During a time when monarchies and other forms of class-ranking governments dominated the western cultures, Athens was among the first, and certainly the most famous, to introduce a new form of government in which the citizens held the power: democracy. Pericles described the government as one that did “not copy the institutions of [their] neighbors,” (Thucydides, p. 100), and in which “power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people,” (Thucydides, p. 100), where “everyone [was] equal before the law,” (Thucydides, p. 100). This direct democracy was not only a fair system in theory, but i

t also worked exceedingly well for the Athenians and ultimately their success in nearly everything they did.

Naturally, since the smallest amount of intemperance and injustice, together with the highest scrupulousness in the pursuit of excellence, is to be found in the ranks of the better class, while within the ranks of the People will be found the greatest amount of ignorance, disorderliness, rascality…” (The “Old Oligarch”, p. 105)

Some topics in this essay:
Funeral Oration, Admittedly Athenian, War Athens, Greeks Athenian, Dramas Athens, Sparta Athens, Athens Sparta, War Greeks, thucydides 100, democratic system, athens city, athenian soldiers, rival city sparta, “old oligarch”, funeral oration, rival city, form government, city sparta, pride city,