TED-ED: What did democracy really mean in Athens? - Melissa Schwartzberg

The video explores the concept of lottery-based governance, as practiced in ancient Athens, where most government positions were filled by random selection from citizen volunteers, a process known as sortition. Unlike modern representative democracies, Athens was a direct democracy with wide citizen participation. The video discusses the historical context, civic duties, and critiques of this system, including its exclusion of women, slaves, and foreigners. It also examines modern implications and whether sortition could address issues like wealth influence and professional politicians in today's democracies.

What was the primary method of selecting officials in ancient Athens?

What is sortition and how was it used in the Athenian political system?

How did the concept of civic participation differ in Athenian democracy compared to modern democracies?

What were some of the limitations of citizenship in ancient Athens?

What are some modern implications of the Athenian system of governance?