How to fully understand the political system of ancient Greece and Rome

Democracy in Athens is the product of specific historical conditions and the system of small countries and few people, and it is a political system of "adult male citizens are masters of their own affairs". The theory and practice of Athenian democracy laid the foundation for the establishment of modern western political system. When reviewing, we should fully understand the political system of ancient Greece by focusing on the conditions for the emergence of Athenian democracy, the realization process and characteristics of Athenian democracy, and the differences and connections between Athenian democracy and modern western democracy.

1. Conditions for the emergence of democratic politics in ancient Greece.

(1) Geographical conditions: narrow mountains, little cultivated land and numerous island harbors.

(2) Economic conditions: industry and commerce and overseas trade are relatively developed.

(3) Class conditions: the industrial and commercial class is strong.

(4) Political conditions: small countries and few people under the city-state system enable citizens to participate in city-state politics more directly and pursue democratic rights more actively.

2. How did Athenian democracy guarantee people's democratic rights?

First of all, the implementation of democracy is ensured by establishing a citizens' assembly, a 500-member parliament and a jury court. Second, official positions at all levels are open to all adult male citizens, giving citizens the right to participate, know, speak, vote and be elected. Third, the citizens' assembly regularly examines public officials. Fourth, encourage citizens to participate in politics through subsidies.

3. Democracy in Athens is the first in the West and the narrowest democracy in the world.

(1) initiated western democracy-all citizens have the right to directly participate in legislation and handle public affairs. As Perikles said: "Our (government form) is called democracy because power is not in the hands of a few people, but in the hands of all the people."

Democracy in Athens fully mobilized the enthusiasm and creativity of citizens, provided a new form of collective management, produced new measures for the masses to supervise public officials, and created a new mode of democratic operation. It attaches importance to citizens' individual freedom and sense of responsibility, casts the Greek national character of thirst for knowledge and willingness to explore, makes ancient Greece achieve brilliant achievements in many cultural fields, and produces a large number of cultural masters. The theory and practice of its democratic regime provided the ideological basis for the later European and American bourgeoisie. The democratic political system and practice in ancient Athens became the source of modern western political thought and practice.

(2) the narrowest-only adult male citizens enjoy democratic rights, and women, foreigners and slaves are excluded.

As can be seen from the above picture, the democracy in Athens is based on slavery, the democracy of slave owners and the democracy of a very small number of people. The vast number of slaves, foreigners and women have no civil and political rights at all. Therefore, Athenian democracy is not a democracy in the modern sense, but a democracy of adult male citizens. It contributed to the political, economic and cultural prosperity of Athens, but at the same time it brutally stifled and restricted the self-development ability of most members of society.