Abstract
The paper examines the real meaning of Pericles' famous funeral oration during which he praised not only Athens' fallen heroes, but the democratic government of the city state. The paper explains that the Athenian democracy was what it claimed to be - a government of and by the people. Not only were all citizens given equal chances to participate in the chief organs of government, they were also allowed the opportunity to pass judgment on one another. The paper points out, however, that those in charge of this business were not free to act as they pleased. The paper shows how those who climbed to greater power, wealth, or influence than their fellow citizens were quickly suspected of subverting the entire system.

From the Paper
"In his oration, Pericles compared the governmental system of Athens to that of its bitter rival, Sparta. Though obviously favoring Athenian forms, it is less clear what Pericles considered to lay at the core of Athenian superiority. Athens was a democracy, and Sparta an oligarchy, but precisely what was the Athenian democracy? Was Pericles saying that his city state was a pure democracy - ruled directly by its citizens - or was he saying that it was superior to Sparta, and other oligarchies, because it employed democratic principles along with other useful, even oligarchic, methods of government?"

Tags:oligarchy, power, influence, government

Abstract
Discusses the major differences between Athenian democracy and modern democracy. Differences include voting and citizenship rights, gender and background bias in the Athenian social and economic system, the type of representation that each society offered and the 'participation factor' in Athens.

From the Paper
"There are several significant differences between modern constitutional democracies and the democracy of classical Athens. Even though the classical Athenian democracy was a major step forward in political thought, at its height there were still many areas in which it was decidedly unlike any democracy existing today. These differences fall into three major categories: differences in who could vote, in the type of representation, and in the overall participation factor.
One major and clearly recognizable difference is that in the Athenian democracy there was only a certain selected element of the population that was allowed to vote. This difference in voting behavior stems from the fact that the Athenian social and economic system was supportive of the suppression of groups of people according to gender and background in ways that are not acceptable in today's western cultures.
For example, women were not given full rights of citizenship. They were also socially and economically kept in a subservient role to men. Women's function was seen as primarily that of propagation and managing a household. Women were not allowed access to the marketplace of ideas that was so important to the Athenians.
These conditions set up an interactive cycle between the social and political institutions; since women were regarded as inferior and not deserving of full citizenship, they were not allowed to vote. However, without the ability to vote, it was very unlikely that any of these restrictions would be modified or lifted. The role of women in Greek society was too firmly entrenched to be easily changed."

Tags:Difference, rights, social, economic, society

Abstract
The writer shows that even though the classical Athenian democracy was a major step forward in political thought, at its height there were still many areas in which it was decidedly unlike any democracy existing today. The paper divides these differences into three major categories: differences in who could vote, in the type of representation, and in the overall participation factor.

From the Paper
"One major and clearly recognizable difference is that in the Athenian democracy there was only a certain selected element of the population that was allowed to vote. This difference in voting behavior stems from the fact that the Athenian social and economic system was supportive of the suppression of groups of people according to gender and background in ways that are not acceptable in today's western cultures."

Tags:population, voting, society, thought, constitution

Abstract
This paper reviews the political system of Ancient Greece known as Athenian democracy. It looks at the functions of the two bodies that were assigned government functions - the Assembly and the Council. It compares these functions with those of contemporary functions - non-executive head of state; executive head of state, ministers and legislative body. The scope and development of the political system of democracy during this period is also analyzed.

From the Paper
"Democracy comes from two Greek words, first a noun, demos; meaning ''people'' and second a verb, kratein, meaning ''to rule.'' However, the fundamental meaning of democracy is ''government by the people" or "rule by the ruled (Aristotle, 23).'' As a word it has its foundation from Greek, so one has to refer to ancient Greece in order to find its origin and basic meaning. The 5th century Athens of the city-state was the originator and leading practitioner of democracy. Hence for about 4,000 years men lived under the forms of government other than democratic. However, it all started in the mid of the 5th century before Christ in Athens. Therefore, democracy as a theory and actual system of government has existed for almost 2500 years, with changeable degrees of constancy between both theory and practice (Aristotle, 24)."

Tags:anthens, greek, assembly, council

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that although the Internet does offer a great deal for rich countries, there are many other poor nations that are left out of this revolution. The writer points out that while countries such as the United States get great benefits, other countries such as Africa get nothing. The writer further notes that there are fast and slow lane countries, and globalization, like capitalism, is designed only to profit the faster moving countries. The writer concludes that what the Internet promises is something for the rich majority, along with an increase in world poverty.

From the Paper
"The idea that the Internet promises a new age of democracy is true and false. Democracy means the rule of the majority. It is very true that the Internet offers a great deal for the rich nations of the world. The Internet is a growing network of computer networks. Out of the Internet has developed a new culture and a revolution in goods and services. The problem is that much of the world is left out of that culture and revolution."

Tags:equality, control, internet

Abstract
This paper is a discussion of Athenian Democracy under Pericles as made possible by the existence of slavery. The paper explains that the massive slave population in Ancient Greece during this time underpinned the bulk of Greek society and drove the economy that allowed this state to flourish.

From the Paper
"The ascendancy of the Greek polis in the Ancient World culminated in Athens in the fifth century BC under the leadership of the great statesman Pericles. Never holding an office higher than that of general, Pericles nonetheless dominated the political landscape of Athens for more than forty years. Under his sure hand, Athens became emblematic of all that many in modern times believe to epitomize Classic Greek culture - a shining glamorous city boasting the acropolis, the Parthenon and countless other marvels of architecture - a paragon of participatory democracy."

Tags:pericles, democracy, polis, Ancient Greece, athens, athenian democracy, slavery

Abstract
The paper analyzes Pericles' funeral oration and how it stands as one of the most memorable rhetorical tributes to Athenian democratic ideals. The paper examines how Athens was an open system of government, and Pericles stated that such self-governance made its military superior to that of Athens' adversaries. The paper concludes that even though the ideal of Athenian democracy was not always as pure as the vision lauded by Pericles in his speech, the very presence of the ideal, and the idea that freedom is worth fighting for, was unique, and uniquely expressed in this leader's words.

From the Paper
"Athenian government is thus equated with the Athenian people--with all of the Athenian people. Most movingly, perhaps, in the final part of his speech, Pericles turns to the fathers and mothers who have given up sons and spouses to the war. He states that the parents who are still young should have more children, children who will be able to enjoy the democracy that their older siblings fought and died for, and he tells the women to be strong too, in the face of the sorrows that they and their city are enduring over the course of the war."

Tags:Sparta, Greece

Abstract
This paper gives a brief history of Athenian democracy. The author discusses economic conditions leading up to the start of this form of government. Paper concludes with the replacement of democracy by another form of ruler ship.

From the Paper
"By 700 BC Athens was an established city-state on the peninsula of Attica. Originally a monarchy with the king elected by the aristocracy, Athens came to be ruled by the wealthy aristocrats, the upper tier in Athenian society. These aristocrats became known as the Boule. A group of nine Archons were elected from the Boule. They made all the laws and were responsible for executed them. Draco was elected head Archon in 621 BC and is remembered for writing down all the existing verbal laws, known as the Draconian code."

Tags:athens, greece, history

Abstract
This paper explores why Socrates' teachings and character were irreconcilable with the civic order and authority of Athenian rule. The paper focuses on the arguments proposed by Socrates in light of the state of Athenian politics. The paper shows how his 'subversive' convictions and arguments on the state of the Athenian social model were seen as a threat that needed to be exterminated.

From the Paper
"The first source to draw on when looking at the question, and attempting to gauge the level of potential threat Socrates posed to the state of Athens, is the indictment he was charged with being guilty of in the first place: "This indictment and affidavit is sworn by Meletus, the son of Meletus of Pitthos, against Socrates, the son of Sophroniscus of Alopece. Socrates is guilty of refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state and of introducing other divinities. He is also guilty of corrupting the youth. The penalty demanded is death." First let us look at the religious implications of such a charge."

Tags:Plato, The, Republic, elenchus, convictions, thinker, beliefs

Abstract
This paper looks at the current Greek political and democratic system and compares these institutions to those of Ancient Greece. The paper analyzes the judicial, parliamentary and democratic system. The influence of the ancient politicians and leaders such as Aristotle and Plato is examined.

From the Paper
"The Framers of the Constitution of the United States were greatly, and correctly so, influenced by the Greeks of Ancient Athens. Many of the ideas and thoughts that of the Ancient Athenians were used as a model for their Classical Democracy as an outline for our government today in the United States. Despite the similarities of these two countries political systems the differences are astonishing. When the Athenians wanted a so-called democracy they did not intend it to be a Representative Democracy, as we have today, but a direct democracy as they had. Despite Athens having thought of themselves as the founders of a pure democracy there is an error in their reasoning. In our everyday society, we forget how much we should appreciate our type of Democracy and not the Classical Democracy as the Ancient Athenians had."

Tags:athenian, democracy, history, political, science