Timeline

3300 BCE- Sumer Cities

-Beginning of Democracythe free citizens met, discussed and made decisions for themselves in a democratic assembly. As the cities grew the citizens found it necessary to elect one of their most capable citizens to lead them through troubling times

1200 BCE- Ancient India

-Sabhi Samiti: Assembly“may we discuss and resolve all issues amicably”

500 BCE- Greeks and Romans

-Athens- Direct Democracy- Demos- the people

Kratis- authority

- Only for Citizens- limited

-RomanRepublic- Representative Democracy

-Only for Citizens- limited

-Polybius- believed in a 3 part government

1. Monarchy 2. Aristocracy 3. Democracy

-Aristotle, Plato, Cicero- also believed in separation of power

68 BCE- Ostia

-Roman port city- Attacked by Pirates

-City was burned- many died- including Royal Governor

-Start of the End of Historical Democracy

DIVINE RITE- Belief that if you went against the king, you would be excommunicated (or kicked out) from the church

1100s- English Common Law

- 1. court system

- 2. juries

- 3. laws

- the court decisions became laws for all (except the king) to follow

1215- Magna Carta

- established rights that even the monarch can’t take away

-there would be no taxes on barons without permission of council (influential barons)

-Trial by Jury- only protected the elite

1200-1600s- Parliament

- council of the lords

- the king must get approval from them

1619- House of Burgesses

- occurred in Jamestown

- first legislature of the colonies

- met with the governor

1620- Mayflower Compact

- government should make just and equal laws for the good of the community

- Direct Democracy- town meetings

1628-Petition of Right

-written by lords of Parliament

-King can’t break laws or arrest without use of law

-king can’t levy taxes without permission

1689- English Bill of Rights

- rights of all citizens

- everyone must obey laws

- trial by jury of peers and petition the government

1600-1700s- Age of Enlightenment

- 1. John Locke- idea that the purpose of government was to protect your natural rights- life, liberty, and property

- 2. Jean Jacques Rousseau- said that ideal society has community contract, more than 1 ruler, some freedoms are given up, and a community of voters

- 3. Baron de Montesquieu- ensure government protects people’s natural rights- do this by dividing the government and using a system of checks and balances