Classical Foundations and Colonial Education

1. Classical Foundations and Colonial Education William S. Morison Associate Professor, History Department Grand Valley State University

2. Democracy in Athens and the Roman Republic Ideals Institutions Thucydides, Aristotle, and Polybius

4. Washington and Zeus

5. Washington and Cincinnatus

6. Democracy in Athens The Demos Discussion of Sources Athenian Political Institutions

7. The Demos • Demos= citizens (male, free born, property owners, military service) • Demokrateia=“citizen power” • citizenship provides equal treatment under the law • Participation in government

8. Thucydides: Ideals of the Demos • Athenian general and historian • Context: Pericles, “Funeral Oration” • What are the specific things that Pericles praises Athens for? • Why does he believe that these things make Athens great?

9. Aristotle (384-322 BC): Democratic Practice • Philosopher, biologist, political scientist • Identify the political institutions of the demokrateia as outlined by Aristotle.

10. The Assembly (Ekklesia) • Met at the Pnyx • Est. quorum of 6000 citizens • Sovereign authority: • Passes laws, may act as judge, approve treaties, declare war • The state provides a stipend for attendance

11. Council of 500 (Boulê) • Steering committee: • Set agenda for the Assembly • Chosen by annual lottery, paid • Oversaw day-to-day government, boards, courts, magistrates

12. The Jury system • Membership from a pool of 6000 chosen by lot annually • Numbers varied (201—2001) • Paid for attendance

13. Kleroterion

14. Magistrates • 9 chief magistrates (chosen by lot, limited powers); e.g., eponymous archon, archon basileus • 10 Generals (elected; influential off the battlefield) • Committees, boards, etc. • Dokimasia • Euthynai

15. How do we pay for this? • The ‘Liturgical’ Class • Required to pay for expensive public services • Examples: man and fit out a naval ship, pay for a chorus for a tragic play, etc.

16. Ideals vs. Practice Do these Athenian institutions/practices support the ideals outlined by Thucydides? How might they fail? How are different social/economic groups affected?

17. Food for thought: • What was the attitude of the Founding Fathers regarding Athenian democracy as a model for government? Why?

18. The Roman Republic Sources Ideals and Institutions

19. Polybius (204-122 BC) • Greek historian trying to explain Rome’s success to other Greeks: • What were the basic elements of the Roman Republic? • According to Polybius, what made this system effective?

20. The Roman Res publica • SPQR = Senatus populusque Romanus • System of managed competition (patricians) • Citizen interest groups: • Based by law on property qualifications • Wealthy, landed elite (Senatorial class) • Merchants, landowners (Equestrian class) • Farmers, artisans (The populus)

21. Republican Magistrates: • Consuls and Praetors (S) • Imperium, summon comitia, wear purple • Lictors, curule chair • Aediles (S) • Quaestors (S) • Special offices: dictator, censor (S)

22. Symbols of power

23. The Senate • Wealthy, landed elite • Former magistrates • Life tenure • Approves candidates for election • Auctoritas patrum

24. Assemblies • Comitia Curiata • Comitia Centuriata • 193 centuries, 98 controlled by wealthiest classes • Comitia Tributa • 35 tribes, but only 4 are urban • All assemblies are called by magistrates; yes or no vote

25. Plebeian Assembly • Ten annually elected Tribunes • Veto power • Plebeians only • Laws passed affect all Romans

26. Patrons and Clients • Patrons = men of higher status • Provide monetary, legal, political assistance to clients • Clients = men of lower status • Assist patrons in elections or any way they deem necessary • Bond of amicitia • Quid pro quo • Permanent bond

27. Questions • How do the values of the Athenian democracy differ from those of Rome’s republic? • If an Athenian democrat went to Rome, what do you think his criticisms of their republic would be?