Greek and Hellenistic World and Democracy

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Agriculture and trade were the major economic activities of the Greek culture that ensured its expansion and strong influence. The role-played by the geographical position of Greece and sea cannot be underestimated. This is because a large percentage of Greece as covered by mountains that led to the development of city states. According to George (1996), “distance between city-states, clothing, trade, and democracy were amongst some of things that were influenced by the geography of Ancient Greece.” The rugged mountainous landscape divided Greece into many regions that allowed for constant travel in exchange of ideas and goods within these communities. In addition to the above, the rugged landscape made transportation difficult within the Greek territory and thus made it difficult for the entire region to unite under one government.

Main body

Furthermore, the sea played a pivotal role in impacting on the Greek culture. Sea enabled trade activities because a large percentage of Greek’s geographical area is surrounded by the sea. This is echoed by Robinson (2004) in stating that “the Mediterranean (and the sub-seas such as the Aegean) gave the Greeks, especially the Athenians, easy access to the most effective and cheap form of transport, by sea.”

This vantage position that also encompassed various islands provided the ideal condition for trade activities with other cultures. “They conducted lots of trade – getting rich in the process – and became good enough at maritime pursuits to be able to use the navy to fend of a major attempt by the Persians to invade them” (George, 1996). The sea became a vital component of Greek existence because of the availability of skilled sailors and bays. Trade in commodities such as grapes, oil and wine that were agriculturally produced in Greece were easily exchanged by much needed supplies from other regions. In fact, it has been pointed that the sea and geography of Greece were the major components that impacted greatly in its culture.

Democracy is considered to be one of the most innovative approaches in the Greek culture that ensured its success. The first system was composed city states that called the “polis”. These were disbanded after numerous about political control and impact of culture. In fact, the current systems of democratic governance in the rest of the world owe their origins to the Greek model of model democracy. Citizenship in Athens was attained after successful completion of military and empowered one to participate in electoral processes. Whereas slaves, women, children and foreigners were omitted from voting, the system of governance ensured that they took active part in governance and formation of the government. This model is expounded by Robinson (2004) in stating that “male adults, who had completed the military training as an ‘Ephebes’, could qualify to vote.”

Conclusion

In addition to the above, the model of democracy in Greece was composed of the Assembly, the Council and the courts that were collectively referred to as the governing bodies. These ensured that all forms of justice were administered equally among the various levels of the population. As opposed to the other forms of governances during the particular period, the Greek model of democracy ensured moderately fair system of rule. However, the development to the adoption of such a model was not easy and evolved from Solon (600-561BC) to the Macedonian and Romanian Domination (322 – 102BC).

References

George, W. (1996). The emergence of Greek democracy, 800-400 B.C. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Robinson, E.W. (2004). Ancient Greek democracy. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.

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Greek and Hellenistic World and Democracy

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