pottery, which gives some indication of what life in Greece may have been like and offers insight into their religious beliefs, including mythology. Among the most famous Greek sculptures still in existence is the Venus de Milo.

• Ancient Greek Art
• Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition
• Introduction to Ancient Greek Art
• Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World
• Top Ancient Greek Artworks
• Ancient Greek Architecture (PDF)

Religion

The religion in ancient Greece was polytheistic, and their gods not only looked human but could take on human form and interact with others at will. Zeus was the ruler of the gods, along with his wife, Hera. Temples were built to honor a specific god, and each god or goddess would have his or her own domain. For example, Poseidon was considered to be the god of the sea, while Demeter was the goddess of the harvest. Works like The Iliad and The Odyssey provide more information about the gods and goddesses that the people believed in and what their different characteristics were.

• Ancient Greece: Religion and Gender Roles (PDF)
• Religion in Ancient Greece
• Greek Religion
• Weather and Ancient Greek Mythology
• Did the Ancient Greeks Engage in Human Sacrifice?

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Politics and government in Ancient Greece.

Briefly

The Greek world consisted of about 300 separate city-states. Some were no more than villages, while others were concentrated around large cities, such as Sparta or Athens. Each city-state was known as a polis (where our word «politics» comes from) and had its own laws and government. In the 4th c. BC e. The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that there are three types of government. The first type is power in the hands of one person. It could be a king (who ruled on the basis of his royal lineage) or a tyrant (who ruled on the basis of force). The second type is the rule of a few, which meant the power of the aristocracy (rule by right of noble birth) or oligarchy (rule by a group of rich and influential people). The third type is democratic government (rule of the many), which gave every male citizen the right to vote, to be elected to public office, or to serve on a jury. Democracy was put into practice only in Athens. Even there, women, slaves and foreigners were not considered full-fledged citizens.

The laws of the city of Ephesus were carved on stone tablets in both Greek and Latin. The Greeks believed that laws must be firmly fixed (imprinted in stone) so that all citizens observe them.

In ancient Greece, women were not allowed to take an active part in politics. However, some women played a significant role behind the scenes of politics. One such woman was Aspasia. Being a hetero and leading a free life of an unmarried woman with artistic abilities, she met Pericles (one of the most influential Athenian figures of the 5th century BC) and became his mistress. Pericles confided to her the affairs of the state and used to rely on her intuition and wisdom in his judgments about people and situations.

Solon the legislator was an Athenian statesman and poet who lived from 640 to 559. BC e. About 594 BC. e., holding the position of chief magistrate, he gave Athens new laws that allowed more people to take part in politics. His actions averted an imminent civil war between the handful of nobles in power and the people who endured the hardships of her rule.

This terracotta urn was used to collect symbolic votes. They were used in Athens when it was necessary to collect votes in the courts or when it was necessary to keep the intentions of the voters secret. Each voter lowered a bronze disk into the ballot box to testify his decision. Ordinarily, voting was done by a show of hands, which was difficult to count accurately.

The ruins of this council meeting room in Priene, in present-day Turkey, show how the meeting took place. The area with three sides in the form of rising tiers allowed each member of the council to clearly see and hear all the speakers. Even in the democracies of ancient Greece, most day-to-day decisions were made by committees or councils, not by an assembly of electors.

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Information about Greece. History of Greece

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The civilization of Ancient Greece played an important role in the development of mankind. Science, philosophy, art, politics and many languages ​​originate in Ancient Greece. In mathematics textbooks from century to century, almost the same definitions were rewritten that Euclid once gave, and artists and poets rewrote the images of Hercules, Zeus, Apollo, Achilles, Pericles, Homer and Alexander the Great. For everything that the modern people is fighting for now, for freedom, truth and equality, the Greeks also fought many millennia ago. And by the way, we can safely say that they achieved their goal, no matter what it cost them. If you want to better understand the modern world, the development of which has been based on all ages, you need to get as close as possible to the history of ancient Greece.

We will start our story from antiquity. So, the territory of Greece has been inhabited since ancient times, and there is no place for surprises. After all, thanks to the favorable geographical position, favorable maritime climate and generous nature, everything was possible. But, unfortunately, many Greeks emigrated to nearby and distant lands in search of food, since there was no land suitable for cultivation in these places. Antique culture, art and philosophy originated in the 5th-4th centuries BC. The era was called the Golden Age of Pericles.

The ancient Greeks were not like the modern colonizers. They merged with them and all thanks to their knowledge and their developed culture. Ancient Hellas flourished and flourished beyond the borders of the Balkan Peninsula far from the island of the Aegean Sea. Such settlements developed in their own way, and as a result, today thousands of people on earth recognize themselves as real Greeks, and even those who cannot even speak a single word in Greek. The descendants of the Greeks live in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, India, Africa and Latin America.
We can safely say that this unusual country is the cradle of a series of great civilizations: the Minoan civilization that settled on the island of Crete and was destroyed by a volcano, the Mycenaean civilization with its center in Tiryns and the civilization of Troy, which was not a figment of the imagination of the elder Homer, also existed as a city-state, with its own culture Macedonian kingdom.

During its existence, Greece managed to survive a large number of conquerors: they were the Romans, and the Turks, and the Crusaders, and Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The greatest sediment in the creation of modern Greeks was left by the centuries-old Turkish yoke. Although, it was the Crusaders who became the impetus for the accession of the Turks in the land of Greece, who, on their way to the liberation of the Holy Sepulcher from the Muslim people, managed to conquer the Orthodox Christian capital of Constantinople for some unknown reason. This event dates back to 1024. They conquered the Greek cities and weakened the Byzantine Empire so much that they could not withstand the onslaught of the troops of Mahmet II (1453) and perished completely under Turkish rule. It can be added that in 2001 Pope John Paul II visited Greece and publicly apologized to all Orthodox Christians for the events that took place five hundred years ago.

Middle Ages and Modern times. The Greeks call the period of Ottoman rule «400 Turkish years». The National Liberation Revolution put an end to this difficult period, which began in 1812. It is noteworthy that the plan for the Revolution was developed by the secret organization of Greece, Filiki Eteria, created in Odessa. There is one more fact, in 1827 the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and close associate of Tsar Alexander I — the Liberator — Ioannis Kapodistrias became the first ruler of free Greece in 1827. In 1831 he was treacherously murdered for his pro-Russian morals. The free country of Greece during this period changed two capitals — the island of Aegina and the city of Nafplion.

Greece returns again in 1833-1862 to a monarchy headed by Otto, the Bavarian prince. Despite the fact that he was famous among the Greek people, the monk managed to contribute to the development of the country. He moved the capital to Athens and brought the ancient city, which at one time resembled an ordinary village, into a proper European state.

The post of King Otto in 1863 to 1913 is occupied by the European nobleman Danish prince Wilhelm Gliksburg. George the First reigned on the throne of Greece together with his wife Olga Konstantinovna, Grand Duchess of the House of Romanov. For Greece, the nineteenth century ended with a defeat in the war with the Turks, which led to the payment of large indemnities, the bankruptcy of the country and the loan of huge sums of money from the IEC (International Economic Commission).

Twentieth century. For Greece, the twentieth century is notable for its bankruptcy and full economic recovery, a series of military victories and defeats. The country, it can be noted, in 1913 liberated northern Greece from the Turkish yoke. But, unfortunately, the people of Greece could not fully enjoy the victory: in 1915, the Young Turks of Kemal Ataturk slaughtered all the Armenians, in 1919 they slaughtered three hundred thousand Pontic Greeks, in 1922 the Greeks were once again exterminated by Turkish troops. And subsequently, almost millions of inhabitants left their homes and lands to save their lives.

After the Asia Minor catastrophe, an exchange of populations began: the Turks, who had lived in the lands of Greece for centuries, were deported to Turkey, and the Greek population in Turkey — to Greece. The country, almost until the middle of the 20th century, was under the yoke of dictators. One of the dictators, in response to the ultimatum issued by the Italian fascist state in 1936, gave a concise, tough and defiant answer with one word “OHI”, that is, “NO”. This word was remembered by the Greek people for a long time. And today, the twenty-eighth of October is considered a holiday among the Greeks and is one of the two main public holidays.

Some time later. Greece, like Europe, was drawn into the Second World War, where it again reasoned with the claims of the Italian people to the lands of Greece. But this time, not a single word was said, weapons were taken into the hands. Greece, unfortunately, could not resist the German onslaught, and the enemy managed to occupy the country. The Greeks, as a courageous and courageous people, held out to the last, and even being occupied by German troops, they did not give up even a share of their territory to Bulgaria, an ally of Germany, which encroached on their lands.

After the liberation of the country in 1944, the troubles of the Greek people did not end. The world war was replaced by a fratricidal, civil one, which lasted until 1949 and ended with the defeat of the Democratic Front and the next departure of the Greek people from their own country. More than one hundred and twenty thousand Greeks, in order to avoid new bloodshed, crossed the borders and were accepted by the socialist states, which included the USSR (Uzbekistan).

At that time, Greece took a course in a slightly different direction, namely, with the coming to power of the government of Georgios Papandreou, the government of the country was seized by the junta of the Black Colonels, which established a dictatorial regime in the country for seven years (1967-1974). The uprising of Athenian students, the tragedy that occurred in Cyprus (1974), the Turkish invasion and the division of the island into the southern part, where the Greeks lived, and the northern part, which was occupied by the Turks, led to the abolition of the regime.

In the middle of 1974, Konstantinos Karamanlis triumphantly returned from Paris to Athens, who became the permanent prime minister of Greece for many years, and then its president and founder of the New Democracy liberal party, which played an important role in bringing Greece into into the European Union. At 19Greece became a full member of the EU in 81.

Chronology of Greek history

And now we will briefly describe the most important events in the history of Greece in chronological order.

• 40,000-6000 BC e. — at this time there was a settlement of the Cyclades and the island of Crete. Also, during this period, the first civilizations of the Mediterranean arose.
• 2000-1400 BC e. — there was a flowering of the island of Crete and the Minoan culture. During this period, magnificent palaces were erected, art, science began to flourish, and writing arose.
• 1900 — BC e. — there was an invasion of the northern part of the country by the Achaeans, then the Aeolians and Ionians. The Mycenaean civilization arose on the Peleponnese peninsula. Also, at this time, the most powerful cities appear: Tiryns and Mycenae.
• 1450 BC e. — there was a strong volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini, which subsequently caused a huge tsunami, which killed the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete and on neighboring nearby islands.
• 1250 BC e. — Beginning of the Trojan War.
• 1200-1100 BC e. — from the north there was an invasion of the Dorians, and the displacement of the Ionians and Achaeans. During this period, the nationality is also united into a single culture and nation.
• 1100-800 BC e. — Common Greek writing appeared, the formation of slave-owning city-states-policies took place.
• 850-750 BC e — the date is the estimated time of the life of the great poet Homer, who created the Iliad and the Odyssey.
• 776 BC e. — originated the first Olympic Games, which were subsequently held every four years.
• 594 BC e. — the first Athenian democracy in the history of mankind (the laws of Solomon) was born.
• 560 BC e. — Athens managed to become a powerful economic center under the tyrant Peisistratus. At this time, such famous temples as the Temple of Demeter and the Temple of the Parthenon were laid.
• 550 BC e. — Sparta unites the states of the Peleponnese peninsula.
• 6th-5th century BC e. — the Greco-Persian war began; 490 BC, the Battle of Marathon took place.
• 443-429 BC e. — the Golden Age of Athens began, during this time Pericles ruled.
• Mid 4th century BC e. — the Macedonian kingdom was strengthened.
• 336-323 BC e. — The Macedonian king, Alexander the Great becomes the conqueror of Asia Minor, Egypt, Persia and part of India.
• 278-222 BC e. — sculptures by Chares, a student of Lysippus installs a giant statue of the Colossus of Rhodes. Almost forty meter statue stood for almost sixty years and was destroyed due to an earthquake. Now she is the seventh wonder of the world.
• 146 BC e. Greece is subject to Rome. Since the twenty-seventh year BC, Greece has been part of the Roman Empire and becomes a province called Achaia.
• 49-58 years — the formation of early Christianity takes place.
• 324-337 — Emperor Constantine the Great adopts Christianity as the state religion.
• 326 — Byzantium becomes the capital of the empire. In 330, it was renamed Constantinople.
• 395-1453 — The Roman Empire is divided into Eastern and Western Greece. Also, during this period, the heyday of the Byzantine Empire begins, the capture of Constantinople by the crusaders and the creation of the Latin Empire.
• 1453-1821 — the most difficult and gloomy period in Greece — Turkish rule.
• 1821-1829 — begins against the Turkish yoke, against the backdrop of the Russian-Turkish war, the national liberation revolution.
• 1827 — Greece was declared a presidential republic. The first president was Ioannis Kapodistrias, who served in Russia in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Alexander the First.
• 1830 — Greece receives the title of an independent state.
• 1832-1909 — the monarchy is restored in the country.
• 1912-1913 — Greece, with participation in the Balkan wars, returns its northern territories.
• 1917 — the country takes part, on the side of the Entente, in the First World War.
• 1919-1921 — Greece is at war with Turkey and Bulgaria for territories in Asia Minor.
• 1941-1944 — Greece is occupied by Italian and German fascists. The National Resistance Movement began.
• 1952 — The country joins NATO.
• 1979 — the country joins the European Union.
• 2002 — the single European currency, the euro, is introduced.
• 2004 — The Olympic Games are held in Athens.

Mythology of Greece

We can say with all confidence that Greek mythology is the richest and most ancient work in the world. The gods worshiped by the Greek people are nothing like the ruthless counterparts of Egypt, whose human bodies adorned the heads of birds of prey and animals. On the contrary, the ancient deities of ancient Hellas were people whom nature endowed with supernatural abilities. But, nevertheless, mortals quite often won in cunning, intelligence and dexterity. Not in vain, the collection of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece is considered the best book, which describes a large number of interesting love dramas, stories and military battles.

Scenes taken from Greek mythology became the basis for many works of art, heroes of mythology came to life on paintings, and they could also be seen on marble, stone and on the fronts of architectural structures. Venus de Milo, or to be more precise, Aphrodite from the island of Milos, can rightfully be considered an unsurpassed masterpiece of art. The Goddess of Love, Venus, was named by the Romans themselves, who built their mythology on the burning material of the ancient Greeks.
It is worth adding that the mythology of Greece, and to be more precise, religion, is not another invention of a talented author. The plots that have become the basis of many legends and myths are real, although a little embellished. And there is proof of this: a large number of archaeological finds of the 20th century, for example, Troy, which was found by Heinrich Schliemann, the excavations of Arthur Evans and the find of the Knossos palace of King Minos, who was the lord of the Cretan labyrinth. Undoubtedly, there are stories that are still considered myths and have nothing in common with the real world. However, it is quite possible that archaeologists in the very near future will present evidence of the reality of another myth or legend.

In mythology, in accordance with the development of ancient Greek society, such stages are distinguished as the most ancient chthonic or pre-Thessalian period; pre-Olympic period; Thessalian period; Olympic period; classical or heroic period.

Today we will talk about the most widely known period in Greek mythology — the Olympian period. The twelve deities of Olympus are the most powerful elite of Greek mythology, that is, seven gods and five goddesses. The Olympians had influence over mortals, they could interfere in their lives, they could help one, and vice versa, they could fall in love with mortal men and women, and acquire children. As a result of such «unequal» marriages, children-heroes and demigods were born. Zeus the Thunderer was the father of all the gods, he struck with lightning and thunder those who ignored him, and was also a very loving immortal who spawned a whole galaxy of demigods. His children were: Hercules and Elena the Beautiful. Zeus was married to his sister, the powerful goddess Hera, who was the patroness of «honest» women, Hera suffered all the time, and quietly took revenge on her husband’s mortal mistresses and those who dared to challenge her beauty and strength.

Of all the twelve Olympic gods, three gods divided power over the universe among themselves: the supreme god Zeus had unlimited power over the heavenly land, the god Poseidon ruled the seas and oceans, and Pluto, who had no place on Olympus, became the ruler of the underworld and ruled the world the dead. Among the goddesses, no less powerful were: Hera, the wife of Zeus, Demeter, the goddess of fertility, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Artemis, the goddess of hunting, and the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite. Among the gods, it is worth highlighting: Ares — the god of war, Hephaestus — the god of fire, Apollo — the god of light and the sun, and Hermes — the god of trade. All these gods did not miss the opportunity to manifest and show themselves to mortals.

The mythological world of the Greeks is densely populated with secondary gods and deities, monsters, dryads, nymphs, cyclops, centaurs, giants, that is, all those who lived with people. Every corner of Greece, even the most distant, has its own mythological history. Many sciences are engaged in exploring various aspects of the mythology of this country.

Those people are mistaken who assume that the Greek people have abandoned and forgotten their Olympian gods, and refer to them exclusively through the most ancient manuscripts, school textbooks and illustrated books.