Emerging Democracy and Greco-Roman Influences

Emerging Democracy and Greco-Roman
Influences
Do you know what a Democracy is?
● Power to the people/ people in power

Democracy started in Greece
● If one group of people are stronger than another they are not a functioning
democracy, Indirect and Direct



Greeks first introduced Democracy
● From 600 BCE to 500 CE, the Greeks and Romans experimented with Democracy
○ What is Democracy?
■ Made up of Latin Words: Demos, Kratos
● Demos: People
● Kratos: Power or Rule
● The word Democracy translates into “rule of the people”
■ A government controlled by its citizens; rule of the people
● Direct: People have input on every aspect of government
○ Ex: California
● Indirect: People elect representatives to govern for them
○ Ex: USA
○ What is a Republic?
■ A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the
right to elect the leaders who make government decisions.


Greek Influence on Democracy
● Reason and Logic
● Natural Laws
○ Right to life, property, etc.
● Challenged Authoritarian Rulers
○ Illegitimacy of Tyranny
● Citizenship
● Three branches of government
● Juries

Socrates (470-399 BCE)