Political Consciousness in Ancient Greece and Rome
In order for societies to have political consciousness they must understand that the state is secular, the state's purpose is to serve the people, and that citizens work to benefit the state. Although the level of political consciousness in the ancient period world was overall high, the level fluctuated between different societies. With different societies came different forms of government, different rulers, and different ideas of excellence. All of the differences contributed to the level of political consciousness in ancient societies. The political consciousness in the Athenian Polls, the Hellenistic Kingdoms, and the Roman Principate are perfect examples of societies with different ideas, governments, and political consciousness. During the period of the Athenian Polls (600-431 B.C.), the Athenians were experiencing a time of high political consciousness. The Athenians felt that they were part of something greater than themselves, their polis. The citizens of the Athenian Polls understood that the state was secular, which means the state is created by people not God. Although the government was ruled and influenced by aristocrats, the farmers and peasants felt secure in their polis. Around 600 B.C. a plea was heard
This caused a decline in political consciousness in Rome and the falling of the empire because he did not rule for the common good. The Greeks in the Hellenistic Kingdoms were also forced to accept monarchy as a form of government and be ruled by leaders the Greeks thought of as barbarians. Also the people of this country show their political conscious every year by the millions who vote representatives to the government. These actions showed that the state's purpose was to serve the Athenian citizens. So, of course Athenians new ruler Pericles, a perfect example of courage and military skill, dominated Athenian politics and was loved by the citizens. Political consciousness was also low because the major cities in the Hellenistic Kingdoms were dominated by Greeks, while the citizens of the kingdoms were non-Greeks. The leaders and rulers of the kingdoms were also plagued with self interest. However, after the Peleponnesian Wars, the great sense of political consciousness would decline. People all over Greece, Western Asia, and Northern Africa had been conquered by Alexander only to once again be split into four separate Hellenistic Kingdoms. During the Roman Principate, under the rule of Augustus and the Five Good Emperors of the Pax Romana, political consciousness is at its height in the Roman Empire. The Athenian citizens showed their support of the state by joining the army, and carried a great pride about being an Athenian. During the time of these rulers, many benefits are given to the people like, public works, food for the poor, voting rights, rights for women and slaves, a military whose purpose was to protect, and several political rights. With the forming of the Hellenistic Kingdoms, political consciousness had seriously declined from that of the Athenian Polls. Most people were not able to receive and education, however, except for leaders of churches and the wealthy aristocrats.
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