The Rise of Democratic Ideas

Modern World History

The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome

•2000 BCE - Greeks formed cities

•Different types of governments established

•Monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy

Athens

•Democratic rule

•Citizens decided government decisions

•Citizens included male residents

•Yearly election of 3 nobles to rule the city-state and after 1 year of service, nobles joined larger council of advisers

Solon

•600 BCE- economic problems arise

•Outlawed slavery based on debt and cancelled farmers' debt

•Established four classes of citizens based on wealth

•Created Council of Four Hundred

•Increased participation in government

Cleisthenes

•Introduced more reforms circa 508 BCE

•Reorganized the assembly to balance power between rich and poor

•Increased power of assembly

•Created the Council of Five Hundred

Pericles

•Led Athens 461-429 BCE

•Strengthened Greek democracy

•Athens evolved into a direct democracy

Philosophers

•Reason and logic to investigate the nature of the universe, human society, and morality

•1) the universe (land, sea, sky) is put together in an orderly way and is subject to absolute and unchanging laws

•2) people can understand these laws through logic and reason

•Socrates; Plato; Aristotle

•Natural laws

Rome

•1000 - 500 BCE Romans defeated Romans and Etruscans for control of the Italian peninsula

•509 BCE Roman aristocrats overthrew a harsh king and established a republic

•Early republic - two groups struggled for power

•Patricians: aristocratic landowners, held most of the power, inherited power and social status, claimed that their ancestry gave them the authority to make laws for Rome its people

•Plebeians: common farmers, artisans, merchants, citizens of Rome with the right to vote, barred by law from holding most important government positions

•Plebeians forced creation of a written law code

•451 BCE - the Twelve Tables were publicly displayed and established that free citizens had the right to protection of the law and laws would be fairly administered

Republican Government

• Separate branches: two consuls commanded the army and directed the government, served one year term

•Senate: patricians, controlled foreign and financial policies and advise the consuls

•In times of crisis, republic provided for a dictator - absolute power to make laws and command the army, limited to six month term

•Expansion through conquest and trade created problems

•27 BCE Rome came under the rule of an emperor

Roman Law

• Based on principles of reason and justice and protect citizens and their property

•All citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law

•A person was considered innocent until proven guilty

•The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused

•Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside

Justinian Code

• 528 A.D. Emperor Justinian ordered the compilation of all Roman laws since the earlier code

•Consisted of four works: The Code - 5,000 Roman laws, The Digest - summary of legal opinions, The Institutes - textbook for law students, The Novollae - contained laws passed after 534