HIST 1421_Discussion Forum Unit 2 - AY2022-T4
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1421
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Nov 24, 2024
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Dear Dr Workman and classmate,
In the article of Halsall, P. (1999, pp 4-5), Ithome, the consolidation of Attic democracy under Ephialtes and Pericles, the completion of an alliance between Athens and Argos, which also became democratic between 461 BCE and 429 BCE, combined with other factors to trigger a separation between the Athenians and the Peloponnesian League. Sparta's role in the so-called first Peloponnesian War was limited to assisting
in the defeat of the Athenians at Tanagra in 457 B.C. A catastrophic disease struck Athens two years after the first war began, killing thousands of people, including Pericles himself, according to the article from Brand, P. J. (n.d.). As a result, how did Pericles contribute to the advancement of democracy in ancient Athens and how did his actions contribute to its demise?
First, Pericles promoted the advancement of democracy, such as fairness between rich and poor, freedom of speech for anyone in the political space, and any Athenian could be elected as officials and jurors. According to Cartledge, P. (2011) mentioned, Pericles, control the ruling with fairness to the poor section of the society and also exploited political patronage to fund expensive public works projects and occupations for the poor, such as rowing in the Navy to pay for Assembly or jury service, based on Brand, P. J. (n.d., pp 33-34).
In Cartledge, P. (2011, para. 12), freedom of speech for anyone is a form of Athenian democracy that not
only took place in the Assembly and Council but also in the heart of the city and in the theatre of Dionysus, which plays sad or funny plays.
According to Cartledge, P. (2011, para 10-11), the majority of officials and all jury members were chosen
at random. Assembly attendees have been given a little payment from general money to repay them for the duration paid on political duty away from the area or workshop. Only grown-up male locals were needed to involve in the rights and duties of democratic government, and the childbirth standards of two blood from an
Athenian mother and father.
However, the second part of his actions led to the eventual dissolution of democracy. Rattini, K. B. (2019)
mentioned that Pericles encouraged the common assembly to wage war on Sparta in 431 B.C. "The greatest glories are to be achieved from the greatest risks," he declared in front of the assembly. Unfortunately, Athens suffered heavy losses during the 27-year-long Peloponnesian War. A disease struck, killing an estimated 20,000 people, including Pericles and his two legitimate sons. Athens has buried its "first citizen," but his legacy lives on in the city's skyline and democratic institutions across the world.
My conclusion is a strong development of democracy and politics makes a city or country strong. Wallace, J. & et al. (2021, para 6) mentioned, that liberal democracy guarantees are designed to ensure that no ethnic, regional, class, or corporate interest dominates or exploits others to an unacceptable degree and that fair and universal agreement is obtained for government policy. It can transform a power structure dictatorship or monarchy into peaceful coexistence. Apart from Pericles' dominance of Athenian politics from 461BCE to 428BCE, I can also think of Abraham Lincoln who abolished slavery and established civil and social freedom for African-Americans between 1861 and 1865. In the article of The Smithsonian Institution. (n.d, para 2), Lincoln remarked, “A house divided against itself [over slavery] cannot stand.”
Words Count 562
References
Brand, P. J. (n.d.).
Athens & Sparta: Democracy vs. dictatorship
. Retrieved from: https://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/57436/mod_book/chapter/38899/
HIST1421.U1.Athens.Sparta.pdf
Cartledge, P. (2011, February 17). The Democratic experiment
. BBC. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocracy_01.shtml
Halsall, P. (1999, January). Sparta
. In Ancient History Sourcebook: 11th Britannica. Fordham University. Retrieved from: https://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/1573074/mod_book/chapter/338988/Ancient
%20History%20Sourcebook%20-%20Sparta.pdf?time=1582320161137
Rattini, K. B. (2019, April 9). Who was Pericles? National Geographic Society and National Geographic Partners, LLC. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/pericles
The Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Abraham Lincoln, 1809–1865
. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved from: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/highlights-abraham-lincoln-1809-1865
Wallace, J. & et al. (2021, April 14). The importance of democracy
. Chatham House. Retrieved from: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/04/importance-democracy
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