Transcript Ancient Roots of Democracy

Ancient Roots of Democracy
I. Athens & Direct
Democracy
 Ancient Greece was divided
into city-states.
 Most were ruled by a king or
a military dictator.
 Athens practiced direct
democracy (ca. 500-350 b.c.)
I. Athens & Direct
Democracy (cont.)
 Suffrage was limited.
 Slavery was common.
 Weakened by war, Athens
was eventually conquered.
The Parthenon
U.S. Supreme Court
White House
Capitol Building
II. The Roman Republic
 The ancient Romans had a
republic that lasted nearly
500 years. (ca. 500-44 b.c.)
 Citizens elected a Senate.
 As in Athens, women
couldn’t vote, slavery was
common.
II. The Roman Republic
(cont.)
 Military success led to the
creation of a large empire.
 People in conquered lands were
made citizens of Rome.
 After Julius Caesar, Rome
became a military dictatorship.
The Roman Empire
III. The Judeo-Christian
Tradition
 Athens and Rome were
polytheistic.
 Ancient Hebrews were
monotheistic.
III. The Judeo-Christian
Tradition (cont.)
 Some of the principles of
Monotheism:
1) Individual worth.
2) Equality.
3) Adherence to a moral code
(10 Commandments).
III. The Judeo-Christian
Tradition (cont.)
 Ancient Hebrews were an
insular people.
 Christianity arose from
Judaism.
 Christians were evangelical.
III. The Judeo-Christian
Tradition (cont.)
 Constantine made
Christianity the official
religion of Rome in 312.
 Centuries later, Europeans
would take Christianity all
over the world.
The Americas ca. 1750