Democratic Contributions of the

Greeks

SOLON - 630-560B.C.E.

• Citizens may: vote, have public debate, hold public office, bring charges against wrongdoers.

• Solon creates: the Council of 400, a fairer code of laws, and political and social reforms.

CLEISTHENES 508B.C.E.

• Citizens may sit on juries and submit laws for debate and passage

• Establishes a democratic constitution.• Breaks up the power of the nobility• Creates the Council of 500• Is know as the “Founder of Democracy in

Athens”

PERICLES

• The Golden Age of Athens/The Age of Pericles• Citizens are paid as jurors and for official public

jobs• Creates a fairer code of laws• Direct Democracy• 3 Branches of Government:

Executive: enforce the lawsLegislative: pass lawsJudicial: interpret the laws

And More Contributions…

• The Olympics• Philosophy: Socratic Method, Plato’s “Republic”

& philosopher-kings, Aristotle’s “Politics” & Politeia (Constitutional Gov.)

• Literature: Homer’s “Iliad” and “The Odyssey” • Theater: Dramas/Tragedies revolve around the

idea of fate and character flaws leading to someone’s greatness and then ruin.

• Historians:• Herodotus- 1st history book: “The History

of the Persian Wars” (colors the facts to add to the story)

• Thucydides 1st accurate historical work: “The History of the Peloponnesian Wars”

And more….

• Science & Math: predict solar eclipse, Pythagorean Theorem & geometry

• Art: sculptors idealize the human body:

Architecture

Architecture

• Doric Columns

Ionic Column

Corinthian Column

Frieze