The Origin of Democracy

Aristocracy or the rule of the elite is in term the antonym of democracy. But while theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically. Ancient Greece is perhaps viewed as the epithet of the origin of democracy; a form of governance where the mastership of the people is an absolute authority. And this authority consists in the people's right to choose their leaders and legislate whatever laws they want. But is it really that simple? The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. This documentary takes a look at the not so benign origins of democracy and compares it to the government of Greece’s Easter neighbor: the Great Persia Empire.

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