The ancient Athenian democracy was very different to ours. First, only adult male Athenian citizens were eligible to vote, only a very small percentage of the population of Athens. Secondly, those who had the vote were allowed to attend the assembly (the ancient Greek version of the house of Commons) and vote on any new law. Instead, in democracies today, citizens vote for politicians to represent them in parliament.
Athenians used voting not only to make laws: they also voted in law courts to decide whether someone was guilty or not; they could also vote to get rid of (ostracise) politicians they didn't like. Ostracised politicans would have to leave Athens and live in exile.
Voting today usually takes place on paper ballot slips, sometimes on computer. However, the Greeks voted with pebbles, or pieces of broken pottery, or even leaves. For more information about the Athenian democracy, follow this link.
Posts
