axariotisxy
Member
I just watched a nice documentary about the birth of democracy in Athens. This is so fascinating! I didn't realize the nuances, only the basics about how it began in Athens. This documentary goes into a lot more detail.
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k_tsoukalas
Administrator
I love this explanation. It's fascinating story to me!
The roots of democracy in Athens date back to the sixth century BC. At that time, the city-state was ruled by an oligarchy, a group of wealthy aristocrats who dominated the political arena. However, with the passage of time, the common people began to feel increasingly alienated from the ruling class, and they were eager to have a say in the way their city was governed. This led to the growing demand for democracy and the emergence of leaders who championed the cause.
One of these leaders was Cleisthenes, who is considered the father of Athenian democracy. In 508 BC, he introduced a series of reforms that gave ordinary citizens a greater say in the government and lessened the power of the aristocracy. His reforms paved the way for true democracy in Athens, and it became a model for other city-states to follow.
Fascinates me how it was an aristocrat who developed it!
The roots of democracy in Athens date back to the sixth century BC. At that time, the city-state was ruled by an oligarchy, a group of wealthy aristocrats who dominated the political arena. However, with the passage of time, the common people began to feel increasingly alienated from the ruling class, and they were eager to have a say in the way their city was governed. This led to the growing demand for democracy and the emergence of leaders who championed the cause.
One of these leaders was Cleisthenes, who is considered the father of Athenian democracy. In 508 BC, he introduced a series of reforms that gave ordinary citizens a greater say in the government and lessened the power of the aristocracy. His reforms paved the way for true democracy in Athens, and it became a model for other city-states to follow.
Fascinates me how it was an aristocrat who developed it!
