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Principles of the old Greek democracy
Principles of the old Greek democracy
Politicle life of athens
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In the 5th and 4th centuries, the Classical Greek’s were developing ideas and forms that influenced the Western civilisations and societies. Religion, philosophy, arts and architecture, politics and law were the most important contributions of the Classical Greeks to the Western world . Since then, the Classical Greek’s concepts and methods have impacted the ideas and forms of the future generations.
The Classical Greece period, circa 500 BCE to c. 323 BCE, was when the Greek’s thoughts and lifestyle started evolving. The Greek’s were an extremely religious society. They had a polytheistic religion and their belief was that Gods were involved in every aspect of their daily life . As stated by Wim Den Boer in Aspects of Religion in Classical
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Politics progressed from a Monarchy rule (tribal king) to a democratic rule in Athens and thereafter advanced to other city states or polis. The Athenians perception of democracy was that reason was the basis of law. Athens had a limited democracy rule where democracy only applied to men who were a citizen of the polis, possess wealth and had to have a military background, but there were restrictions placed on women and slaves who were to be dictated. To vote a ostraki, pottery pieces, were placed in a vase from which public officers and juries were elected and they assembled at the Pnyx, an open air setting, to discuss and vote on matters. This gave them the illusion of power as while the citizens may have voted, the public officers and juries could influence the votes in their favour as they were still in the position of power. The citizens could have been persuaded and/or manipulated by false promises and be lured in a false sense of security that the juries and officers would do right by them. Nonetheless democracy began to spread to the Western world as democracy applied reason to the regime and thus democratic rule was established. The method of voting and assembling is even now visible in the 21st century such as the United States of America which has a democratic …show more content…
He became known as ‘the first recorder of legislations in Athens’. In his legislations, Draco supplanted that oral law and blood feud were to be replaced with a written law that could only be enforced by the court of law. But Dracos’ law was strict and unforgiving. There is very little information provided about Draco but presumptions are that he may have been of the Greek nobility of Attica and was labelled as contemptuous in the 10th century. Dracos’ codes were preserved for nearly two centuries on wooden tablets called axons and were written on steles in the form of three-sided pyramids. The laws were written so that the literate citizens would not be excluded. The law introduced the difference between murder and involuntary homicide. In 409 BCE, Athens altered their laws. Families of homicide victims were given the chance to prosecute the killers and those who unintentionally committed homicide were forced into exile. The Council of 400, a council of nobles, that evolved and was integrated into Athenian democracy was also introduced by Draco. Since this form of law set the foundation for justice, allowed citizens a more structured and controlled set of rules, they became practiced in the Western civilisation. The 21st century court of law has also adapted to Dracos legislation and hence the law is enforced by the court where homicides and unintentional homicides cases are still
The Ancient Greek contribution ranged by the 1900-133 BC, however its influence on the Western Literate Society lasts to this day. As the Greeks expanded their empire, they spread their ideas to other countries, while also borrowing from other cultures. During this period of time, the Greeks made many significant and long-lasting contribution to our modern culture in Philosophy, Art, Democracy, Drama, Math, and Science. These givings of important ideas, inventions, and structures have had an extraordinary influence on the surrounding environment, society, and in the future. The essential contribution of Greeks to the Western Civilization are Democracy, Art, and Philosophy.
The Ancient Greeks held their religion to be a personal experience, to be practiced by the common man on a daily basis. Thus, it comes as no surprise to read in the historical works of the period that the people also relied on religion to aid them in military matters. This paper will give historical examples of the people's reliance on
The ancient Greeks and Romans were perhaps two of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. These two civilizations thrived in their ancient environments, which eventually led to a vast amount of prosperity within these two cultures. It is because of this prosperity that these ancient cultures were able to make a variety of advancements in literature, architecture, art and a variety of other fields. These two civilizations also produced some of the ancient world’s greatest writers, leaders, and philosophers. The cultures of ancient Greece and Rome made a number of contributions to western civilization in the form of advancements in literature, architecture, art, government, and philosophy.
The Ancient Greeks were nothing if not influential. Ever since it 's formation in the 8th century B.C., Greek civilization has impacted many of the world 's greatest thinkers and shaped the landscape of Western Civilization. Aside from their art and philosophy, the Ancient Greeks were particularly interested in politics and, in the case of Athens, a new system of government known as: democracy! Long before the American founding fathers declared their independence from Britain, Athenian citizens governed their own state and voted to solve political turmoil. However, ancient Athens was no perfect twin to American democracy, and being an upstanding Athenian citizen meant more than simply voting and going about one 's business. A standout Athenian
It is always important to look to the past in order to move towards the future. This was done in the formation of Western Society, and more specifically the formation of American society. The Greek culture served as a frame of reference for many aspects of Western life including government, architecture, math and the arts. Ancient Greek culture served as a very broad base for our society to be built upon.
Western Europe. But how did this western way of life come to be? Their are many different
Throughout the history of the world there have been a number of civilizations which have had a longstanding influence not only their own people and culture, but also on various other societies and civilizations. The Greek and Roman civilizations are two such civilizations. Both Greek and Roman influences have permeated societies and cultures besides their own. While there are many notable similarities between ancient Greek and Roman mythology and religion, there are likely also many differences in their origins, beliefs, and practices. Still, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced people of the world from the medieval ages up to the present. Indeed, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced world theology through the ages.
In 510 B.C the first known democratic constitution was created by Solon, lawgiver of Athens. Almost a century later, Solon’s reforms were modified by Cleisthenes. The laws in a particular city or state today should reflect on equality and human rights; but until the implementation of Solon’s and Cleisthenes’ reforms, the aristocratic families of Athens ruled over the poorer citizens.
...uing the belief in various gods and goddesses. After the expansion of Rome they started developing other forms of deities based on Greek culture, basically meaning “Greco-Roman” religion. Although many religious cults that were connected to Rome including Greece were often accepted, many were banished.
“The Greeks molded the mind of Western Civilization, if not the body and the culture” (PowerPoint #6). The Greeks had a very powerful impact on the entire world, making them a huge influence to Western culture. The Greeks showed their power over the world by their great intellect. Through their accomplishments in art, architecture, government, philosophy, education, and science they helped shape Western Civilization. They built strong and intricate buildings, allowing others to see throughout history the plan of the architecture used. The Greek government was one of the first to have a Democracy. Their ac...
In Ancient Greece, the lives of the multi-religious yet cognitive people were structured accordingly to their religious practices. Althought there was no dominant set of religious beliefs or dieties, the Greeks believed in what rather seems to be a pantheon of gods all similar in each definitive culture that seem to come together and reign supreme as the polytheistic religion of the Greek people. These beliefs came about from cultural diffusion between different religions and are reflected majorly in Roman polytheistic beliefs which transpired into the beliefs of many other cultures. It is believed that the Ancient Greek religion was comprised of ideologies from philosphers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates, and that it became significant through the poetry of the epic writer Homer. The Greek beliefs influenced the cultures and minds of people in many city states throughout Ancient Greece especially Athens, Sparta, and the Minoan civilization and served as a foundation for the culture of these civilizations.
The Classical Greece era dates back to 500-323 BCE and was considered to be the period of maturity, discovery and achievement. During this era Athens was governed by a democratic government, there came a more rational approach to exploring and explaining the world and the Greeks took art to a more realistic and humanistic approach for the first time. (Sakoulas, 2002) During the Classical era the culture was based on a blend of their old culture and the new. The old is based upon religious beliefs while the new happens largely in part due to trade routes.
The world we live in is known as the present. They call this the present because every day is a gift. With each passing day, the world seems to be changing and evolving forming new ideas and new ways of living, but we live in a society of repetition. From the trend in recent fashion resembling a day in the 1990s, to the reboot of past hit television shows such as Will and Grace it is as if we strive to never fix anything that is not broken. The concept of reliving the past is best viewed through the inspiration the world draws from the ancient Greeks and Romans. Specifically, the modern world is influenced by ancient Greece and Rome through the aspects of the arts, technology, and culture in a way to relish in their past fame and portray
Greek religion influenced greatly on the people’s daily lives.
Throughout the history of the world there have been a number of civilizations which have had a longstanding influence not only their own people and culture, but also on various other societies and civilizations. The Greek and Roman civilizations are two such civilizations. Both Greek and Roman influences have permeated societies and cultures besides their own. While there are many notable similarities between ancient Greek and Roman mythology and religion, there are likely also many differences in their origins, beliefs, and practices. Still, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced people of the world from the medieval ages up to the present. Indeed, ancient Greek and Roman mythology and culture have influenced world theology through the ages.