The Athenian democracy was a political regime created and adopted in Athens in the period of ancient Greece.
It was essential to the political organization of Greek city-states, being the first democratic government in history.
The term “Democracy” is formed by the Greek radical ” demo ” (people) and ” kratia ” (power), which means “power of the people”.
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Prior to the implementation of Democracy in Athens, the city-state was controlled by an aristocratic elite called “eupatrids” or “well-born”, who held political and economic power in the Greek polis .
However, with the emergence of other social classes (traders, small landowners, artisans, peasants, etc.), who intended to participate in political life, the aristocracy resolved to review the political organization of city-states, which later resulted in the implementation of “Democracy”.
In such a way, around 510 BC democracy emerged in Athens through the victory of the Greek aristocratic politician Clístenes. Considered the “Father of Democracy”, he led a popular revolt against the last Greek tyrant, Hippias, who ruled between 527 BC and 510 BC.
After this event, Athens was divided into ten units called “demos”, which was the main element of this reform and, for this reason, the new regime was renamed ” demokratia “. Athens had a direct democracy, where all Athenian citizens participated directly in the political issues of the polis.
In such a way, Clístenes, based on the laws previously presented by Dracon and Solon, initiated reforms of political and social order that would result in the consolidation of democracy in Athens.
As a way of guaranteeing the democratic process in the city, Clístenes adopted “ostracism”, where citizens who showed threats to the democratic regime would suffer a 10-year exile. This prevented the proliferation of tyrants in the Greek government.
Thus, power was not only concentrated in the hands of the eupatrids. As a result, other free citizens over 18 years of age and born in Athens could participate in the Assemblies (Ecclesia or People’s Assembly), although women, foreigners (metics) and slaves were excluded.
In view of this, we can intuit that Athenian democracy was not for all citizens, being, therefore, limited, exclusive and elitist. It is estimated that only 10% of the population enjoyed democratic rights.
In addition to Clístenes, Péricles continued democratic politics. He was an important Athenian democrat who made it possible to expand the range of possibilities for the least favored citizens.
Around 404 BC, Athenian democracy suffered a great decline when Athens was defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War , an event that lasted about 30 years.
Characteristics of Athenian Democracy
- Direct democracy
- Political and social reforms
- Reformulation of the old Constitution
- Equality before the law (isonomy)
- Equal access to public office (isocracy)
- Equality to speak in the Assemblies (isegoria)
- Right to vote for Athenian citizens
Differences between Greek Democracy and Current Democracy
Athenian democracy was a political model that had been copied by several ancient societies, and which still influences the concept of democracy in the world today.
However, current democracy is a more advanced and modern model of Athenian democracy, in which all citizens (over 16 or 18 years old), including women, can vote and access public office, without being exclusive and limited.
Furthermore, in Athenian democracy, citizens had a direct role in passing laws and political bodies in the polis, while in current democracy (representative democracy), citizens elect a representative.