A Spartan king was expected to fulfil many roles and ensure that Spartan continual welfare and survival were under control. Both of the kings were members of the gerousia, a chief priest, and commander –in-chief of the army and judge and lawgiver. One of the major roles the kings were apart of was the political duties, as citizens of Sparta kings were eligible to participate in the political issues of Sparta. Since they were members of the gerousia they were allowed to take part in debates this means that they could initiate both laws and policies in Sparta, but with this came the restriction of not having more power than the 28 member of the assembly itself. According to the ancient historian Herodotus , the kings had political privileges as he says , ‘’they shall sit with the twenty-eight gerontes in the council, but if they do not attend,
The Greek World 500-440 BC Account for the democratic reforms of Athens during this period. Athens was greatly affected by the Persian Wars and the aftermath of those wars. Significant changes were made to the internal government of Athens. The changes that took place between 500 and 440 BC were part of the democratisation process, but they must also be seen as responses to the Persian Wars and as consequences of the growing imperialism of Athens. It is also important to understand the interrelationship of the democratic changes with the events of the 5th century.
Politically, Greece was revolutionary. We consider Greece one of the first to form the democratic government. Democracy was based on the focus of tyrants and Polis. These two ideas of freedom on a political level allows for a better way of life and more rights for its citizens, and is also still influenced still in today’s views of Western civilization. One thing that did change was the way that many of the Greek cities were ruled.
The citizens' female relatives and underage children, whose political rights and interests were represented, by their adult male relatives. Citizens of other polis who chose to reside elsewhere though free-born and possessing full rights in their place of origin, had full legal rights but no political rights in their place of residence. Metics could not vote, could not be elected to office, could not bear arms and could not serve in war. They otherwise had full personal and property rights, though they had to pay taxes. Free farmers were also citizens, supporting the government and often participating in periodic assemblies but not ruling directly.
Throughout this process of change, Athens held a grip on the moral validity of its actions, due to the aims and practices, especially the oath, of the Delian League. This enabled it to enforce its rule on the other members and use the League for its own purposes, and thus turn the Delian League into an Athenian empire. NOTE that because Thuc thought these were significant, then they probably were! The first of Thucyides’ paradigms is the siege and capture of Eion in 476-75BC. The League’s actions here removed a potentially dangerous base for the Persians.
A Spartan king was expected to fulfil many roles and ensure that Spartan continual welfare and survival were under control. Both of the kings were members of the gerousia, a chief priest, and commander –in-chief of the army and judge and lawgiver. One of the major roles the kings were apart of was the political duties, as citizens of Sparta kings were eligible to participate in the political issues of Sparta. Since they were members of the gerousia they were allowed to take part in debates this means that they could initiate both laws and policies in Sparta, but with this came the restriction of not having more power than the 28 member of the assembly itself. According to the ancient historian Herodotus , the kings had political privileges as he says , ‘’they shall sit with the twenty-eight gerontes in the council , but if they do not attend , the gerontes who are their closest relatives shall have the kings privileges giving two votes in addition to the third which is their own .
An initial aristocratic tone, though often modified, had demonstrated continued validity even in democratic centers such as Athens. Greek aristocrats could agree on the need for wise political service and devotion to political life. Some of their ideals had extended to a wider group of citizens and underwrote the intense political loyalties of the city-states. At the same time, other political trends had modified aristocratic rule, particularly through the advance of democracy. Greek political and economic control had spread widely along the eastern and northern coasts of the Mediterranean, and around the Black Sea.
Being a hero comes great responsibility, which was what Draco, Solon, Hector and Pericles were able to take on. Draco and Solon were both tyrants who assisted in the evolution of democracy. A tyrant was a powerful individual who gained control of a city-states government by appealing to the poor for support. Draco was the first tyrant at around 700 BC who was very influential. Of the tyrants, he was the one who created constitution.
Chris LeGarde Democracy Essay Pd 6 Modern-day democracy owes a lot to the democracy in ancient Greece. This early attempt at an equal government run by the citizens was very unique. It served as a model for all the democratic governments that came after it. Though there are many significant differences between the democracy of Athens and the democracy of the United States, they are both pretty much the same. The founding fathers and the ancient Athenians also seem to share some of the same successes and failures when it comes to establishing democracy.
Alexander’s destruction of the Persian monarchy created opportunities for Greek administrators, engineers, intellectuals, merchants, soldiers, eta al and those who followed Alexander and his successors could participate in the new political unity based on the monarchy’s principles. His successors used force to establish military monarchies that dominated the Hellenistic world after his passing. Autocratic power became a regular feature of those Hellenistic monarchies and was part of Alexander’s political legacy. It is obvious that his vision of empire inspired the Romans who were the real heirs of his legacy. He left not just a political legacy, but a cultural one which resulted in Greek language, art, architecture and literature which spread throughout the Middle East.