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The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome

The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome. A. Athens and Limited Democracy. Greek civilization begins around 2000 B.C.E. Due to geography, initially made up of independent city-states Most powerful of these – Athens City ruled by a council of three nobles.

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The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome

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  1. The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome

  2. A. Athens and Limited Democracy • Greek civilization begins around 2000 B.C.E. • Due to geography, initially made up of independent city-states • Most powerful of these – Athens • City ruled by a council of three nobles. • Nobles are elected by adult males for one year • By 600 BC Athens in crisis, needs stronger leadership

  3. B. Solon & Cleisthenes • Solon began to pass laws to make Athenian society more stable and fair • 1. outlawed debt-based slavery • 2. arranged society into four classes based on wealth not heredity • Cleisthenes carried the reforms further • 1. created the Assembly (allowed more people voice in government, esp. poor) • 2. created an organization to approve laws

  4. Solon’s Reforms *Only free adult males were considered citizens = 1/10 of the Athenian population! How would that affect decisions made in Athens?

  5. C. Direct Democracy in Greece • 490 BC – Athens goes to war with Persia • Athenian Ruler, Pericles, gives more power to the people • 1. pays citizens for government service • This allows more citizens to participate, evolving into a direct democracy • Philosophers advocate use of reason, respect for human intelligence • Direct democracy in Athens lasts for 50 years, ends when invaded by Alexander the Great

  6. Aristotle “Man is by nature a political animal; it is in his nature to live in a state.”

  7. Plato

  8. Athenian and U.S. Democracy

  9. D. Roman Republic • Rome is ruled by a series of kings until about 600 BC • 509 BC – Roman Aristocrats form a republic. • In a republic people vote for their representation • Roman citizens also force the creation of the Twelve Tables- a written code of law!

  10. The Twelve Tables Why would it be beneficial to have written, rather than unwritten, laws?

  11. E. Roman Law • Roman Law has influenced most of Western Civilization • 1. all citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law • 2. people are considered innocent until proven guilty • 3. burden of proof is on the government • 4. unreasonable laws could be discarded

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