How Did Democratic Ideas Change The Greek Political System

In the early years of Ancient Greece, the Greek political system was divided unequally, causing an uneven power distribution. Throughout many years, the different perspectives of the political system and power changed, therefore it connected Greek cities and citizens, unifying them. Democratic ideas changed the Ancient Greek political system because it changed how citizens sought power and unified previously disconnected forms of rule.

Before democratic ideas evolved, Greece was ruled by many forms of government without one unified government. During the Archaic period (750-490 BC), Greeks wanted to search new land and grow as a community, therefore the “cities of mainland Greece began to send out groups of settlers to found new cities…several

Having a strong connection with the community in each city is beneficial towards the change of the political system. “At some point, through the Phoenicians, the alphabet was introduced and Greek began to be written down once again…The Greek believed that this was the year of the first Olympic Games and it is used as the starting point for reckoning time in many Greek authors”(64). Being able to share a common language amongst others in the community was a way to bring people together, in terms of contracts, constitution, communication, etc. As a result, the Olympic games was a “starting point” for inspiration, unification, even at times of disagreement and political conflicts. In addition, this inspired authors, philosophers, and many others to spread their ideas and beliefs about politics and political structures within the Greek system. This is made evident in the city of Athens, where a “gymnasium [was built] at the Academy of Plato and in Aristotle's Lyceum. These instances illustrate that the gymnasium became a place not just for sport and young men but for men of all ages and a place where citizens might discuss the topics of the day at their leisure. They, therefore, became centres of intellectual endeavor, which even came to surpass, but never completely substitute, their function as a place of exercise”(Gymnasium). The purpose of the

“One of the most precious gifts of ancient Greece, which seems to have been an invention of the Athenians, is the concept of democracy: the notion that all people can and should govern themselves”(123). Democracy in Ancient Greece was very significant and impacted Greek lives. Before 500 BC, Greeks were ruled by small groups that limited citizens' power and decision making. The democratic ideas were welcoming and equal for citizens. These democratic ideas inspired many authors, philosophers and others to write about democracy. Aristotle states, “Hence the proper course is to employ numerical equality in some things and equality according to worth in others. But nevertheless democracy is safer and more free from civil strife than oligarchy ; for in oligarchies two kinds of strife spring up, faction between different members of the oligarchy and also faction between oligarchs and the people, whereas in democracies only strife between the people and the oligarchical party occurs.”(Aristotle XXI 377). Greeks were more equal and had a chance to voice their opinions by taking action through the government system of democracy. There was an equal distribution of political power and citizens had the right to govern themselves because “(there are two things that are thought to be defining features of democracy, the sovereignty of the majority and liberty); for justice is supposed to