Bettany hughes athens the truth about democracy youtube. It is important that we situate ourselves in the historical context in order to evaluate the true extent of democracy in periclean athens. Athens the dawn of democracy first free and equal society couldnt tolerate criticism, yet believed in. In the 5th century bce, the athenian democracy was made up of a set of assemblies and courts staffed by people with very short terms some as short s a dayover onethird of all citizens over the age of 18 served at least one year. World history unit 1 the dawn of democracy flashcards. It was an orientation that differed from the more intensely religious society of jews led by an authoritarian priesthood that preached trust and devotion to a wondrous, wise and powerful god. Athens the dawn of democracy dvd, 2007, closed caption trending price. The challenge of direct democracy and the ancient athenian model conference paper october 2014 with 211 reads how we measure reads. Democracy in athens simple english wikipedia, the free. Usually a few thousand actually came to the meeting.
Athenian democracy timeline ancient history encyclopedia. In athens the archon solon lays the foundations for democracy. The subjects are the ideas of democracy, the best and worse of athens. Although the original ideas of democracy came from athens, it was never a true democracy, as a true democracy gives all people equal rights to live and to participate in the government in which they live. The dawn of democracy airs monday, november 19, 2007, 9. Democracy first appeared in athens towards the beginning of the fifth century b. Karamanlis, who had already served as prime minister of greece from 1955 to 1963, was sworn in as the first prime minister of the third hellenic republic in a national unity government on 24 july 1974, until the first free elections of.
Athens, a polis long governed by its proud and unique democracy, was governed by an oligarchy consisting of thirty athenians of the aristocratic class, from 404 b. Democracy, which had prevailed during athens golden age, was replaced by a system of oligarchy after the disastrous athenian defeat in sicily in 409 bce. For some 2500 years now democracy as a theory and actual system of government has existed, with varying degrees of consistency between theory and practice. The biggest difference between athenian democracy and. Around 507 bc this rocky hill, overlooking the akropolis, became the meeting place the ekklesia, athens early democratic assembly. Athenian democracy is often described as the first known democracy in the world. Athens was the laboratory of democracy and democratic law.
To what extent was ancient athens a democracy politics essay. The ancient world is a series of documentaries presented by historian bettany hughes that gives viewers a personal take on ancient world cultures. How is archeology different for athens than sparta. Modern ideas about democracy first developed in ancient athens. This first episode charts the epic story of athens victory in one of the greatest sea battles of the ancient world, when the athenian triremes defeat xerxes mighty persian fleet at salamis, and reveals the real story of the building of the greatest monument of this first democracy the parthenon as a symbol of athenian power. It was a system of direct democracy, in which participating citizens voted directly on legislation and executiv. Essay on development of democracy in athens 1785 words. Unlike sparta, it was difficult for the rulers of ancient athens to have complete control over their citizens. Corwin discusses the development of democracy in athens, greece. Dawn of democracy revisits this society for a sobering revisionist look at what actually transpired there. New democracy was founded on 4 october 1974 by konstantinos karamanlis, in the beginning of the metapolitefsi era following the fall of the greek military junta. Athens the dawn of democracy athens the dawn of democracy. With bettany hughes, sue blundell, paul cartledge, michael cosmopoulos. Historian bettany hughes goes on search of the real truth about democratic athens, 2500.
The video discusses the people, citizens, and life of athens. Historian bettany hughes goes on search of the real truth about democratic athens, 2500 years ago. Not widely known is its contemporaneous military revolution. Democracy, liberty and the freedom of speech are trumpeted as the bedrock of western.
Greece transliterated title athina i alitheia gia ti dimokratia. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Athens is the capital and largest city in modern greece, but athens also has a long history that dates back 7000 years. The dawn of democracy and get the latest breaking news, exclusive videos and pictures, episode recaps and much more at. If athens is the birthplace of democracy, then pnyx is its cradle. First i must record my enduring gratitude to richard tuck, without whose. Democracy, liberty and the freedom of speech are trumpeted as the bedrock of western civilization, but. War, democracy and culture in classical athens athens is famous for its direct democracy and its innovative culture. The citizens of athens would meet on a hillside the pnyx 30 to 40 times a year to discuss how to run the city better. Bettany hughes the ancient worlds 6 of 7 athens the truth. An imperfect democracy the athenian democracy had been created on a trust that the average man could be depended upon to do right for his community. It has been revered as the birthplace of philosophy, art. The constitutional change, according to thucydides, seemed the only way to win muchneeded support from persia against the old enemy sparta and, further, it was thought that the change.
Bettany hughes digs beneath the surface of golden age athens to explore the bloody but exhilarating truth about the worlds first democracy. The oligarchy of the 400 take over the democracy in athens and in a matter of months is replaced by an oligarchy of 5000. Historian bettany hughes examines ancient athens, which gave birth to democracy despite being a repressive, warlike state. A commitment to the principle of equality is evident in the main bodies of athenian governance. When most people in the west think of the golden age of athens, they think of a shining society founded on the principles of equality, free speech and democratic ideals. Release dates 2 also known as aka 4 release dates uk 21 july 2007. Introduction to athenian democracy of the fifth and fourth. The documentaries aired on channel 4 network over a period of eight years and were packaged with new introductions as bettany hughes ancient world.
Athens the dawn of democracy dvd, 2007, closed caption. Bettany hughes searches for the truth about the golden age of ancient athens, investigating how a barren rock wedged between the east and west became the first democracy 2,500 years ago. It has been revered as the birthplace of philosophy, art, science, and the greatest political. So for 4,000 years men lived under forms of government other than democratic. In the first half, hughes ventures underground for a look at. Despite its recent popularity in the west, democracy in ancient athens did not flourish but quickly died. Athenian democracy developed around the sixth century bc in the greek citystate known as a polis of athens, comprising the city of athens and the surrounding territory of attica. If contemporary views of ancient athens, greece emphasize the peaceful and harmonious nature of that poliss democratic system, historian. This meant that each citizen had an equal say and opportunity in the governing of athens.
Bettany hughes the ancient worlds 6 of 7 athens the. Development of democracy in athens democracy comes from two greek words. Mar, 20 bettany hughes presents this documentary looking at life and democracy in ancient athens. Introduction this essay provides background information about the democratic constitution of athens in the fifth and fourth centuries bce, with the aim of facilitating a comparison of that system with the government established by the u. Nov 20, 2007 the video discusses the people, citizens, and life of athens. It was the birthplace of the democracy we have in america today. Documentary films classical studies libguides at michigan. Athens invented or perfected new forms of combat, strategy and military organization and was directly responsible for raising the scale of greek. Bettany hughes the ancient worlds 4 of 7 helen of troy hd duration. The dawn of democracy tv movie 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Channel 4 international pbs home video historian bettany hughes goes on search of the real truth about democratic athens, 2500 years ago.
1037 78 1575 798 985 550 266 1238 835 1244 170 1404 919 832 591 925 1159 658 301 846 787 1200 375 589 110 153 1360 1573 172 86 777 1108 1037 1305 1177 951 249 988 1170 1077