There is a controversy over the political status of ancient Athens, Greece.
is, was it a democracy? The answer is, yes it was. The ancient greek society is held against the .
present United States's democracy with a stark contrast, but nevertheless, Athens was .
responsible for the the word "democracy." It is also responsible for the evolution of democracy .
today. .
The word democracy originates from the greek words kratos and demos which means .
power of the people. This describes Athens. Athens was more narrow-minded than the .
democracy we are accustomed to, but nevertheless, it was still a democracy by far. Our history .
textbook states, "Athenian demokratia established principles that are enshrined in democracy .
today: freedom, equality, citizenship without property qualifications, the right of most citizens to .
hold public office, and the rule of law." So, how then can it be said that .
Athens was not a democracy? .
The democracy of Athens evolved slowly. Pericles is the man who is very closely .
associated with demokratia. He was the man who firmly enstilled the demokratian government .
in Athens. In Webster's Dictionary, democracy is defined in as, "Government by the people." .
Under the leadership of Pericles, that is precisely what Athens was. Pericles created counsils of .
numerous individuals and made it possible for citizens to hold a position in public office. He also .
made it possible for any man to serve in the armed services. The people of Athens also had .
open assemblies that were responsible for voting on many important matters. Their government .
also included a complex judicial system, with courts and juries, similar to ours today. .
With all of these freedoms, and the "cabinet," so to speak, these people made .
their own decisions. That is what made it a democracy. A democracy is a government of the .
people, and that is what Athens clearly was. .