Part 15 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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The basic structure of the judicial system was set by the end of the fifth century. However, in the fourth century there was considerable additional development….The role and control of the Assembly continued throughout the fourth century. There were a number of changes made to increase the involvement of the Assembly, principally focused on making the Assembly as representative as possible and expanding participation.

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Part 14 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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Having discussed the Council of 500, in the next several posts I will do same for the other key components of Athenian democracy in the fourth century: the Council of the Areopagus, the Magistrates, Defense, Finance, the Courts, and the Assembly.

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Part 13 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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The most apparent result of the democratic reforms was that for the first time, a wide-ranging, clear, updated, and definitive code of written laws was created.

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Part 12 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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While the long saga of dealing with hubris and the focus on seeking power and wealth demonstrates the allure of these dynamics, at long last (in part due to exhaustion?) Athens showed that it could lessen the influence of these cancers.

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Part 11 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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The movement to a new version of democracy was based on a partnership between the political clubs and some intellectually sophisticated aristocrats. The clubs provided the terror tactics to crush opposition and the aristocrats developed a new constitution.

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Part 6 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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As mentioned at the end of the prior post, the Funeral Oration of Pericles was the fullest explication of Democracy at the time and one of the most revered documents in the history of democracy.

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Part 5 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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Pericles was a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy. And, importantly, his education went considerably beyond the traditional upper class education. Here again, we will see the power of ideas in effect even in a time of near constant warfare and an emphasis on military power.

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Part 3 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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Over its first 40 years, the fledgling Athenian democracy was severely challenged by nearly continuous war. As part of outlining this period, I invite the reader to test the following hypothesis: While the timeframe and many other details differ, are there notable (and instructive) parallels between this period and beyond, and the first 140 years of American democracy?

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Part 2 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece

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As we have seen repeatedly, movement forward in Democracy’s development was often triggered by discord and its’ frequent consequences of violence and chaos. This continued at the end of the reign of Peisistratus (see the appearance of Democracy, birth to infancy in Greece, Part 5).

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Part 5 - The appearance of Democracy - birth and infancy in Greece

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As in other city-states, in the 7th century BC Athens was controlled by a small group of wealthy families. Unsurprisingly, the social unrest in the Greek world discussed above occurred in Athens as well. A precipitating event took place in 632 BC. Cylon, a nobleman, attempted to establish a tyranny.

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