The Rise of Democracy

Read Introduction

Dropdown

The Ancient Greeks ​

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think of themselves as belonging to one country. Instead they identified with one hometown they called their ​

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.

We are going to do an activity, but we will need to decide this question:

Which activity should we play?

We will experience four different ways of making

these decisions, each based on a form of government from ancient Greece. After you have experienced each form of government, you will connect your experience with actual history.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 1 Monarchy

Let’s experience what monarchy was like in ancient Greece. One student will act as the king. The king has absolute power. One student will act as the prince. The prince is next in line to become the king.

Everyone else, you have no power. You cannot speak or move without permission.

King: Select an activity
Ignore any suggestions from the class because you

have absolute power.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 1 Monarchy

King: You have just died.

Prince: You have now inherited the power from the

king.

You are the king and have absolute power.

Select any activity you choose.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 1 Monarchy

Read Section One: Monarchy, One Person Inherits Power.

Draw

Shade in the bar below the timeline to show approximately when most Greek

city-states had monarchies.

Dropdown

Under a ​ monarchy , the power to make political decisions is in the hands of

​

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, usually called a ​

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.

Open Ended

Why did the monarchs lose power?

Let’s experience what an oligarchy was like in

ancient Greece.

Three students will act as oligarchs.

Oligarchs: Most oligarchs in ancient Greece were wealthy aristocrats. They lived very comfortably. Everyone else, you have no power.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 2 Oligarchy

Oligarchs: Select any activity you choose.

Oligarchs typically look after their own interests, so

ignore any suggestions from the class.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 2 Oligarchy

Read Section Two Oligarchy: A few people share power.

Draw

Shade in the bar below the timeline to show approximately when most Greek

city-states had oligarchies.

Dropdown

Under a ​ oligarchy, the power to make political decisions is in the hands of

​

Select answer

​, usually called ​

Select answer

.

Open Ended

Why did the oligarchs lose power?

Let’s experience what tyranny was like in

ancient Greece.

Let’s have four people stand in front of the class.

Everyone else, choose the person you think should be the one to choose the next activity. Stand in front of that person.

The person with the greatest support will be the tyrant.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 3 Tyrants

Tyrant: Stand at the front of the room.

Everyone else should return to your seats.

Tyrant: Ask the students who supported you for

advice on what activity to do next, then play that activity.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 2 Tyrants

Read Section Three: Tyranny One person takes power by force.

Draw

Shade in the bar below the timeline to show approximately when most Greek

city-states had tyranies.

Dropdown

Under a ​tyranny, the power to make political decisions is in the hands of

​

Select answer

​, usually called ​

Select answer

.

Open Ended

Why did the tyrants lose power?

Let’s experience what democracy was like in ancient Greece.

Now everyone has equal power to make the decisions about the choice of activity. We will vote on the activities.

The activity with the majority vote will be the next activity played.

A majority is more than 50% of the vote. If an activity does not receive a majority vote, the class will vote again between the top two actvities.

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Experiential Exercise:
Phase 3 Democracy

Read Section Four: Democracy All citizens share power.

Draw

Shade in the bar below the timeline to show approximately when Athens had a democracy.

Dropdown

Under a ​democracy, the power to make political decisions is in the hands of

​

Select answer

​, usually called ​

Select answer

.

Open Ended

Why didn't ALL Greeks think democracy was a good idea?

Match

Match the following

• a government in which absolute ruling power is

  held by a person who is not a lawful king

• a member of the most powerful class in ancient

  Greek society

• a government in which the ruling power is in the

  hands of one person

• a government in which the ruling power is in the

  hands of a few people

• a government in which power is held by the

  people, who exercise power directly or through

  elected representatives

tyranny

aristocrat

monarchy

oligarchy

democracy

• tyranny

• aristocrat

• monarchy

• oligarchy

• democracy

Poll

Which form of government do you think is best for making efficient (gets results without wasted time) decisions?

• monarchy

• oligarchy

• democracy

• tyranny

Poll

Which form of government do you think is best for giving equality to all people?

• monarchy

• oligarchy

• democracy

• tyranny

Poll

Which form of government do you think is best for meeting the needs of all people?

• monarchy

• oligarchy

• democracy

• tyranny