Athenian Democracy

What was the Ecclesia?

• A general assembly meeting held several times a month

• A marketplace in ancient Athens

Any of the 6,000 citizens who typically showed up to the assembly meeting (Ecclesia) had the right to do this:

• Address their fellow citizens

• Propose a law

• Bring a lawsuit

• All of the other three answers are true!

This is the name for the 500 person council that set the agenda for the assembly of Athenians:

• The Spartans

• The Boule

Many office holders in Athens were chosen by lot. Another term from the video for this process of random selection is:

• Sortician

• Free for all

Some specialized positions were elected due to the need for expertise, including:

• Judges

• General

• Assembly member

This word means "rule by the best":

• Aristocratic

• Democratic

Chosing leaders by lot helped to prevent these from forming:

• Governing classes

• Political parties

• Both of the other answers are correct!

Which philosopher is identified in the video as thinking that Democracy was "anarchic and run by fools"?

• Aristotle

• Plato

What is one way modern democracies try to avoid some of the problems ancient Athens had?

• Citizens elect those they feel are qualified to lead

• They have kings and royal families instead of elections

These things are identified in the video as problems of modern democracies:

• The influence of wealth and emergence of professional politicians

• The reduced value of currency or money

• Neither of the other answers is correct