Lecture #2: Birth of Democracy in Athens Democratic experience was born during Greek Civilization Democracy will be born

rn within a political form known as the polis. Polis is a small political unit that offers an immediate contact with fellow citizens and the immediate needs of the community. You can see by yourself the crops that need to be harvested for the community. The polis is more than a political regime, actually a way of life. In more existential terms, the polis was a motive being, way of existing in the world. This was of life of the polis was based on the idea that we must obtain excellence of all forms; ie. Architecture, science, literature, philosophy etc. This excellence based upon delicate balance that existed in Athens between the individual and the community. Equilibrium is also known as the universal of the community. Balance that Greeks found between individual and community meant that in order to express who you were and define yourself you had to partake in the life of the community. Individual self-expression was taken in relationship to the communitys affairs. Community was constantly redefined because of the self-expression of selfidentity. Thus, the community becomes the collective expression of individual identity. Through your political participation you are forming the base and foundations of the community. Athenians knew of other kinds of political community: empire, monarchy.. Did not want that type of community; wanted polis. Democratic life implies that not only are we free to elect our representatives and choose who govern, but that politics becomes part and parcel of our everyday life. The decisions we make and the ideas put forth all makeup our country. Transition between Aristocratic (polis) reign to Democracy (rule of the men). Merchants and peasants were not included in Aristocracy rule. They demanded more and greater participation. This demand brought about conflict and strife. Disorder in polis because of the discontents of those that are not included. Quarrels between different components of the Athenian community would allow Athenians to be creative and invent two more types of politicians who had the power necessary to resolve the conflict and create order that is free for the people. The great Legislator and the Tyrant.

 A Legislator is a citizen impartial to the conflict at hand who is elevated above the conflict/fray in order to create a new piece of legislation capable of avoiding the outbreak of civil war. Civil war is the worse thing that can occur in a community. People who live within the same community who attack each other because of the denial of either principles. Athenians did not want civil war. Once the great legislator had created his task, he would resign his powers and leave Athens and therefore no longer participate in the political life of the community that he saved from civil war. He would leave to avoid anyone questioning his legislation, and would be asked to leave so that if his legislation was changed he himself could not refuse. Draco (621) was the first of the great legislators and Solon (594) the second of the great legislators. Draco decided to write down the laws, to create written code of laws. Hes stripping away from Aristocracy and their traditional ways of interpreting the laws favorably in their own cause. Draco neutralizes the traditional powers of the Aristocracy. Solon abolished slavery for debts, the first to divide Athens into four different classes including property owners. Each with different rights and different responsibilities. Legislators belong to aristocratic community but do not take into account that they belong to it but they govern in the name of the common good. Solons reforms are important because the first time the aristocrats will actually have to work alongside merchants. Solons reforms will not manage to ensure lasting peace in Athens, the demands of merchants and peasant will persist after the work of Solon. After Solon, another political figure was introduced; the Tyrant. A tyrant is also a citizen raised above the conflict raging in the polis, but contrary to the legislator, he is not brought to power to create legislation to resolve a conflict; rather he is elevated by the people in order to govern according to the peoples needs. The tyrant takes the reigns of power of rule from the few of rule and imposes his own rules. Rule of tyrant was often at times, violent. It was also illegal. Illegal because the tyrants power rested upon the undemocratic expressed will of the men. Illegal because his authority did not rest upon the political institutions of Athens. The term tyrant itself is not of Greek origin, of Lydian origin. Empire next to Greece, modern day Turkey. Pisistratos (560-527) is the first tyrant. Pisistratos ruled Athens with the best interest of the people in mind. His cultural policy approach to the arts, was extremely important and will transform Athens from a relative important city in the Meditarrenean world into a international city (festivals etc) making it more beautiful. Democratized the culture: make something accessible to everybody. Culture before him was what Aristocrats cared about. After him everybody was allowed to partake in arts and culture.

 After his death, his sons replaced him, it was a disaster. Sparta took over Athens and restored power to Aristocrats. Kleisthenes (508-507) is the next Athenian legislator. He is the most important of the great legislators. Key figure in Athenian democracy, known as father of Athenian democracy. Set the stage for democracy in Athens because of solution of never ending crisis and conflicts within Athens. Kleisthenes extended citizenship beyond the circles of the Aristocracy and beyond the people of the new rich (Solons law), from now on all men that have attained an age of the majority, all that are free, all men from Athens whether they be land owners or not, are to be considered full pledged citizens. The removal of land owning requirements for citizenship meant that in the first time of recorded in history, poor people were allowed to enjoy citizenship. This is what Plato and philosophers found faulty in democracy ie. Poor people taking part in public affairs. In the public reign, in the polis all citizens are to be considered equal. Isonomy- describe the kind of equality that existed in Athens. Iso=equal, nomy=nomos=law or norm. Isonomy is the most basic and fundamental principle of democratic life. Isonomy meant equality before or in front of the law. Isonomy also meant equal participation in the creation of the law. These two meaning still exist in the western world. Economically, there were still inequalities; the equality in political matters was not extended. One of the most important aspects of Kleistenes political reform was that he managed to destroy the foundation of Aristocratic rule and power. This basis of Aristocratic rule in Athens rests upon powerful and ancestral tribes (demes). Groups of families who traditionally yielded power in Athens. Approximately 10 Aristocratic families ruled Athens according to scholars. Kleisthenes broke their power by inventing new tribes. He will create artificial demes. These new tribes with ancestors were made up of a cross section of people living in Athens. Mix people living in rural to urban, poor to rich, people living in seasides and in the land. Different sections and parts of Athens together. How do you create bonds between people who are from different parts? Klesithenes ensured that the members of the deme would fight alongside each other in battle, and also engage in politics together. Create bonds between two ideas, two perspectives and tastes. This artificial system worked out well and paved the way for democracy to arrive in Athens. Reduce power of Aristocratic institutions while increase power of democratic institutions. Reduce the power of the council (Boule), and give them to the assembly. The assembly was to be the final and sole legislative body of Athens.

 Continued and completed the work of the other Aristocratic Solon. Athenians were extremely proud of their political regime and proud of the creation of democracy. Pericles was the great Athenian general and spokesman who will express his proudness of Athenian regime. Form of government that will not make fun of other governments. We are actually an example for them than they are for us. Table is now set for democracy in Athens with the help of legislators and the tyrant. There is a consensus in the community between merchants, peasants and aristocrats in order to call upon the legislator. These legislators were known from their aristocratic families. Institutions of Ancient Democracy Cleisthinian reforms brought about equality of all citizens within Athenian democracy. Political translation/expression of this equality can be found in the institution called the assembly. In the assembly, the principle of equality goes from something thats abstract to something that was concrete. Athenian democracy was direct democracy and direct democracy-the term did not exist at the time. It was either direct, or not democracy. Elected representatives-Greeks did not know of from the people. No members of parliament, no Prime minister, no president. In the 5th century, the citizens of Athens were convened to the assembly in order to discuss and vote for proposed laws. Vote by raising hand or secret ballot. Political power was thus wielded directly by all citizens or those who showed up at the given day. Assembly would meet about 40 times a year. In practice, about 2000-3000 people showed up and in a total of 40,000 (peasants, merchants, aristocrats) eligible citizens. (40,000 citizens in Athens and where 400,000 people lived). People far from the center did not show up because of distance, and if peasants did not harvest crops they would miss out on a days or more work. In order to encourage turning up, there was no consequence of showing up and the Greeks compensated. Power of speech and rhetoric was of singular importance in the assemblydangerous because not all people master public speaking equally. Real danger that only the most eloquent and convincing would win and not all public speakers that everything for the common good. Risk of demagogy was very high: demos=people, gogy=agogos=guide. Demagogs attempt to guide-corrupt through the power of speech with the intention of gaining favors. Greeks were aware of danger and its risks, being inventive and creative, Greeks invented designed to punish those who wrongfully used their skill.

 First is ostracism-assembly can expel a citizen from the assembly for 10 years. Second is graphe para nomon-proposition against the law. Allowed the prosecution of the citizens that encourage the assembly to vote for illegal or unjust propositions. You would propose something through your rhetorical skills and the assembly would vote. Someone would accuse and assembly would realize mistake. Court would decide if you are faulty or not and corrects itself. Third is parrhesia-obligation to speak your mind frankly/openly. People who engage in public deliberation in an assembly were obliged to speak their mind openly. All these protective measure in order to offset the dangers of demagogy did not stop the Athenians from believing that the people (the many) were able to make decisions for the common good (right decisions because the were poor, self-interested, ignorant). Equality of citizens defined in Isonomy also means all citizens have equal say in making decisions. What about technical questions? Athenians would deal with it by inviting experts to the assembly (military experts, architecture etc), politely listen to and when came time for final decision people would decide in full knowledge of technical facts.