Greek democracy notes


  • saw the value of tapping into the talents, intelligence, and energies of the non-aristocrats (the middle class citizens)
  • too bad he didn’t realize the value of women - but, hey, one step at a time
  • Cleisthenes - definitely a member of the elite
  • very rich
  • insulated from the “hoi polloi”
  • but… a crafty politician
  • citizens could participate - but only one-fifth of Athenians were citizens (free adult male property owners born in Athens)
  • after several years, Athens practiced a direct democracy
  • it’s where the state (or in this case, the city-state) is ruled by its citizens
  • rule is based on citizenship
  • majority rule decides vote
    • in the agora, citizens argued, made speeches, then voted with white stones (yes) / black stones (no)
  • it was first practiced in Athens under Cleisthenes by around 500 BCE
  • Poseidon (god of the sea) interfered with Odysseus trying to return home
  • Aphrodite (goddess of love) had lovers of both gods and men
  • Dionysus (god of wine) was son of Zeus (a god) and of Semele (a human princess)
  • and on and on and on

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