Athenian Democracy | Meaning & Concept [Explained]

We explain what Athenian democracy was, its origin and how it worked. In addition, what are its characteristics and importance.

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What was Athenian democracy?

It is known as Athenian democracy to form of government established in the city-state of Athens in ancient Greece, between the seventh and centuries a. C.

This is the first known democracy in the history of humanity and constitutes A fundamental history of democracies implemented in western countries from the 18th century d. C.

It is considered a direct democracy one of the few in history, in which the legislative and executive power were exercised directly by the people, instead of choosing representatives to do so in their name.

The Athenian democratic system It was based on popular sovereignty . Through its institutions, it encouraged the political participation of its citizens in the different aspects that cross public life in society.

Geographic and temporary location of Athenian democracy

Athens was one Polis (Ciudad-Star) Greek which covered the entire attic region in southern Greece, on the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Towards 508 a. C., after two centuries of monarchy, Athens implemented democracy as a form of government. This period is known as classical Greece and includes the rise of Greek culture until the conquest of the region under the Macedonic Empire of Alexander the Great and the elimination of democratic institutions in 322 a. C.

History of Athenian democracy

Background

The Athenians were The inhabitants of the city-state of Athens one of the most important of ancient Greece. Originally, they organized their government as a monarchy, whose power was limited by the Areopago (Landing Council). Towards the eighth century a. C., an aristocratic group known as the Eupátridas He abolished the monarchy and established an oligarchy. Since then the Areopago chose three Arcantes that dealt with the executive government functions. However, this concentration of power generated discontent among the rest of the Athenians.

Since the end of the century and during the following century, Arcantes as Dracón de Tesalia and Solón de Athens They promoted different reforms that weakened the privileges of the eupátridas in favor of the rest of the population. Between 561 and 510 a. C., Pisstrate took power and installed a tyranny (government based on the use of force). During his government, Pisístrato took measures that had great popular support.

Establishment of democracy

After the death of pisstrate, struggles between different power groups were happening until one of them, led by Clístenes, managed to impose itself on the rest. Towards 508 a. C., Clístenes implemented a series of reforms that promoted collective responsibility in decision -making and encouraged equality before the law among Athenian citizens.

Then, in 465 a. C., Efialtes continued the reforms to organize democratic institutions And finally, Pericles ended up shaping the Athenian democratic structure.

The democratic period coincides with the city’s boom in the regional context. The 5th century a. C. is known as the Golden age due to the cultural, political and economic splendor of Athens, and its military supremacy against other Greek cities. Efialtes and Pericles were the ones who promoted the necessary reforms to organize democratic institutions in the city and give the Athenian people a real and effective access to power.

Athenian power crisis

In the second half of the century, the political rivalry between Athens and Sparta began to affect the rest of the Greek cities. The Delos League, headed by Athens, and the Peloponnese League were formed led by Sparta with the support of the Persians. In 404 a. C., the Athenians were defeated.

In addition, the cost of the war weakened all the polis that intervened and this allowed the advance of the Macedonian people that, in 334 a. C., imposed on the Greek world. Finally, in 322 a. C., under the orbit of the Macedonian Empire all laws and democratic institutions of Athens were eliminated.

Athenian Democracy Society

Although this period of Athenian history It was characterized by the political participation of the demos (Greek word that means “people”), the Athenian society was marked by inequality. The definition of citizenship excluded women, foreigners and slaves. It was only considered that men, over 20, children of father and mother of Athenian were citizens.

Women were considered subjects subordinated to the decisions of men and lacking the necessary independence to act on their own initiative.

The Metecos were foreign people born in other Greek cities and resided in Athens. Nor were they considered citizens or authorized to possess land. They were dedicated to commercial activities or artisanal production.

Slaves constituted a third of the Athenian population . They were people who had no freedom and considered them a private property of their owners. They had no political rights. They were used mainly for domestic tasks, artisanal production and as labor in agriculture.

Political organization of Athenian democracy

Athenian democracy PNYX — The Popular Assembly met on Mount Pnyx and the speaker occupied the platform.

The Athenians They developed a complex democratic system in which different institutions and magistrates dealt with the government tasks of the different government powers.

Sovereignty was popular . That means that the power was from demos (Greek word for “people”) and was exercised through the Ecclesia (Popular Assembly). The Athenians sought that the participation of citizens be mandatory in decision -making and in the composition of the laws that governed society. They believed that in this way they could guarantee equal political rights.

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To do this, a system was designed in which citizens exercised government functions through magistrates and institutions. In this way, they watched over the execution of the laws and regulations established by popular sovereignty.

He Legislative Power was exercised by the Advice of the five hundred (Also called I bulled), composed of 500 citizens, representatives of the 10 tribes of the attic (50 per tribe). The Judiciary was organized based on popular courts supervised by the Heliea (Superior Court) and the Areopago (Elderly Council).

The Functions of the Executive Power were divided into different magistrates . In this way the accumulation of power was avoided in the hands of individuals. The occupation of the charges was limited in time and could be done once in a lifetime, except for some specific exceptions.

Government institutions

In Athenian democracy there were two institutions that were the fundamental basis of popular sovereignty:

Ecclesia: The Assembly of Citizens . It was composed of up to 6000 citizens, who attended the meetings freely. This assembly made the most important decisions such as legislating, appointing officials, judging crimes and crimes or carrying out executive decisions (such as going to war or granting a foreigner of citizens). The assembly met periodically, usually four times every 36 days. As the democratic model became more complex, specific magistrates began to be appointed some judicial and legislative functions.
BOULÉ: THE COURSE OF THE FIVE HUNDREDS . It was a restricted assembly whose citizens were in charge of the city’s current affairs. It was composed of 500 elected representatives in each of the Athenian jurisdictions. Since the Periculture era, the assembly members received a special pay, in exchange for exercising deliberative, administrative and judicial functions, and served as surveillance to the other institutions and guaranteeing the operation of the system.

In addition, another important institution was La Heliea, the Supreme Court in matters of justice . It was composed of 6000 citizens who, in their functions, were called Dikastas (“Those who swore”) or Heliasta.

Heliea It was made up of a raffle among 6000 citizens over 30 years that they had run voluntarily. The exercise of the position was paid. The chosen ones had to oath and take care of decisions in public trials (Graphe) and private (Diké).

Magistrates

Athenian democracy had magistrates (public positions) who They dealt with government executive tasks . They fulfilled military, administrative, religious functions, justice and support for assemblies.

Mostly, The charges were occupied by elected citizens by raffle that they could exercise this function only once in life, and for a limited time. Instead, there were some specific magistrates who were chosen by vote in the assembly and could be re -elected in the same way.

The most important magistrates were:

Arcantes (Eponym, polemarco, arc king and tesmótetas). They fulfilled executive functions. They were controlled by a committee of the Council of the five hundred and when they retired they became part of the Areopago (Council of Elders).
Civil Administration Magistrates (Market inspectors, fund managers and other magistrates). There were more than 600 individuals who run voluntarily to be chosen by raffle. They were dedicated to administrative government tasks.
Military Administration Magistrates (Strategos, Taxiarcos, Filarcos, Hipparcos and Military Treasurer). These officials were chosen directly by the Popular Assembly (“Ecclesia”).

During the 5th century a. C., Pericles established the remuneration of the magistrates since he considered that they were providing a service to citizens. In this way, people who did not have time or surplus resources for political participation were involved in public life.

The magistrates were chosen with two different ways:

ELECTED POSITIONS BIRTHDAY . This was the most common method to name public office, since it was considered as democratic as possible: all citizens should govern and be governed by shifts. Thus, no type of advantage or merit was taken into account when choosing.
CHARGES ELECTED VOTATION . Around a hundred officials of a thousand were elected by public vote: the treasurers and in charge of the management of large public money figures and the Strategoielected general among the prominent members of the polis. They were requisitioned before and after office, to avoid crimes of corruption.

Importance of Athenian democracy

Athenian democracy represents a fundamental milestone in political history in the world because it is the first democracy of which you have ample record.

It is the source of ancient legal texts, which then served as the basis for legal legislators of the Roman Republic. His influence reached later Western civilizations, such as the French.

Difference with current democracy

Compared to Athenian democracy, current democracies work indirectly, as they are representative and non -direct democracies.

Representative democracy (current) . The people choose officials who represent them politically, who make decisions for them based on partisan political guidelines.
Direct democracy (Athenian). Athenian citizens participated directly, that is, they made the decisions themselves and voted for or against, without representatives.