(March 9, 2020 at 12:34 pm)Mr Greene Wrote:(March 9, 2020 at 12:21 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Actually from my point of view it is a myth that the Romans and Greeks were the first form of modern democracy.
It is true they had a form of "representative government". But both were still under imperial rule. Ultimate power was still handed down through family. One can only argue that one ruler was more tolerant than another depending on era.
If I remember correctly there were failed attempts to unseat a ruling family and scrap the idea of ruling families.
You're suggesting that Athens had a 'ruling family'?
Depending on era, yes.
Classism back then makes western classism today look like wimps. In the west at least, although we are failing, and falling backwards, the class system in the west is supposed to not let extreem gaps happen. But in all of antiquity worldwide, back then, it was far worse. If you were not part of the ruling class or military class, you were basically a tool for them.
If you want to argue there was no "official" mandate depending on ruler, sure, you could do that, but nepotism existed even back then and it was far worse.
