Rise Of Athenian Democracy

Democracy is a political system of government where power comes from the people. The term comes from the Greek word “Demokratia”, that it is a composite word from Demos that means “people” and Kratos that means “rules”. That first being used in the 5th century BCE from the Athenians. (reference britanica democracy). It should be practiced by the people and serves their interest (Stephen D. Tansey, 1995). In a modern approach democracy is a system of government that people express power directly or elect representatives through the process of voting to form a governmental body or a parliament which will make decisions for the good of all (Stevenson, 2003). Democracy is sometimes referred to as "rule of the majority”, an evolution through history.

One of the first lawmaker and statesman were Solon in 638 – 558 BC in Athens, he played a very important role in the development and growth of Athenian democracy. (Dunn, 1994; Kurt A. Raaflaub, Josiah Ober, Robert Wallace, Paul Cartledge, 2007; Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Bonnie G. Smith, Barbara H. Rosenwein, 2008) Athenians develop a system of popular rule, Athenian democracy had a form of a direct democracy although it excluded a large part of the population, as women, slaves, foreigners and non-landowners were not allowed to vote. (Grinin, 2004)(Lape, 2009). The main institution of the government was the Assembly “Ekklisia” where decisions were taken by vote by