It was a direct democracy - no members of parliament to distort the public will. Decisions were made by the whole people in assembly, meting fortnightly. The council put matters before them, executed their decisions, and administered routine business between meetings.
In the law courts there were no judges and lawyers to muddy the waters. Large juries of several hundred decided on both guilt and punishment. The large juries were in effect equivalent to a modern opinion poll of what the citizens thought right.
All adult males were eligible to carry any political or public office (except generals, who were selected on ability for obvious self-protection reasons). The difference in ability of individuals was camouflaged/evened out by having panels of ten filling each office, in the expectation that at least one would have common sense. And it spread the money around, with half the populace on the public payroll.
All adult males served in the army and navy, meeting their mutual responsibility to protect themselves and the state.
It existed best when Athens had an empire it had made out of harnessing the other cities of the anti-Persian league and extorting money from them, which it used for its own benefit. This enabled the large numbers on the public payroll without crippling taxes.
whos should know not me!
senates like the ones in america
aTHENS
The Renaissance was a major turning point in history with many advancements. One major characteristic of it was that classical styles of the ancient Greek culture were revived and imitated.
Athens
When the limited democracy developed into a radical democracy, where the citizens in fortnightly assembly made the decisions and the coulcil carried them out, this became open to too much influence by the skilled orators, some of whom led the people astray, into a devastating war, and massive loss of lives. After this loss, the democratic process was limited to a more balanced level.
The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.The Greeks never had an empire, they were a collection of city-states, each with its own interests. There were actually three major city-states or cities that were important in ancient Greece. They were Athens, Sparta and Corinth.
All adult male citizens were eligible to vote , hold political office and serve on juries..
It was the birthplace of democracy, for starters. Even though it was not a total democracy itself, the idea of a democratic government has evolved and altered over time and has made important contributions to our system of government today.
aTHENS
Athens and Sparta.
festivals honoring the gods
Athens
Some major characteristics of Ancient Athens are that they teach citizens to read and write, sports, warfare, and the gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Hera, Apollo ect...
The Renaissance was a major turning point in history with many advancements. One major characteristic of it was that classical styles of the ancient Greek culture were revived and imitated.
Athens
Of all the cultures to have influenced contemporary Western civilization, Ancient Greece is perhaps the most powerful. According to LeadershipClassics.org, the imprint of the ancient Greeks on Western society spans such diverse areas as politics, philosophy, science, art, architecture and sports. Additionally, according to History-World.org, the impact of Greek literature cannot possibly be overestimated.
When the limited democracy developed into a radical democracy, where the citizens in fortnightly assembly made the decisions and the coulcil carried them out, this became open to too much influence by the skilled orators, some of whom led the people astray, into a devastating war, and massive loss of lives. After this loss, the democratic process was limited to a more balanced level.
Alexander the great and many many others