... for the Athenians until the Athenian Empire was destroyed by the Spartans in 404 B.C.E. The Roman Republic is one of the earliest examples of a republican system of government. Roman society was highly unequal and authoritarian for most of its early years. Described well by Finer the Roman Republic began " ... group chosen to represent the people. In a democracy the "majority rules" - and the minority loses. This system is subject to abuse however, because as Plato said "A democracy is a state in which the poor gaining the upper hand, kill some and banish others, and then divide the offic...

• Word Count: 2452
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate