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Why Is Cleisthenes Described As The Father Of Western Democracy

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Western Democracy
Over the course of thousands of years the west has become a place of admiration, innovation and a mecca for socialization. Although, most of the world models itself after lesser civilizations, if you take a look back in time, you’ll discover a world before equal opportunity and established liberal government. Flashing back to 600 B.C, governmental systems all over the world were almost completely reliant on one leader with complete control. In this case the question becomes, where did egalitarianism originate from? Through what agency did the three Abrahamic religions spread to western countries? What forced England back into monarchy? There were several factors that concluded in the overall success of western government, …show more content…

Historians often credit Cleisthenes as the father of democracy, because of his devotion to a union ran by the people. Cleisthenes belonged to the Alcmaeonid Family, a powerful family at the time, with a leading role in Athenian public life. Cleisthenes was a key player in the way democracy is shaped in the west today. He saw the influence of tyranny, economically, yet his attention remained on the public rights of the people. He believed that the people should earn their wealth and respect rather than being born into it. One’s last name held more leverage than their skills, and that’s exactly what he fought against. Cleisthenes remains an essential part of Athenian history due to his activism for equal rights that had an everlasting effect on the western …show more content…

In the modern world, there’s no example of a pure direct democracy, although there are unions that imitate a direct democracy, no country in the world relies solely on the opinion of the general public to make decisions. Most libertarian nations are run as indirect democracies, in which the elected officials make decisions for the well being of the country. Indirect democracies are the most popular forms of government in the west for example, in several European countries citizens join together to elect one politician who’ll make ethical decisions for the betterment of the

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The next ruler Solon, the next Athenian ruler also helped Athens become a democracy. He also wrote many reforms into the laws and gave all citizens the right to vote, an important step in the origins of democracy. Some of his reforms created problems for other people, who wanted to become citizens. Democracy came about in Athens as a result of the growing navel power and the reforms made by leaders such as Cleisthenes and Pericles. Cleisthenes began his reforms with the reorganization of the tribes.

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Additionally, the reliability affected by the emotive language being employed in this article as the author utilises this language it demonstrates that bias is present. This article was useful to my essay as it provided detailed information on the gaps in Athenian democracy. Moreover, the article provided a perspective that highlighted the differences in Athenian democracy such as that Athens was a direct democracy and that only some of the population was eligible, it mainly created a feeling that Athens was advanced for its time however the system had discrepancies. This information provided significantly when comparing modern societies to ancient Greece and also in justify as to why democracy was significant to Greece. A source that shares this view is the Ted-Ed video this also similarly to historian Paul Cartledge states that Athens was a direct democracy and also that not all of the population had the right to

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As far as democracy is concerned, critics of democracy, such as Thucydides and Aristophanes, both are pinpointing on that the demos in which that they thought that it could be too easily swayed by a good orator or popular leaders the firebrand and get carried away with their emotions. Democracy Democracy in Athens the government officials are chosen by sweepstakes and worked for 1 year for proposing and enforcing decrees but didn’t have much individual power. Democracy in Athenian government the way that the citizens pass a vote is getting done, in elected by the assembly annually for making decisions about military matters and by showing hands.

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By doing this, Cleisthenes introduced electing officials, which would become a core part of Democracy, and even made the officials take an oath swearing to act in accordance to the laws and to also act in the best interests of the Polis. According to Polis, “They also swore not to imprison any citizen except those charged with treason, revolution, or breaking their tax contracts”

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The concept of leadership was prevalent in the ancient world. It had a place in the way the people of ancient times governed their lives. Greece, and especially Athens, is the cradle of democracy in the western civilization. Athens owes the first penal and civil law code to Draco. An outstanding statesman and poet called Solon acted in Athens at the same time as Draco.

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