Why do Democracy's Beginnings Matter?
/It is important to understand why we should care about the early beginnings of Democracy.
Read MorePlease note - the posts are listed with the most recent first. If you want to start at the beginning of a numbered Series scroll down to find it.
Democracy: Preservation of the Idea
/I will now begin a third series, The Impact of Athenian Democracy on the re-appearance of Democracy and its further development. First, I will discuss the influence of Athenian democracy on the re-emergence of democracy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its initial forms. Second, I will turn to the question of whether or not Athenian democracy has any lessons to offer the world of today, a vastly different place than when democracy first developed.
Read MorePart 18 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Due to its weakened state as outlined in Part 17, Athens stayed away from military involvements during the last half of the 350s. At the same time, Philip of Macedonia continued to expand his reach and aspirations, conquering Thessaly and appearing ready to move into Central Greece and thus closer to Athens.
Read MorePart 17 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/After the alliance with Sparta, initial military action was inclusive and sporadic. Athens began to move to re-establish its empire with limited success. Then, after some success by both sides, a crucial battle took place.
Read MorePart 16 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As discussed in The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece, Part 11, Athens was considerably weakened militarily due to the alliance between Sparta and the Persian empire.
Read MorePart 15 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/The basic structure of the judicial system was set by the end of the fifth century. However, in the fourth century there was considerable additional development….The role and control of the Assembly continued throughout the fourth century. There were a number of changes made to increase the involvement of the Assembly, principally focused on making the Assembly as representative as possible and expanding participation.
Read MorePart 14 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Having discussed the Council of 500, in the next several posts I will do same for the other key components of Athenian democracy in the fourth century: the Council of the Areopagus, the Magistrates, Defense, Finance, the Courts, and the Assembly.
Read MorePart 13 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/The most apparent result of the democratic reforms was that for the first time, a wide-ranging, clear, updated, and definitive code of written laws was created.
Read MorePart 12 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/While the long saga of dealing with hubris and the focus on seeking power and wealth demonstrates the allure of these dynamics, at long last (in part due to exhaustion?) Athens showed that it could lessen the influence of these cancers.
Read MorePart 11 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/The movement to a new version of democracy was based on a partnership between the political clubs and some intellectually sophisticated aristocrats. The clubs provided the terror tactics to crush opposition and the aristocrats developed a new constitution.
Read MorePart 10 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Without question, the period of 460 - 430, discussed in the prior three Posts, were one of most important and influential periods in European history. Democracy had come of age, a powerful empire was created, and there was a golden age of cultural development and transformation. However, trouble had continued to brew….
Read MorePart 9 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Along with Athens reaching a new height of democratic governance, power, and wealth, an artistic and intellectual explosion occurred that remains one of the most storied periods in both European and world history.
Read MorePart 8 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/At first glance, the attitude of the Athenians to either rule or be ruled sounds reasonable - they chose not to be ruled and therefore needed an empire to ensure this. However…
Read MorePart 7 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Democracy in Greece played a part in the successful performance of Athens in the Persian wars which ended in 468. The result of the wars was an Athenian empire. But, as is often the case (or always?) with empires, there is never enough - power and wealth want more power and wealth. Power and wealth walk hand in hand becoming imbued with hubris and arrogance along the way.
Read MorePart 6 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As mentioned at the end of the prior post, the Funeral Oration of Pericles was the fullest explication of Democracy at the time and one of the most revered documents in the history of democracy.
Read MorePart 5 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Pericles was a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy. And, importantly, his education went considerably beyond the traditional upper class education. Here again, we will see the power of ideas in effect even in a time of near constant warfare and an emphasis on military power.
Read MorePart 4 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As per the prior post, there was much credit to give to the Athenians and their new political structure. However, the growing power and confidence and consequent hubris, began to change the Delian League as Athens progressively asserted its will on its allies.
Read MorePart 3 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Over its first 40 years, the fledgling Athenian democracy was severely challenged by nearly continuous war. As part of outlining this period, I invite the reader to test the following hypothesis: While the timeframe and many other details differ, are there notable (and instructive) parallels between this period and beyond, and the first 140 years of American democracy?
Read MorePart 2 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As we have seen repeatedly, movement forward in Democracy’s development was often triggered by discord and its’ frequent consequences of violence and chaos. This continued at the end of the reign of Peisistratus (see the appearance of Democracy, birth to infancy in Greece, Part 5).
Read MorePart 1 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/In this second series, I continue outlining the early years of Democracy. The prior 5-part series, The appearance of Democracy - birth to infancy in Greece, covered the development of the seeds and some saplings (750 to 500 B.C.).
This section, The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece, moves forward in time to the growth of a fully formed tree. (500 to 322 B.C.).
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