In Athens, all men born to Athenian parents were citizens, in Sparta, only the wealthy were citizens. State of the art architecture. Both Athens and Sparta had a similar government system. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. Absolutism was characterized by the ending of feudal partitioning, consolidation of power with the monarch, rise of state, rise of professional standing armies, professional bureaucracies, the codification of state laws, and the rise of ideologies that justify the absolutist monarchy. Athens was a small city compared to Rome that honored and protected citizenship. A Spartan's life was centered on the state, because he lived and died to serve the state. The ancient civilization of greece was different from many of the civilizations in its time. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens, was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not even using the essentials of democracy that is used today, Thus, by our standards, it was oligarchy, not democracy.(Document D), therefore ancient Athens was not using democracy as their form of government, they were using oligarchy,another form of government in which a small group of people has power and control, as their form of government instead of democracy. Democracy is the rule of the whole of the people,excluding minors and maniacs only. Since the Spartans were only concerned with being great warriors, the Athenians became the cultural center of Greece during the Hellenic period. It was possible to prolong the rule for the next term but in case of any abnormalities a quick change of government took place. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state. It had a place in the way the people of ancient times governed their lives. Now a new paper deems it also the proud parent of the worlds first market economy. Athenians were educated(except girls) but they never knew much about brute force, unlike the Spartans. However, in Athens, girls did not receive an education like the boys in Athen did but, instead, were expected to become housewives. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Although the competing city-states of Sparta and Athens were individually different as well as governmentally diverse, they both managed to become dominating powers in Ancient Greece. They also had a council of five hundred. Athens was also referred to as the birthplace of democracy, a government system still in use today! Overall, I think Athens is better and safer to live in then Sparta. The assembly passed laws and made policy decisions (PBS 1). As I will come to. One of the earliest known democracies was in Athens, a city-state in southern, ancient Greece. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moreover, addressing the 11 million undocumented immigrants, I strongly believe that the United States should allow the immigrants to continuously live in the United States under some conditions. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. City-state is an independent or nearly independent state in which political and cultural activities are concentrated in a single urban center (Legon). Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. Some people believe they were more democratic than us today, but I think they were never a true democratic government. They became skilled sailors. 3 What were the strengths and weaknesses of ancient Greece? They also had five overseers who were elected to do regular every-day operations of Sparta. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority and best met the needs of Ancient Greece. Sparta also has a great military strength, it is much better than Athens military because the men go to war at the age of 7-30. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. Unfortunately, the government makes the people feel powerless to the point where theyre forced to elect a candidate whos not impotent. She or he will best know the preferred format. By our understanding it was an oligarchy, not democracy. Athens on the other hand had a democracy as stated in Document 3, an excerpt from Funeral Orations by Pericles a quotes from this excerpt states it is true that our government is a democracy, because its administration is in the hands, not of the few, but of many.. This quote clearly states that the type of government Athens has is a. Democracy (disadvantage) Only the elite or upper class had a role in government, lower class not represented. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a government? Its population was over five times as great as the other small city-states. Athens was truly democratic because everyone had the equal justice, people were voted into office, and ones social class did not determine what a person could become. Great economy. One reason why Athens had a greater respect for human rights is that they had a direct democracy, while Sparta had an oligarchy. The community showed little cohesion as a group. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Why is Greece the birthplace of democracy? Athens had a geographic advantage because they were very superior. What is democracy? The United States has a representative democracy. How do these two city-states differ? Spartas government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. The answers given may be; a society where everyone votes, or by dictionary definition a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of the state; typically through elected representation. However when analyzing the etymology of the word democracy we come to find out that demos means the people and kratia means rule or power in greek. The biggest difference between Athenian democracy and almost all other democracies is that the Athenians had a direct democracy rather than being representative. Rather than vote for representatives, like we do, each citizen was expected to vote for every law. The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Other contrasting issues included womens rights, social classes, and value of human life. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. And they only let men vote which means that only 12% in ancient Athens can vote.In Athens no one had freedom of thought and expression either. Sparta was focused on their military, discipline, and to have a strong state. When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Today we think of democracy as majority rule. HomeBrowse. For instance the way that these cities were governed and their political procedures and functions were quite different from each other. The Pros And Cons Of Ancient Athenian Democracy. 1 What were the disadvantages of democracy in ancient Greece? Additionally, the water access provides a stable fishing ground to provide food to people. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This group of people only included white male citizens, meaning that slaves, foreign born residents, women and some men who hadnt obtained citizenship couldnt vote (Doc D). First, all true democracies limit majority rule in order to protect the rights of minorities. Possibly could make faster decisions. Advantages: protects individual rights, input is taken from many different sources to make a governmental decision, people are the government. Sparta lacked in education, they were too harsh on the children in military training, and the Spartans didnt allow traveling. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. Unfortunately, the assembly was open to all citizens except women. This form of government had to start somewhere, however, and ideas of democracy can be shown in many early documents written by some of the first peoples to colonize the Americas. They had two kings who controlled the army and religions of Sparta. Therefore, they could easily make decisions. Differences : Advantages And Disadvantages Of Athens And Sparta, Athens and Sparta are the two famous city-states in Ancient Greece. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. This basically means that if you are not wetly than they won't treat us the same as wealthy people. To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote took place. In all fairness I believe Athens had the better system of government. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Only the men truly had a say, and ran ancient Athens. Both Athens and Sparta hold historic value for Greece and the world. Democracy in Athenian government the way that the citizens pass a vote is getting done, in elected by the assembly annually for making decisions about military matters and by showing hands. One of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. The rigidity of the Constitution makes it difficult to amend easily. From the system of creating new laws to the checks and balances that define the American government. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. The biggest advantage of democracy in polis was the general possibility of taking part in public life for all free citizens. WebAs a result the Ancient Greece developed into isolated, small, independent communities. Socrates did not care for the idea in general, and Aristotle thought it could, within a state, yield new forms of abuse of power. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. Sparta advantage. Climate was varied but moderate, with temperature between 48 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Athens was more inviting and had many more fun things to do, which is why Athens is a better place to live. WebAdvantages: Greece has mountains which were good for grazing sheep and goats, Greece is next to the Ionian sea on the west, the Mediterranean Sea on the south, and the Aegean sea on the east which enabled the Greeks to fish and to trade with older, more complex cultures, the climate was good for growing deep rooted plants like olives and grapes, so olive oil and By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. The reason I say this is because, in economic terms, reduction in government spending and increasing tax collection at the same time is like hitting someone with two hammers together. While Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. The city-state of Athens, 5th century Athens to be precise, is the inventor and first practitioner of democracy. Ancient Greece was comprised of small city-states, of which Sparta and Athens were two. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. In addition, citizens had the chance to spend time acting as council representatives, which gave them power and direct involvement with decision making. These two city states shared some common characteristics whilst in some instances they were very different from each other. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. WebThe term democracy, like many other political terms, was first discovered in Ancient Greece. 1 What were the advantages and disadvantages of Greece? Athens also had much more trading power, and controlled more land than Sparta. In addition, it supports the idea that the people can replace their government through peaceful transfers of power rather than violent uprising or revolution. 7 What was the disadvantage of democracy in ancient Greece? Sparta advantage. This meant that they may not have represented mass opinion, whereas getting all males over the age of 18 involved in politics increased the likelihood of policies representing what people wanted. What is the original meaning of democracy? Like the Spartans they too wanted to protect their state but unlike the Spartans, the Athenians strove for excellence not only in being warriors but also in their everyday lives. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The plague also led to social unrest and lack of unity. reading #2: "Greek Art." There was a thriving city. The geography of the region helped to shape the government and culture of the Ancient Greeks. Lastly, because so much of Greece is rocky, mountainous terrain, there isnt a lot of fertile soil. Prior to Athenian democracy, a few people would make decisions for the masses. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not inclusive, other than male citizens, to gain authority in ancient Athens, Demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners(Metics) and slaves.(Document D), therefore ruling Athens was only accessible to male citizen since since women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves were not allowed to rule as a result of not being male citizens. This excluded a majority of the population: slaves, freed slaves, children, women and metics (foreign residents in Athens). One of the earliest known democracies was in Athens, a city-state in southern, ancient Greece. The Aetolians settled while the Dorians divided into two forces and continued on where one force took over Messenia and the other moved into Laconia and Sparta. What were the limitations of the ancient Greeks? Each city-state had its own form of government and its own army, and even sometimes its own navy. It also means its citizens come first in order of importance. WebOne of the main advantages of Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. The advantages of Greeks geography is that they had protection from invaders and some disadvantages were that they had a hard time farming and traveling. The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. Democracy is the modern day standard for governmental systems. Ancient Athens, had a much more stronger basis than ancient Sparta. A a majority of one race or religion or political opinion is not allowed to suppress the rights of other groups. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But, since foreigners, women, and slaves were not allowed to become citizens, democracy meant equality among those whousually by birthwere entitled to be citizens of a particular place. Amongst those city states Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful and considered in Greek history as the most influential states to western civilisation. What are the pros and cons of tyranny in ancient Greece? How do these two city-states differ? (Bulliet 99) From 1000 B.C.E to 30 B.C.E, Ancient Greeces view on individualism changed the political system Greece had, over time changed the way individuals thought and made important Intellectual changes, and gradually changed the Economic system such as bartering. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. During that year, they were responsible for making new laws and controlled all parts of the political process. Overall, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of the government having male citizens have authority, being an oligarchy government instead of a democratic government, and voting not accessible to women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves except for male citizens. Sparta was focused on their military, discipline, and to have a strong state. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. Athenian democracy also had one-year term limits. Hard work and equality is what makes a nation outstanding. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. 8 Who was not allowed to become a citizen of Greece? In Athens, the ruler Draco tried to make many reforms in the city state. Cinesiolgists study sceletons. The women had limited rights and privileges, had restricted movement in public, and were very segregated from the men. It may not be able to serve the needs of an emergency situation. In document A, I found that is truly democratic because your social class is not allowed the interfere with someone 's merit. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. What this means is that all the citizens voted on all the laws. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having mountains cover ancient Greece? The system and ideas employed by the ancient Greeks had profound influences on how democracy developed, and its impact on the formation of the U.S. government. WebThus, the tyrants of the Archaic age of ancient Greece ( c. 900500 bce )Cypselus, Cleisthenes, Peisistratus, and Polycrates were popular, presiding as they did over an era of prosperity and expansion. Slavery No pay labor 6%of the population had a right in democratic matters. The city of Athens was named after their special goddess. All the sciences, democracy, philosophy etc were originally found in Athens. 6 What are the pros and cons of democracy in ancient Greece? If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. When looking at this definition and trying to decide whether the Athenian democratic system was truly democratic, one would have to go with the answer no. Sparta, it appears, had fewer changes to government over time as compared to Athens. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. Athens, on the other hand, was a democracy after periods of monarchies and aristocracies. Disadvantage: Unpredictable sea, need boats to travel. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. Athenians made it clear that the poor helped build the city 's power and not just the wealthy. Weaknesses include the voters ability to make poor decisions and be swayed by rhetoric and short office terms that made implementing policies difficult. What was the disadvantage of tyranny in ancient Greece? It is a powerful word. Athenians elected government officials through lot (Document B). The Athens lived by the Sea which was an advantage because they had an excellent trading system. Underline the word or expression in parentheses that best completes each sentence. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. Democracy is an aspect that can be included in many different governments including, republics, monarchies, and theocracies. Not many dare to explore the flaws or disadvantages. Hence, Absolutism was made possible by new innovations and characterized as a phenomenon of Early Modern Europe, rather than that of the middle Ages, where the clergy and nobility counterbalanced as a result of mutual. The first inhabitants of Attica (the wider area of Athens), of who we are aware, lived during the Neolithic Period (6,000-2,800 BC). The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. I do not believe that in the 4th to 5th century BCE ancient Athen were democratic for many reasons. Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. There was some farmland for crops, but the Greeks could always count on seafood and waterfowl to eat. Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. Now I will tell you that why direct democracy is not work in America. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not inclusive, other than male citizens, to gain authority in ancient Athens, Demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners(Metics) and slaves.(Document D), therefore ruling Athens was only accessible to male citizen since since women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves were not allowed to rule as a result of not being male citizens. Government failure is a term to describe how government intervention can cause its own problems. They took politics very seriously and made sure that everyone had a voiced opinion. Some of the major issues with government are the political lies and schemes it takes to get to the top and remain there. The mountains also make communication from city to city slow. However, they choose the candidates based on the (1)facades they create, which causes the people to become (2)distorted by their seemingly noble intentions. Each city-state had its own way of doing things.