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Athens the democracy

 

             There is a controversy over the political status of ancient Athens, Greece.
             is, was it a democracy? The answer is, yes it was. The ancient greek society is held against the .
             present United States's democracy with a stark contrast, but nevertheless, Athens was .
             responsible for the the word "democracy." It is also responsible for the evolution of democracy .
             today. .
             The word democracy originates from the greek words kratos and demos which means .
             power of the people. This describes Athens. Athens was more narrow-minded than the .
             democracy we are accustomed to, but nevertheless, it was still a democracy by far. Our history .
             textbook states, "Athenian demokratia established principles that are enshrined in democracy .
             today: freedom, equality, citizenship without property qualifications, the right of most citizens to .
             hold public office, and the rule of law." So, how then can it be said that .
             Athens was not a democracy? .
             The democracy of Athens evolved slowly. Pericles is the man who is very closely .
             associated with demokratia. He was the man who firmly enstilled the demokratian government .
             in Athens. In Webster's Dictionary, democracy is defined in as, "Government by the people." .
             Under the leadership of Pericles, that is precisely what Athens was. Pericles created counsils of .
             numerous individuals and made it possible for citizens to hold a position in public office. He also .
             made it possible for any man to serve in the armed services. The people of Athens also had .
             open assemblies that were responsible for voting on many important matters. Their government .
             also included a complex judicial system, with courts and juries, similar to ours today. .
             With all of these freedoms, and the "cabinet," so to speak, these people made .
             their own decisions. That is what made it a democracy. A democracy is a government of the .
             people, and that is what Athens clearly was. .
            


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