Lesson · Grade 7 · Social Studies
Where Our Ideas of Government Come From: Athens and Rome
- Grade 7
- Social Studies
- 1 min 17 s
- British Columbia
- BC7-SS-22
Side-by-side cards show that about 508 BCE citizens in Athens voted on laws themselves in a democracy, "rule by the people", while about 509 BCE male citizens in Rome elected leaders in a republic, with two consuls sharing power for one year and laws written on the Twelve Tables about 450 BCE. Arrows then carry these ideas into a government building of today: rule by the people from Athens, and elected leaders, limits on power and written laws from Rome, with women and men now able to vote in most countries.
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In one sentence
The question this lesson answers
Where do our ideas of government come from?
Many of them began in two ancient cities, Athens and Rome.
Transcript
What the lesson says
Where do our ideas of government come from?
Many of them began in two ancient cities, Athens and Rome.
About 508 BCE, Athens became a democracy.
Democracy means rule by the people, from the Greek words demos and kratos.
Citizens met and voted on laws themselves, usually by raising their hands.
But only men who were citizens could vote.
About 509 BCE, Rome became a republic.
Male citizens elected leaders to make decisions for them.
Two leaders called consuls shared power, for one year at a time, so no one person had too much power.
About 450 BCE, Rome's laws were written down on the Twelve Tables for all to see.
Many governments today use the idea of rule by the people from Athens.
From Rome, they take elected leaders, limits on power and written laws.
And today, in most countries, women and men can vote.
Many governments today mix democracy from Athens with the republic from Rome.
Curriculum
Where this fits
- British Columbia, Grade 7
Social Studies, Ancient world to the 7th century: social, political, legal, governmental, and economic systems and structuresBC7-SS-22
Previous: The Code of Hammurabi: Laws Carved in StoneNext: From Barter to Money
The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.
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