How Athenians Shared Power

Transcript

The Assembly on the Pnyx was only one part of Athenian democracy. Power was spread much more widely through the city. Take the Council of Five Hundred. Every year, five hundred citizens were chosen by lot to serve on it. They prepared matters for the Assembly and helped manage the city from day to day. A man served for one year. He could serve on the Council only twice in his life. Why choose people by lot? Because the Athenians did not think that governing should always belong to the same small group of men. If citizens were equal as citizens, many of them needed a real chance to take part. The lot could place an ordinary man in government. Let’s say, a potter. Or a poet. For a year, power was partly in his hands. Then it moved on. Most public offices were filled in the same way. By lot. But not all of them. The generals - the strategoi - were elected. Commanding an army or a fleet required skill and experience. Here, the Athenians wanted to choose. Pericles - one of the best-known leaders of democratic Athens - was elected strategos again and again. Holding office also meant being watched. Before a man entered office, he could be examined. Afterwards, he could be asked to explain what he had done. Power was given. But it was not simply left alone. Then there were the democratic courts. Large juries of citizens heard cases and reached verdicts. There was no single professional judge deciding everything. Hundreds of citizens might hear the same case and decide together.

But taking part in public life took time. A man who worked for his living could not easily give up a whole day without losing income. So citizens began to receive payment for jury service. Later, payment was introduced for attending the Assembly as well. The idea was simple. Taking part should not be possible only for men rich enough to stay away from work. And wealth brought duties of its own. A wealthy Athenian could be required to help pay for a public festival. Or help finance a warship. The city expected something from him too. So democracy did not live only here, on the Pnyx. A citizen might come here to vote. Another year, the lot might place him on the Council. Later, he might sit in a court. Power kept moving. From one citizen to another. Not forever. For a time. Then someone else took his place.