Comparation of Government in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome: what was the structure and what were the main principles of each civilization's government?
Government in Ancient Greece:
1. Structure: Ancient Greece comprised of independent city-states (poleis), each with its own government system. There were several different forms of government in Ancient Greece, such as monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy. However, the most common and widely recognized form was the Athenian democracy. The political structure of Athens consisted of three major branches: the Assembly, the Council, and the Courts.
- Assembly (Ekklesia): It was a gathering of all male citizens above 18 years old who wanted to participate in the political decision-making process. Main responsibilities included discussing laws, proposals, political issues, and making decisions by simple majority vote.
- Council (Boule): It was a group of 500 male citizens chosen by lottery every year. The Council's responsibility was to prepare the agenda for the Assembly and implement its decisions.
- Courts: The courts were responsible for solving legal disputes and maintaining law and order in the city-state. Jurors were chosen by lottery among citizens, and there were no professional judges or lawyers.
2. Main principles: The central principle of Athenian democracy was the belief that power should lie with the people and not a select few. Participation in the government was considered a civic duty and open to all male citizens. However, it is important to note that women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from political life.
Government in Ancient Rome:
1. Structure: Ancient Rome had a complex political structure, which evolved from a monarchy to a republic and eventually an empire. In the Roman Republic, they had a mixed form of government that included elements of democracy, oligarchy, and monarchy. The political structure was divided into three major branches: the Senate, the Assemblies, and the Magistrates.
- Senate: The Senate was an assembly of lifelong members who were primarily from aristocratic families (patricians). Senators advised the magistrates, controlled the financial affairs of the state, and played an important role in making foreign policy decisions.
- Assemblies: The Assemblies were gatherings of adult male citizens, including both patricians and commoners (plebeians). The Assemblies had the power to elect magistrates, pass laws, and declare war or peace.
- Magistrates: The magistrates were elected officials who had executive, judicial, and military powers. The two most important magistrates were the Consuls, who were the highest-ranking officials in the Roman Republic and had executive and military authority.
2. Main principles: The Roman Republic's primary principle was the concept of the separation of powers and checks and balances among different branches of government to prevent the concentration of power in one individual or group. Other key principles included the rule of law, civic duty, and the idea that the common good should prevail over personal interests.
In conclusion, while Ancient Greece and Rome had some similarities, such as incorporating an assembly of citizens in their political systems, their structures and principles were quite distinct from each other overall. The Athenian democracy emphasized direct citizen participation, whereas the Roman Republic had a more complex mixed form of government with separate branches and a focus on checks and balances.