which statment best explains the diffrences between the democracy of the athenian polis and the structure of the romen republic
The main difference is that Athenian democracy was a direct democracy where citizens directly voted on laws and public policies, while the Roman Republic was a representative democracy where elected officials made decisions on behalf of the citizens.
The Athenian Polis and the Roman Republic had some similarities, but there were significant differences in their systems of government.
1. Athenian Polis:
a. Direct Democracy: Athens had a direct democracy, where all eligible citizens could participate directly in decision-making.
b. Assembly: The Athenian Assembly was the primary decision-making body, where citizens could debate and vote on laws and policies.
c. Limited Citizenship: Only adult male Athenian citizens who were not slaves could participate in political life, excluding women, foreigners, and slaves.
d. Ostracism: Athens practiced ostracism, a process through which citizens could vote to banish an individual deemed a threat to the democracy for ten years.
2. Roman Republic:
a. Republic: Rome operated as a republic, where citizens elected representatives to govern on their behalf.
b. Senate: The Roman Senate was a legislative body composed of patrician (wealthy) men who advised and influenced political decisions. They held significant power.
c. Consuls: Two elected consuls served as the heads of the executive branch and held significant military power.
d. Patricians vs. Plebeians: Rome had a distinct social class divide between patricians (the elite) and plebeians (common citizens). Plebeians had limited political rights initially but gained more influence over time.
In summary, the Athenian Polis relied on direct democracy, widespread citizen participation, and exclusionary citizenship criteria, while the Roman Republic operated as a representative democracy, with a powerful Senate and consuls, and a social divide between patricians and plebeians.
To understand the differences between the democracy of the Athenian Polis and the structure of the Roman Republic, let's break down each system and compare them:
Athenian Polis:
1. Direct Democracy: Athens had a direct democratic system where all eligible citizens could participate directly in decision-making. Citizens had the right to vote on laws, policies, and important issues. Athenian democracy provided a level of political equality and allowed every eligible citizen to have a say in the decision-making process.
2. Assembly: The Athenian assembly, known as the Ecclesia, was the primary governing body. It was open to all eligible male citizens and met around 40 times a year. The assembly discussed and voted on various matters, including laws, budgets, and foreign policy. This direct participation was a key feature of Athenian democracy.
3. Random Selection: Some positions in Athens were filled through a lottery system, known as sortition. For example, the Council of 500, responsible for proposing and enforcing laws, was randomly selected from the citizen body. This was seen as a way to prevent corruption and encourage citizen engagement.
Roman Republic:
1. Representative Government: The Roman Republic, on the other hand, had a representative form of government. Instead of direct democracy, eligible citizens elected representatives who made decisions on their behalf. These representatives were known as senators, and they formed the Senate, which was the governing body of the Roman Republic.
2. Separation of Powers: The Roman Republic had a system of checks and balances. The government was divided into three main branches: the Senate, which dealt with foreign and financial matters; the magistrates, who were elected officials responsible for administering justice and executing laws; and the popular assemblies, where citizens voted on laws and policies.
3. Patricians and Plebeians: Roman society was divided into two main classes: the patricians (wealthy landowners) and the plebeians (commoners). Initially, the patricians held most of the power, but over time, the plebeians gained more rights and representation through social and political struggles.
To summarize, while both Athens and Rome had democratic elements in their respective systems, the Athenian Polis practiced direct democracy, where citizens directly participated in decision-making, whereas the Roman Republic had a representative form of government with elected officials making decisions on behalf of the citizens.