Democracy in Ancient Athens was literally "rule by the people". All citizens were expected to attend the Assembly every nine days or so to vote on the laws by which Athens would be ruled. If a minimum of 6,000 citizens didn't turn up to vote, they would be rounded up to attend. In 508 BC, the citizens of Athens & surrounding areas were divided up into small communities (demes) according to population.

Citizenship was not available to everyone. Only men who were freeborn in Athens who had Athenian parents could be citizens. The majority of people (women, foreigners and slaves) had no say in government.

Australia has a representative parliamentary democracy - all citizens over 18 vote to elect representatives. It began in 1901 after Federation. There is one member for each electoral division (150) and 76 senators - 12 from each of the six states and 2 from each of the territories. (May 2005)

Australian citizens are:-

• all people born in Australia before 1987.
• those born in Australia after 1987 who have one parent who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• by descent - if a person is born overseas but has at least one Australian parent.
• by adoption - occurs when an Australian citizens legally adopts a child in Australia when that child is a permanent resident.
• migrants to Australia can become citizens by grant. Most migrants become eligible to be granted citizenship by being a permanent resident in Australia f or 2 years, but are required to fulfil other requirements including pledging loyalty to a democratic Australia.

Pharaohs

• rulers of Egypt
• considered divine

The flail (or whip) shows that the Pharaoh had the power to punish all the people of Ancient Egypt.

The crook shows that the Pharaoh is the protector and ruler of all the people and the land of Ancient Egypt.

Ruler: Pharaoh was the most powerful person in Ancient Egypt.

• Why? Egyptians believed their ruler was related to Re, the sun god.
• Who? A male born into the royal family could be Pharaoh.
• Ways people believed Pharaoh protected them?
  • By speaking to the gods for them with divine powers
  • e.g.. Each year the Nile River needed to flood to make good crops; without them the people would starve. The people believed the Pharaoh protected them by using his divine powers to make the river flood.

Vizier

Pharaohs expected viziers to use their powers honestly & fairly.

• Pharaoh had viziers to help rule Ancient Egypt.
• Viziers organised the government.

People such as farmers had the right to:-

• own land
• be free
• expect Pharaoh to protect the whole land

People had no say in making laws but the laws could protect them.

There were judges to listen to people's complaints.

In return they had to pay high taxes.

Slaves

The Pharaoh's army might have captured slaves & brought them to Egypt. Slaves were forced to do what their owners told them

• did much of the hard work
• had no rights and no freedom
• might have come from nearby foreign lands.

In return their owners gave the slaves food, shelter and clothing.       

There were no more than 45,000 citizens and every citizen could have his say. We call the Ancient Athenian system direct democracy because every citizen had a direct say in making the laws.

• Citizens met at the Pnyx, a hill where the Assembly voted.
• All citizens had the right to speak & vote at the Assembly.
• There had to be at least 6,000 citizens to hold a meeting.

Citizens

• born free
• Athenian parents

Rights of citizens:

• to participate in government of Athens
• to take turns to lead the Council of 500, which thought up laws.
• to vote on those laws, talking over any changes that needed to be made.

Duties of citizens:

• to participate in government of Athens
• to volunteer to be judges and jury in the law courts
• in times of war, to fight for Athens.

Metics 

Not citizens because:-

• free men born outside Athens
• free men whose parents were not citizens of Athens

Rights of metics:

• allowed to live, work & earn money in Athens
• no political rights
• could not vote
• could not speak in a court of law

Duties of metics:

• to pay tax
• might have to fight for Athens in wartime

Women

Rights of women

• same social class as their nearest male relative or husband
• no political rights
• could not own land or earn money
• could not vote or speak in a court of law

Duties of women

• married women had to obey their husbands & run the home

Slaves

Rights of slaves

• had no legal rights
• some masters allowed their slaves to work and earn money to buy their freedom
• a freed slave could never be a citizen

Duties of slaves

• had to work hard & obey their masters                      

Ancient Egypt - this site from the British Museum

Mysteries of Egypt - Egyptian Civilisation - this site from the Canadian Museum of Civilisation

Daily Life in Ancient Greece

Voyage Back in Time - Ancient Greece & Rome - this site from the University of Richmond, Education Faculty.

Ancient Greece - BBC Schools Site

Ask Earl? What are the seven wonders of the world?

Nova Online - Seven wonders of the world - quiz & information

Quick Links