Content Vocabulary

Age of Pericles

direct democracy

Age of Pericles

Pericles (490-429 BC) was an Athenian politician. The "Parthenon", on the Acropolis hill, was built during his administration. The economic, political, intellectual and artistic development that Athens attained at the time of Pericles led the period to be known as "The Pericles Century"

Direct Democracy is a form of democratic government where the population has the right to participate directly in decision making. However, this is a viable model for small societies where deliberation among all its members is possible.

The earliest reports of direct democracy come from Athens, in ancient Greece, when the system of government consisted of popular participation in making major decisions. Citizens gathered in the public square and thus discussed and voted on political matters and the problems of the city.