This document provides an overview of the roots of democracy in ancient Greece and Rome. It begins with notes on Athens in ancient Greece, which originated as a monarchy but later transitioned to a direct democracy under the reforms of Cleisthenes. All male citizens were able to participate directly in the Assembly and help make decisions. The document then discusses the origins and government of the Roman Republic, which was ruled by a combination of elected patrician Senators and Consuls, with checks and balances between the groups. Over time, plebeians gained more rights and representation in government as well. By the 1st century BC, Roman rule extended across the Mediterranean region.

1. ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY
NOTES
DAY 7
SKINNY 13-14
Word
World History

2. The Roots of Democracy
 Annotated Timeline project
 Greek and Roman Roots
 Section 1 in text and GRWorkbook
 Judeo-Christian Roots
 Section 2 in text and GRWorkbook
 Notes from the unit

3. Athens
•Began as early
as 1500 BC.
•Its patron goddess
was Athena.

4. Tyranny
•From 600-500 BC
several tyrants ruled
Athens (Solon,
Draco, Peisistratus)
•Athens grew
wealthy from olives,
pottery, and trade.

5. Cleisthenes
•Athens’ last tyrant, and founder
of its democracy.
•He extended citizenship to most
free men.
•He set up the system of the
Assembly, the Council of 500,
and the law courts.

6. Athenian Democracy
 A “direct democracy” - large numbers of citizens
helped make all decisions.
 The Assembly (meeting) voted on laws, elected
leaders, tried legal cases.
 Politicians & the accused pled their case before all.

7. City Government
 Most Greek cities began as a monarchy
(rule by a king).
 Over time, power shifted to class of noble
landowners. They were the military
defenders of the city-state because they
could afford the weapons and chariots.
This was called an aristocracy.

8. All Romans were not equal.
There were 2 classes: the
patricians, wealthy, noble, land
owning upper class

9. Plebeians: working class and poor.
This group made up the majority of the
Roman population.

10.  A council of 500, chosen by lottery, ran daily
business of the city.
 Dangerous or corrupt politicians could be
ostracized (kicked out).

11. A Cultural Powerhouse
 Athenians saw education as key to democracy.
 As a result, Athens was the cultural and economic
center of classical Greece.

12. Rome is born
 Legend says 2 brothers, Romulus and
Remus, founded the city in 753 BC.

13. Who were the Romans?
 A tribe called the Latins.
 They adopted ideas from
Greeks in the south…

14.  …and from
Etruscans in
the north.

15. Roman Government
 The Republic is set up so that no man can
become a king.
 High ranks are elected in twos, and their terms of
office are short.
 Patrician men are taught to see high rank as a
service and honor, not a chance at power.

16.  In the early republic, soldiers were volunteers.
 Every male citizen was expected to fight for Rome in
wartime.

17. Rome was ruled by kings until
about 500 B.C.

18. Rome set up a type of democracy
called a republic. In a republic,
leaders are elected to represent the
people.

19. The Senate was a group of 300
patrician men, elected for life, who
made the laws.

20. The senators then elected 2
consuls each year to enforce
the laws, supervise the
business of government and
command the armies. Consuls
could only serve for one year.

21. This Roman republic had a
systems of checks and balances
in place. Each of these groups
had the power to veto, or forbid,
the actions of the other.

22. Eventually the plebeians demanded and gained
equality in government. Plebeians gained the
right to elected their own representatives called,
tribunes, to protect their interests in
government. The tribunes were also given veto
power over laws in the Senate.

23. By 264 BC, Rome had conquered most of
the Italian peninsula and made most of the
conquered peoples Roman citizens.

24. By 133 B.C. Roman power extends from
Spain to Egypt, conquering the lands that
were divided up after Alexander the
Great’s death.

25. Groups
 4 per group
 Jobs