Greece and Rome Refocused

- Unit 2. Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
- Getting Started
  - What Are We Learning?
  - Observe and Think
  - Map Your Mind
- Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
  - The Land of Greece
  - The History of Greece
    - Crete
    - Mycenae
    - Dark Age
    - Archaic Age
    - Classical Age
    - Hellenistic Age
  - Political Organization
  - An Unequal Society
    - Women
  - Economy
- Self-Evaluation Quiz
- Complementary Activites
  - The Greek and Latin Roots of English
  - One Myth, One Song
  - Games, Comics and Stuff
- References

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# Political Organization

Legislators, such as Solon and Cleisthenes in Athens and Lycurgus in Sparta, laid the foundations for new forms of government with the creation of new institutions. With slight differences, the institutions are the same in all the poleis: assembly, council and magistrates.

Let's compare the model of the two most important poleis, Athens and Sparta. (Click to enlarge).

Translation

Despite having similar institutions, Athens is classified as a direct democracy and Sparta an oligarchy (rule by a few).

Justify this statement by comparing the two political systems.

A step ahead: The Division of Powers

What is really important for us is that the goverment of the poleis meant the birth of the separation of powers as a model of governance of a state. According to this model, the state is divided into three branches, each one with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility, so that no branch had more power than the other two. Following Montesquieu, the name of the branches are executive, legislative and judicial.

As a democracy, modern Spain is under the model of the separation of powers, with executive, legislative and judicial branches. You dare to compare the Athenian institutions with ours?

Now it's your turn
The executive branch was represented by Ecclesia in Greece.
True. False.
Incorrect. It was represented by the magistrates.
Correct. It was represented by the magistrates.
In Spain, the executive is represented by the government.
True. False.
Correct. It is represented by the Prime Minister and his ministers.
Incorrect. It is represented by the Prime Minister and his ministers.
In Greece, the legislative branch was represented by the Ecclesia.
True. False.
Incorrect. This branch was shared by Ecclesia and Boule
Correct. This branch was shared by Ecclesia and Boule
In Spain, the legislative power is represented by the king.
True. False.
Incorrect. It is represented by the Parliament (in our case Congress + Senate).
Correct. It is represented by the Parliament (in our case Congress + Senate).
In Greece, the judicial branch was represented by the popular courts.
True. False.
Correct. It was represented by the popular courts called Helaia
Incorrect. It was represented by the popular courts called Helaia
In Spain, the judicial power is represented by popular juries.
True. False.
Incorrect. It is represented by judges.
Correct. It is represented by judges.
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