Page 16 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Democracy

Democracy across history

‘FATHER OF DEMOCRACY’ IS BORN A dictator is
assassinated
GREECE 570 BCE
One man above others is considered the founder of Athenian democracy – the ROME 44 BCE
progenitor of all modern-day western democracies – and that is Cleisthenes. Born in By the time Julius Caesar was assassinated,
570 BCE, Cleisthenes entered an Athenian society that just 24 years before had seen Rome had become largely dysfunctional.
Caesar, who was determined to unite the
the reforms of famous lawgiver Solon give the city its first comprehensive code of country once more through military and
law and, following his ascent to leadership of the council of Athens, he proceeded to political conquest, was attacked and stabbed
A modern bust of propose a complete reform of the system of government. multiple times in the Roman Senate by a
Cleisthenes This was soon approved and Cleisthenes reorganised the city’s population into ten group of disgruntled senators, angry that
groups, thereby breaking the dominance in political decision-making of the historic Caesar had stripped them of much of their
powers in the fulfilment of his goal. 17 years
noble families. Following this, Cleisthenes introduced the concept of isonomy, the later, the partially democratic Roman Republic
principle that everyone shared equality of rights and access to democratic decision- fell and the autocratic Roman Empire began.
making. The term ‘democracy’ itself was coined, directly translating as ‘rule by the
people’. Cleisthenes also made improvements to the organisation of the Athenian army.
These developments led Athens into its Golden Age, a period of political hegemony,
economic growth and flourishing culture. Concepts we take for granted today, such as
lot elections and rotations in office and courts all followed, with Cleisthenes and then
Greece is considered the Pericles – the great Athenian statesman – directly making the democracy in Athens
birthplace of modern- the most accessible and direct in the world, with large proportions of the population
day democracy Julius Caesar is assassinated
individually involved in the political process of running the city-state. in the Roman senate

Democracy timeline O Witenagemot advises O Magna Carta signed O Liberty is made
The Anglo-
Saxon political Following his defeat golden
O The tribes unite O Rule by the people institution of the against the noble barons of The unique
The birth of democracy The Athenians of ancient Greece Witenagemot is England, King John aristocratic political
arguably begins within establish a system of created, with an I is forced to sign system of Golden
early tribal societies, government based on assembly of the the Magna Carta, Liberty is established
with dominant males the concept of ‘rule society’s ruling establishing in the Kingdom of
making decisions by the people’, with class regularly written law and Poland. Under it, all
regarding their society male members of advising the king basic human nobles have the same
as a collective. a central assembly on national matters. rights in England. King John I signing legal rights and
4000 BCE voting on proposals. Greek soldiers 627 CE 1215 CE the Magna Carta voting privileges.
508 BCE 1573 CE
Rock painting
4000 BCE 2000 BCE 500 BCE 0 500 1000 1100 1200 1400 1500 1600 1620

O Sumerian states O The Republic falls O Althingi parliament O Edward calls Parliament O House of Burgesses of
spring forth After introducing founded King Edward I of England Virginia created
The Sumerian many elements ‘Althingi’, the parliament is the first to introduce The first legislative
peoples of ancient of a democratic of the Icelandic a system where an assembly of elected
Mesopotamia system, the Commonwealth, is elected body, made representatives in North
create autonomous Roman Republic founded. ‘Lögrétta’, the up from the clergy America, the House of
city-states, falls, replaced by legislative section of and aristocracy Burgesses of Virginia,
controlled via the emperor-led Althingi, consists of an of the country, is established. Its first
citizen assemblies. Roman Empire. assembly of 39 individuals. represent it in a meeting is held in
2900 BCE 27 BCE 930 CE Parliament. 1295 CE Jamestown. 1619 CE
A Sumerian statue
King Edward I
A Roman Republic Aztecs assemble Democracy is dissolved
is founded council ENGLAND 1610
MEXICO 1248 The Parliament of England was challenged
ITALY 509 BCE many times during the reign of James I,
Following the overthrow of the The mighty Aztec Empire is
ancient Roman Kingdom in 510 remembered today for its blood with the king dissolving it multiple times
BCE, the Roman Republic was sacrifices and brutality, but it was after it failed to cede to his wishes.
founded and soon Roman law was one of the world’s most organised Indeed, the concept of democracy was
altered to become a democracy, with civilisations in terms of governance completely alien to James – as it was
300,000 land-owning citizens eligible at the time. The Aztecs used a system to his son, Charles I, who would
to vote on state affairs. As many of where their empire was parsed into a famously lose his head for it – with
these landowners lived far away from series of city-states, with each paying the king believing power to rule was
the capital, their representation in the tribute to a ruling emperor. The his alone, as granted by the Christian
senate was incredibly important and emperor himself was not a dictator god. As such, throughout the 17th century
the institution grew to great power, either, with the ruler chosen by an England was ruled for long periods as
with 300 senators debating and The Aztecs were the most assembly of high-ranking nobles he an autocracy, with only the English Civil
voting on the most important issues A citizen of the organised civilisation in had to consult when making decisions. War and stubbornness of parliamentarians
of the day. Roman Republic South America preventing an outright dictatorship.
King James I
of England
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