The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens
Seat work
Students will quietly enter the room, find your seats and
discuss your three sticky notes on pages 312-317 with
your row group.
Central Question:

What is power? How was power gained, justified and

used in Athens? (6.5i)

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens
Quiz show
What do you call a government with a small number of
people hold political power?
Oligarchy
What do you call a government run by one strong leader?
Tyranny
Who increased citizen participation in government by
paying citizens for jury service?
Pericles
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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

What words do you connect with democracy?

Democracy

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

Key Ideas
Greek city-states experimented with many forms
of government, including oligarchy and tyranny.
In Athens, democracy developed. Citizens
participated in lawmaking and the courts.
Athenian democracy and the responsibilities of
citizenship developed gradually over many
years.

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

Key Terms
oligarchya government in which a small
number of people hold political power
phalanxa formation of heavily armed foot
soldiers who moved together as a unit
tyrannya government run by one strong
leader
democracya government run by many
people
citizenshipmembership in a community
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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

How did tyranny differ from

oligarchy in ancient Greece?

Tyranny

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Shared

Oligarchy

The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

The Phalanx
In what ways was the phalanx different
from earlier battle formations?
Why do some believe that there is a
connection between the phalanx and the way
larger numbers of people gained political
power?

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The Ancient Greeks

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

Moving Toward Democracy

594 B.C.
Solon reforms the courts, extends voting rights to
some non-aristocrats, and stops the practice of
turning debtors into slaves.
508 B.C.
Cleisthenes increases the number of voters from
lower classes and gives the assembly more power.
450s B.C.
Pericles increases citizen participation in
government by paying citizens for jury service.
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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

Citizens of Athens
In Athens, citizens had various rights and
responsibilities.

Pericles suggested that it was not class but ability

that should be recognized for leaders.

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

How did Athenian democracy work?

How Athenian Democracy Worked
Assembly

Juries

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Archons

Boule

Council
Subcommittees

The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

The Power of Athenian Democracy

In what way was citizenship in Athens unique
in the ancient world?
Why do you think Athenian democracy
spread to other city-states?

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The Ancient Greeks

Democracy in Athens

Evolution of Democracy
Why is Athens described as
a limited democracy?

Why would it be difficult, if not impossible,

to create direct democracy
in a large country?

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