Athens: Democracy
Athens became a democracy a long time ago, around 500 B.C.E. That means people got to choose their leaders. But it wasn't like our democracy today. In Athens, only men who were free could be citizens. All men born in Athens who were 18 years old or older were considered citizens. Women and people who were slaves couldn't be citizens.
Every citizen could be part of the city's government. There was a group called the Council of 500 that met every day. Each year, the names of all citizens who were 30 years old or older were written down. Then, 500 citizens were chosen to be on the council. The council took care of the daily work of the government.
New laws were made by a much bigger group, the Assembly of Athens. The Assembly met on a hill called the Pnyx every ten days. The law said that at least 6,000 citizens needed to be there for a meeting to happen. If not enough people came, slaves with ropes dipped in red paint were sent to find more citizens. Athenian men didn't want to be seen wearing red-stained clothes, so they would come to the meetings!
The Assembly talked about important things and voted on the laws that the council suggested. Every citizen could speak at the Assembly meetings. Some people were better at speaking than others, and some spoke for a longer time. Sometimes, they used a water clock to keep track of how long someone could talk. The clock had two cups. The top cup had a hole in the bottom. The speaker could talk only until all the water from the top cup went into the bottom cup.
Most Athenian men liked being part of their city's democracy. They enjoyed getting together to talk about important things and were proud to be free Athenian citizens.
Every citizen could be part of the city's government. There was a group called the Council of 500 that met every day. Each year, the names of all citizens who were 30 years old or older were written down. Then, 500 citizens were chosen to be on the council. The council took care of the daily work of the government.
New laws were made by a much bigger group, the Assembly of Athens. The Assembly met on a hill called the Pnyx every ten days. The law said that at least 6,000 citizens needed to be there for a meeting to happen. If not enough people came, slaves with ropes dipped in red paint were sent to find more citizens. Athenian men didn't want to be seen wearing red-stained clothes, so they would come to the meetings!
The Assembly talked about important things and voted on the laws that the council suggested. Every citizen could speak at the Assembly meetings. Some people were better at speaking than others, and some spoke for a longer time. Sometimes, they used a water clock to keep track of how long someone could talk. The clock had two cups. The top cup had a hole in the bottom. The speaker could talk only until all the water from the top cup went into the bottom cup.
Most Athenian men liked being part of their city's democracy. They enjoyed getting together to talk about important things and were proud to be free Athenian citizens.
democracy (noun)
A type of government where people get to choose their leaders by voting.
Example Sentence: The United States is a democracy, where people vote for the president.
citizens (noun)
People who live in a country and have the right to vote and participate in the government.
Example Sentence: All citizens of the United States have the right to vote.
Assembly (noun)
A group of people who meet to discuss and make decisions.
Example Sentence: The school assembly met to discuss the new rules.
suggested (verb)
To give an idea or plan for someone to consider.
Example Sentence: The teacher suggested that we read a book about ancient Greece.
enjoyed (verb)
To like something very much.
Example Sentence: The children enjoyed playing in the park.
A type of government where people get to choose their leaders by voting.
Example Sentence: The United States is a democracy, where people vote for the president.
citizens (noun)
People who live in a country and have the right to vote and participate in the government.
Example Sentence: All citizens of the United States have the right to vote.
Assembly (noun)
A group of people who meet to discuss and make decisions.
Example Sentence: The school assembly met to discuss the new rules.
suggested (verb)
To give an idea or plan for someone to consider.
Example Sentence: The teacher suggested that we read a book about ancient Greece.
enjoyed (verb)
To like something very much.
Example Sentence: The children enjoyed playing in the park.