Daily #14

I really think that Athens was a democracy during their prosperous years because a democracy was formed so the people could have their own say in the government. A democracy formed in Athens in around 508 BC and helped Athens and Greece rise to one of the greatest empires in the Mediterranean. Even though many democracies formed after the rise of Athens from their democracy, Athens had the most well-known democracies history has ever see. The citizens and people of Athens made up the democracy of Athens and they could have their own opinions on laws and other things in Athens. Tyrants and aristocrats ruled before the democracy of Athens started to flourish and one of the main tyrants before the democracy was Peisistratus. Peisistratus was not your typical tyrant during his rule in Athens because he lowered taxes for the people and helped enforce the arts in Athens. When he passed away, he was succeeded by his son Hippias. Hippias was a harsh tyrant who suppressed the people and one citizen, Cleisthenes, was looking at how Athens was changing with Hippias in power. Hippias became very suspicious after the death of his brother and gave no freedom to the people. Cleisthenes took charge now and eventually gained power of Athens after he exiled Hippias from Athens forever. Cleisthenes established a democracy in Athens because he knew the people wanted freedom and they had suffered from aristocrats for so many years prior. The people finally had freedom and power after so many years and Cleisthenes led this revolution. The people made up an assembly, which were meeting where the people would discuss certain legislation and vote on it and also elect officials. The meetings at the assembly helped the citizens of Athens grow and prosper and it gave the opportunity for everyone to voice their opinion. A man named Pericles eventually led the democracy of Athens for a long time and helped the arts flourish during his rule. He led the construction of one of the most well-known structures called the Parthenon and this structure represented the influence of Pericles on the democracy.  The democracy stood strong during numerous wars and conflicts that occurred in Athens but gradually declined after Athens’s surrender to Lysander during the Peloponnesian War. The democracy was still one of the greatest influences on the Greek Empire and helped Athens rise up during its glory years.