Rise of Western Civilization

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Free Elections

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A characteristic of a healthy modern democracy - people have actual choices, and all adult citizens can vote, without exclusions.

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Maximum Citizen Participation

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A characteristic of a healthy modern democracy - everyone that is allowed to vote and participate, does.

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Majority Rule, Minority Rights

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A characteristic of a healthy modern democracy - laws and decisions are decided by the majority, but they cannot violate individual rights and freedoms.

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Ancient Greece (Athens)

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The idea of democracy - that people could rule themselves instead of being ruled by a single leader - was first born and practiced here, though it was far from perfect.

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Ancient Rome

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The world's first republic - where people elected representatives to make laws and decisions for them, defined by a constitution that set up and put limits on the government.

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Judeo-Christian Tradition

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The set of beliefs and ideas about humanity, morality, and the worth of the individual, shared by Christians and Jews, that helped provide the foundation for Western Civilization and modern democracy.

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The (European) Renaissance

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The 'rebirth' or rediscovery of classical culture that would lead to people working to improve life and government in many different ways, including rediscovering democratic ideas.

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Humanism

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The idea that we can and should work to improve life for all people in THIS LIFE, not just the afterlife. An effect of the renaissance.

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The Protestant Reformation

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A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church, and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches. Helped lead to people challenging authority.

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Martin Luther

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German monk who became one of the most famous critics of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses, or statements of belief attacking the church practices, starting the Protestant Reformation.