How was politics in ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is known to have been the cradle of democracy, a political system that had great influence around the world. In this article, we will explore what politics was like in Ancient Greece, from the organization of state cities to the participation of citizens in political decisions.
State Cities Organization
Ancient Greece was composed of several independent state cities, such as Athens, Sparta and Thebes. Each city city had its own form of government and its own laws. The city of Athens, for example, was known to have been one of the first democracies in history.
Democracy in Athens
Athens was one of the most important state cities of ancient Greece and is known to have been the cradle of democracy. In Athenian democracy, citizens had the right to participate in political decisions through assemblies and votes.
Assemblies: Assemblies were meetings where citizens discussed and voted on political issues. Any Athenian citizen over 18 could participate in the assemblies.
Voting: In voting, Athenian citizens decided on laws, public policies and even war. Each citizen was entitled to a vote, and decisions were made by majority.
Magistrates: In addition to the assemblies, Athens also had magistrates, who were responsible for the city’s administration. The magistrates were chosen by lot and had short mandates, to avoid the concentration of power.
Citizens’ participation
In ancient Greece, not all inhabitants were considered citizens. Only free men over 18, children of Athenian parents were entitled to participate in politics. Women, foreigners and slaves had no political rights.
Citizens: Athenian citizens had the right to participate in assemblies and votes, and could hold public office. Political participation was considered a civic duty.
Foreigners: foreigners living in Athens had no political rights, but could participate in the city’s economic and cultural life.
SLAVES: slaves had no political rights and were considered the property of Athenian citizens. They were used to do housework, agricultural and even as soldiers.
Politics Legacy in Ancient Greece
Politics in Ancient Greece left a lasting legacy for humanity. The Athenian democratic system influenced the way we think about political participation and citizens’ rights. In addition, the political philosophy of the ancient Greeks, such as the ideas of Plato and Aristotle, are still studied and discussed today.
In short, policy in ancient Greece was characterized by the direct participation of citizens in political decisions, especially in Athens. Athenian democracy was a milestone in political history and influenced political systems around the world.