Athenian Democracy

Civic & Government

Lesson 1.2(Pre-GED)
The best example of Greek democracy comes from the city of Athens, where around the year
600 BC the city was thrown into turmoil due to an economic crisis. Many members of the
lower class found themselves in debt, often forced into slavery when they were unable to pay.
As a result, much of the population rebelled against the aristocracy that ruled the city. Hoping
to avoid a tyranny, the aristocrats appointed a reformer named Solon to rule and end the
crisis.
Solon canceled all land debts, freed peasants who had been sold into slavery,
and even took land from the rich and gave it to the poor.
Despite Solon’s best efforts, however, a tyrant named Peisistratus seized
Athens in 560 BC. Peisistratus immediately began his own campaign of
reforms. He increased trade to please merchants and gave even more land to
the poor.
Despite these efforts, the people of Athens rebelled again in 510 BC,
ending the tyranny, and they appointed a reformer named Cleisthenes
as their ruler.
Cleisthenes created a ruling council of 500 that oversaw the main functions of
government and gave ultimate authority to an assembly made up of male
citizens. For the first time in history, a ruling majority had the power to
negotiate treaties, make laws, and declare war. Democracy was born.
Athenian democracy went through many reforms and revisions after Cleisthenes, eventually
becoming a direct democracy led by a statesman named Pericles.
Under this system, all male citizens had a voice in the decisions of government through
debate and direct vote.
Any male citizen could speak on any issue, and poor citizens as well as those of the upper
class were eligible for any public office. Judges and generals were elected, and to guard
against the ambitions of any one man, a majority of citizens could at any time banish
anyone considered harmful to the state in a practice known as ostracism.
Under democratic rule, Athens became the preeminent power in Greece,
building for itself a vast and wealthy empire known as the Delian League.
Using these vast riches, Pericles launched several impressive building
projects, including the construction of the Parthenon, regarded as one of
the greatest temples of the ancient world. Athens also became the center of
art and education, its citizens pioneering the fields of mathematics,
astronomy, biology, and philosophy.
Despite these accomplishments, though, it is important to note that the vast majority of
Athenians did not take part in Athenian democracy.
Noncitizen males, women, and slaves were excluded from the government. Despite the fact
that there were as many as 40,000 male citizens in Athens at any given time, on average the
number of participants in debate and voting seldom reached 6,000.
Ultimately, direct democracy led to the collapse of the Athenian empire, as the majority of
people called for war against the city’s chief rival, Sparta.
Athens was a democratic state where education, art,
and philosophy was valued. Sparta was a military
state where strength, size, and fighting capabilities
were most important.
 Despite Pericles’ best efforts, the majority ruled in favor of hostilities, beginning a long
series of conflicts known the Peloponnesian War. (431-405 BC)
The war between Athens and Sparta lasted decades, during which the city of Athens
endured several losses, including a plague that wiped out more than a third of the city’s
population and resulted in the death of Pericles himself. Still the war
dragged on until finally in 405 BC, the majority of the once powerful Athenian fleet was
destroyed. Within a year, Athens surrendered and the Athenian empire was destroyed.
Directions: Read the passage and then answer the questions that follow.

Pericles, a statesman of ancient Athens, made this speech at a public funeral after the
first battle of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.
 Excerpt from Pericles’s Funeral Oration, 431 BC

Our form of government does not enter into rivalry [competition] with the
institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors’, but is an
example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the
administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there
exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of
excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished,
he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the
reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his
country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in
our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one
another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on
sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus
unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades [spreads
through] our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the
authorities and for the laws. . . .
1. Which phrase from the excerpt BEST expresses a central idea of democracy?
A. “Our government does not copy our neighbors’”
B. “administration is in the hands of the many”
C. “we are not suspicious of one another”
D. “a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts”

2. Which phrase BEST completes the chart?

A. Equal justice for all

B. Competition with other governments
C. Discrimination against the poor
D. Better treatment for the wealthy
3. According to Pericles, one responsibility of a citizen in a democracy is to do which of
the following?
A. Elect only the wealthy to public office.
B. Never share opinions with others.
C. Operate a private business.
D. Take part in the civic affairs of the nation.
Answers

Athenian Democracy
1. Choice B is correct. Democracy is rule by the people.
2. Choice A is correct. Pericles said, “while there exists equal justice to all and alike.”
3. Choice D is correct. Pericles said, “a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of
his condition.” This means that all people can (and should) serve in some way.