Athenian democracy
Greek citizen rule
Athenian democracy was the system of government in ancient Athens (roughly 508–322 BCE) in which citizens participated directly in political decisions rather than electing representatives.
Male citizens could vote in the assembly, serve on juries, and hold office by lottery.
Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded.
The term often serves as shorthand for direct democracy's promise and limitations: Athenian democracy gave us the ideal, but not the full practice.
Citizens' assembly, especially Greek
- assemblyConstructing from components
- bouleFrench lawn bowling
- demeLocal interbreeding population
- archonGreek city-state magistrate
magistrate · lottery · vote · decree · quorum · deliberation · agenda · motion
Greek sovereign urban center
- citizenLegal national member
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
- jury serviceLegal obligation to deliberate
liturgy · hoplite · trireme · deme · registration · oath · majority · exclusion
Greek statesman and reformer
- PericlesFifth-century Athenian statesman
- reformsCorrective institutional changes
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- lawgiverOne who establishes rules
Ancient Athenian questioning philosopher
- PlatoGreek philosopher, academy founder
- AristotleGreek founder of formal logic
- ThucydidesGreek historiographer, fifth-century BCE
- sophistsPurveyors of specious reasoning
dialectics · political theory · rhetoric · critique · Republic · philosopher-king · demagoguery · mob rule
Same status for all
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
self-governance · egalitarianism · transparency · checks and balances
Named platform or production
- AtticaGreek region containing Athens
- AcropolisFortified hilltop in Athens
- Golden AgeLegendary period of perfection
- Persian WarsHellenic-Achaemenid military conflicts
Peloponnesian War · tyranny · restoration · Salamis · Marathon · empire · tribute
ecclesia
Citizens' assembly, especially Greek
archon · magistrate · lottery · vote · decree · quorum · deliberation · agenda · motion
polis
Greek sovereign urban center
- citizenLegal national member
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
jury service · liturgy · hoplite · trireme · deme · registration · oath · majority · exclusion · native-born
Solon
Greek statesman and reformer
- PericlesFifth-century Athenian statesman
- reformsCorrective institutional changes
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
lawgiver · ostracism · redistricting · debt relief · citizenship law
Socrates
Ancient Athenian questioning philosopher
- PlatoGreek philosopher, academy founder
- AristotleGreek founder of formal logic
- ThucydidesGreek historiographer, fifth-century BCE
sophists · dialectics · political theory · rhetoric · critique · Republic · philosopher-king · demagoguery · mob rule · oligarchy
equality
Same status for all
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
sovereignty · self-governance · egalitarianism · transparency · checks and balances
Agora
Named platform or production
- AtticaGreek region containing Athens
- AcropolisFortified hilltop in Athens
- Golden AgeLegendary period of perfection
Persian Wars · Peloponnesian War · tyranny · restoration · Salamis · Marathon · empire · tribute
Athenian democracytyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
monarchy · oligarchy · autocracy · despotism · dictatorship
Athenian democracyrepresentative democracy
Governance through chosen delegates
liberal democracy · parliamentary democracy · constitutional republic · modern democracy · republican government
democracy, democratic, Athens, democrat, democracies, undemocratic, Democrat, Athena, democratize