foundations of democracy- gr/rome/jc
TRANSCRIPT
Foundations of Democratic Thought: Athens, Rome and Judeo-Christian Contributions
Modern World History: Dan McDowell and Abigail Anders.
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Set up notes:
Part I: Athens - Who’s who? Solon- Cleisthenes- Pericles-
Message U.S. comparison?
Socrates Plato Aristotle
(Skip lines!!!!)
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Athens, Greece Pt II
Government Structure: The Assembly The Council of 500 The Board of Generals
Judicial System Contradictions
Again: skip lines!
Athens
Olympics!Democracy!
Classical Art and Architecture!
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Solon
Came to power in 594 BCE Reorganized the government and economy to
allow for upward social mobility If a man could increase his income, he could be
eligible for office Reforms are moderate and no one is happy –
not enough for the poor, too much for the nobility
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Cleisthenes
Came to power in 508 BCE Supported more reforms, considered by later
Athenians to be a principal founder of democracy
Set up the Council of 500 to help guide general assembly
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Pericles
Came to power in 460 BCE Believed that government officials should be
chosen based upon abilities – not wealth or family
Set up the jury system Often considered the father of democracy
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Pericles
“Here each individual is interested not only in his own affairs but in the affairs of the state as well: even those who are mostly occupied with their own business are extremely well-informed on general politics – we do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his business, we say that he has no business here at all.” ~ Thucydides’ account of a speech by Pericles
1.Explain the author’s message about political participation in Athens?
2.Is a similar attitude held in the United States of America? Explain.
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Greek Philosophers
Use logic and reason to investigate the nature of the universe Socrates-socratic seminar-a question and answer approach. His
greatest pupil--- Plato-greatest work The Republic His vision of a perfectly
governed society was governed by the wisest, not by the rich and powerful. His student-----
Aristotle- examined the nature of the world and of human belief, thought, and knowledge. In Politics, he wrote “Man is by nature a political animal; it is his nature to live in a state.”
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Plato
Plato AristotleSocrates
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Plato’s Republic
“Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and
princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy and political greatness and wisdom meet in one………. cities will never rest from their evils, nor the human race.”
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Socrates
Socratic method- question/ question/ question! Believed people should seek truth and wisdom After Peloponnesian war, was accused of
dishonoring gods, condemned to death Plato was Socrates student, set up ‘the
Academy’ Aristotle was student at Academy
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Government Structure
Three major components: The Assembly The Council of 500 The Board of Generals
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The Assembly
Any male citizen over eighteen who could attend the meetings held thirty-five times a year – every one to two weeks
Anyone could speak at the Assembly, however it was a tough crowd unless you were a highly respected citizen.
Members could present laws Everyone in attendance voted on the laws
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Council of 500
Athens & the surrounding countryside divided into ten demes (or tribes).
Each demes selected by lot fifty men who were at least thirty years old to sit on the Council
Members served one year terms, could not serve two consecutive terms, and could only serve twice overall
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Council of 500
These term limitation rules ensured that many different citizens would participate and that no individual would have too much power
Being on the Council was a fulltime job; members were paid
The Council prepared the agenda for the Assembly meetings, researched the resolutions for possible problems, and made recommendations
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Board of Generals
These men replaced the Archons who had obtained power through wealth and nobility
Each of the demes elected one member to the ten person board
Job included the execution and enforcement of laws and resolutions passed by the Assembly
These were the only elected positions in Athens
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Judicial System
Juries drawn from 6000 citizens
Size varied, but were at least 201 people
Jurors were paid for their service
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Judicial System
No attorneys: accused and accuser spoke on their own behalf
The trials lasted a single day to avoid any chance of corruption in the jury
There were no appeals and all judgments were final
Non-citizens were represented by owners or employers – could not represent themselves.
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Contradictions
The Athenian democratic government was revolutionary, but we must not idealize it
Of a city of 250,000 – there were only 45,000 citizens
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Contradictions
Women had no political or social voice and were regulated to domestic affairs
Resident aliens and slaves also had no political voice Only about 6000 citizens regularly participated in the
Assembly (about 13%) – compare that to modern voter turnouts
Athens participated in the colonization of the Mediterranean region and later forced neighboring city-states to pay to keep the Delian League up and running
Pericles Funeral Oration P.
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Now, write about what you read!Your paragraph should be 5-7sentences AND answer the following questions
•Who did Pericles address in his oration?•What was the subject of Pericles’ oration? (what was he talking
about)?•When was Pericles giving his address the Athenians?•Where was Pericles giving his oration?•Why was Pericles addressing the Athenians?•How was Pericles addressing the Athenians?
What do you remember about Greece?
The Roman Republic
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Set up Notes for Rome!
Roman Republic Three social classes:
1. 2. 3.
Branches: 2 Consuls (exec.)- skip 2 lines for ea. branch Senate Assembly
Roman Law (skip four lines here)
SKIP LINES!
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Foundations
The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BCE when the Etruscan king was forced out
Set up a Republic which evolved over the next 200 years
Republic – A government where citizens have the right to elect leaders who make government decisions
res publica means “public affairs” First representative government
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Social Classes
Patricians – Wealthy landowners, usually part of the nobility
Plebeians – Commoners of Rome, including merchants and farmers
Slaves – Prisoners of war, debtors, and criminals
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Power Struggle
Initially Patricians held all of the power Plebeians had no rights, and all of the laws
strongly favored the Patricians During the “Conflict of Orders,” the Plebeians
struggle to gain social, economic, and political equality
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Power Struggle
As Rome begins to expand its dominion the Plebeians become more valuable as soldiers
Patricians eventually trade political rights for military service – the Assembly is set up
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The Roman Republic
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Government Structure
Three branch system created Each branch had different powers and relied
upon the other to be successful and efficient An early form of checks and balances
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Branches
Two Consuls Usually Patricians and military generals Elected for one year terms, but they could be re-
elected During a national crisis, the consuls could appoint
a temporary dictator to make quick decisions
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Branches
Senate Patricians selected by the two consuls, served life
terms Were the most influential citizens in Rome
Assembly Patricians and Plebeians elected into office The assembly held some power, but not enough
to make any significant changes
The senate and the people of
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Roman Laws
Brought system of laws to conquered lands Laws published universally All citizens received equal treatment before the
law A person was innocent until proven guilty Burden of proof stood with the accuser
What do you remember about Rome?
Judeo-Christian Tradition
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Set up Notes: Judeo- Christians
Judeo-Christian Tradition Judaism
1. 2. 3. 4.
Christianity 1 2 3
Monotheistic Legacy:
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Judaism
Covenant with god in which he would protect them and they would follow the ten commandments
God was just because of his religious laws
A high standard of moral conduct
A religion of justice, morality, and individual relationship with god
Christianity
God's kingdom open to all
Should love your fellow human beings (“Golden Rule”)
Teachings of love, equality, and equal salvation would attract poor,
Legacy of Montheistic Religions
Duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression
The worth of the individual (individualism = belief in the importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and
Connection?
What does this have to do with the United
States?
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