Athenian Democracy

The Athenian Democracy was a political regime created and adopted in Athens, in the period of Ancient Greece.

It was essential for the political organization of the Greek city-states, being the first democratic government in history.

The term “Democracy” is formed by the Greek radical “demo ” (people) and “kratia ” (power), which means “power of the people.”

Abstract

Prior to the implementation of Democracy in Athens, the city-state was controlled by an oligarchic aristocratic elite called “Eupatrids” or “well-born”, who held political and economic power in the Greek polis.

However, with the emergence of other social classes (merchants, small landowners, artisans, peasants, etc.), which intended to participate in political life, the aristocracy decided to review the political organization of the city-states, which later resulted in the implementation of “Democracy”.

In such a way, around 510 BC. Democracy emerges in Athens through the victory of the Greek aristocratic politician Cleisthenes. Considered the "Father of Democracy", he led a popular revolt against the last Greek tyrant, Hippias, who ruled from 527 BC. and 510 BC.

After this event, Athens was divided into ten units called “demos”, which was the main element of this reform and, for this reason, the new regime was renamed “demokratia ”. Athens had a direct democracy, where all Athenian citizens participated directly in the political affairs of the polis.

In this way, Cleisthenes, based on the legislation previously presented by Dracon and Solon, initiated political and social reforms that would result in the consolidation of democracy in Athens.

As a way of guaranteeing the democratic process in the city, Cleisthenes adopted “ostracism”, where citizens who showed threats to the democratic regime would suffer a 10-year exile. This prevented the proliferation of tyrants in the Greek government.

Therefore, power was not only concentrated in the hands of the Eupatrids. With this, other free citizens over 18 years old and born in Athens could participate in the Assemblies (Ecclesia or People's Assembly), although women, foreigners (metics) and slaves were excluded.

Given this, we can intuit that Athenian democracy was not for all citizens and, therefore, limited, excluding and elitist. It is estimated that only 10% of the population enjoyed democratic rights.

In addition to Cleisthenes, Pericles continued democratic politics. He was an important Athenian democrat who made it possible to broaden the range of possibilities for the less fortunate citizens.

Around 404 BC, Athenian democracy suffered a great decline when Athens was defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, an event that lasted about 30 years.

Characteristics of Athenian Democracy

Direct Democracy
Political and Social Reforms
Reformulation of the old Constitution
Equality before the law (isonomy)
Equal access to public office (isocracy)
Equality to speak at the Assemblies (Isegoria)
Right to vote for Athenian citizens

Differences between Greek Democracy and Current Democracy

Athenian democracy was a political model that was copied by several ancient societies, and that influences the concept of democracy in the world to this day.

However, current democracy is a more advanced and modern model of Athenian democracy, in which all citizens (over 16 or 18 years old), including women, can vote and access public office, without being exclusive and limited.

Furthermore, in Athenian democracy, citizens had a direct participation in the passing of laws and in Organs political bodies of the polis, while in current democracy (representative democracy) citizens elect a representative.

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