"The reason why our state system is called democracy is because power is not held by a few people, but by all the people. When private disputes arise, everyone is equal before the law. Just like Just as our political life is free and open, so are our interpersonal relationships in daily life... Here everyone is not only interested in his own private affairs, but also in the major events of the entire society. ”

Famous people regard the whole earth as their memorial; their memorial is not only in their own country, but also in foreign countries; their famous names take root in people’s hearts. , rather than being carved on a tangible stone tablet. ——Pericles

In ancient Greece, democracy refers to a form of state, that is, a political system. According to modern political terminology, it is called a democratic government, democratic politics, and democracy. According to the traditional method used by Herodotus and other classical scholars to classify government types based on the number of people in power, their purposes and methods, they can be divided into three authentic political systems and their corresponding three abnormal political systems: monarchy and monarchy that implement one-man rule. Tyrant system; those that embody the rule of the minority are aristocracy and oligarchy; those that realize the rule of the majority are democracy and extreme democracy (or mob politics) [2] (pp. 133~134). The democracy mentioned in this article is a form of government in slave-owning city-states. This kind of political system, while putting the interests of the entire city-state first, can indeed ensure that the vast majority of citizens have certain rights to participate in politics, so that it can have a positive impact on all aspects of national life, and can indeed protect the lives and property of the vast majority of citizens. Safety is guaranteed to a certain extent.

According to current historical data, among the ancient Greek city-states, the establishment of the Athenian democracy preceded other city-states in time. Therefore, it can be considered that Athens is the birthplace of the ancient Greek democracy, and the causes of the Athenian democracy can be regarded as the cause of ancient Greek democracy. These causes are nothing more than: the legacy of primitive social democracy; the development of industry and commerce and the stability of independent small-scale production economies; the strengthening of civilian power and divisions within the nobility; the role of individuals represented by Solon, etc., all provided the basis for the emergence of Athenian democracy. possible.

The source of the long history of democracy in human society can be traced back to the prehistory of mankind. Engels said in his book "The Origin of Family, Private Ownership and the State": "The emergence of the Athenian state is a very typical example of the formation of general states. On the one hand, because its emergence was very pure and did not suffer from any external influence. and internal violent interference... On the other hand, because here, the highly developed state form, the democratic government and the country, emerged directly from the clan society. "[3] (p. 115)... Although historiography. There are still differences in the world about the influence of primitive democratic factors on various countries in the future, especially on Athens. However, Morgan's "Ancient Society" and Engels's "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State" both recognized that Athenian democracy contained the legacy of primitive democracy. When the productive forces were not very developed, primitive democracy effectively balanced and coordinated various interest relationships and conflicts within the clan society. The content of primitive democracy mainly includes: clan members enjoy equal rights in social life [4] (pp. 44-45). At the end of primitive society, with the development of productive forces and the emergence of social factors such as surplus products and private property, primitive democracy transitioned to military democracy in some primitive clans. Engels once called this kind of military democracy "the most developed system that can be achieved" by the primitive clan system and "a model system in the advanced stage of barbaric times" [5] (p. 142). The three clan and tribal management organs under the military democracy, the People's Assembly, the Tribal Council and the military chiefs, also embody the democratic principles of the clan system. In general, the influence of primitive democratic factors after entering countries around the world is not the same, but the impact on the democracy of Athens is significant. Athenian democratic institutions and operating mechanisms all contain the legacy of primitive democracy to a certain extent. Therefore, one of the important factors in the emergence of Athenian democracy is the influence of primitive democracy.

While Athenian democracy inherits the legacy of ancient primitive democracy, its own economic development is also an important factor that cannot be ignored in promoting the emergence of Athenian democracy. The natural conditions of Athens determined the rapid rise of its industry and commerce. Economic crop cultivation, handicrafts and even the shipping industry have developed to varying degrees. Athens’ commercial interests extended far beyond the borders of its city-state, even reaching as far away as Sicily, Egypt, Phoenicia and other places [6] (p. 43).

These illustrate the prosperity of Athens' industrial and commercial activities, and the industrial and commercial slave owners it created played a significant role in the development trajectory of Athens' democracy. The development of industry and commerce has also provided more opportunities for small and medium-sized handicraftsmen and small farmers to get rich, and opened up wider financial resources. There are still disagreements among historians about whether Athens was a commercial or agricultural society, but the development of Athens' industry, commerce, and small-scale peasant economy did create a solid economic foundation for democratic production.

The most important force that promoted the evolution of ancient Athenian democracy was the struggle of the broad masses of free civilians. Athens' relatively vast territory, large population, and natural conditions for the development of both agriculture, industry, commerce, and mining created favorable conditions for the expansion and development of small and medium-sized owners, that is, the power of civilians. These independent small and medium-sized owners are numerous and powerful and are an indispensable factor in developing and consolidating democracy. Emphasizing the role of civilians in a democratic government is also one of the key points discussed in Aristotle's "Politics" [2] (pp. 183~192). The improvement of economic conditions and the growth of political power of the common people, that is, the middle and lower classes of society, constitute the backbone and basic masses of the democrats. The middle and lower classes of society mentioned here mainly refer to the third and fourth estates that were active in the 5th century BC and defined by Solon's reforms. The third estate includes small and medium-sized industrial and commercial slave owners and small farmers. The fourth estate is mainly the landless class. poor. It is precisely because of the development of industry, commerce and small peasant economy that the power of democracy continues to grow and the power of the aristocracy is relatively weakened, thus causing changes in the balance of class power. It is generally believed that civilians are the backbone of a democratic government. Therefore, the strength of the middle and lower classes of society has grown, promoting the establishment of democracy and becoming a solid class foundation for Athenian democracy.

The influence of the legacy of primitive democracy, economic factors, and the increase in civilian power all provided the possibility for the formation of Athenian democracy. To turn possibility into reality requires the cooperation of subjective conditions, that is, the activities of people as the creators of history. According to Marx's historical materialism, people are the creators of history, and the "people" in this proposition should include outstanding figures. Especially in the process of democratic reform and development in Athens, a series of outstanding democratic politicians, such as Solon, Ephialt, Cleisthenes, and Pericles, were key figures in promoting the democratic reform process in Athens. Under the above objective historical conditions, these key historical figures promoted the development of Athenian society from monarchy to aristocracy, from aristocracy to democracy, and even to the continuation and improvement of democracy.

Around the 8th to 7th centuries BC, the Athenian nobles collectively deposed the early monarchy and established an aristocratic system, thus blocking the emergence of early centralized monarchy. The aristocracy of Athens was the predecessor of democracy, which was established by the legendary reforms of Theseus. The key to changing this aristocratic system was Solon's reform in 592 BC. This reform was a political revolution and a victory for the common people against the aristocracy. "Cambridge Ancient History" believes that the essence of Solon's thought is justice, and this fairness and justice are mainly related to social affairs [7] (p. 391). The first variety of civilian government is the variety that most strictly abides by the principle of equality [2] (p. 189). There appear to be three points of the most plebeian character in the Solonian constitution. The first and most important are that it is forbidden to lend money on personal security, the next is that whosoever will be allowed to avenge the injustice of those who have been wronged, and the third It is said that the most important thing is to rely on this point that the people gain strength - the system of appealing to the public trial court [8] (p. 302). This democratic mechanism made the political rule of Athens take the first step in the direction of democratization, thus establishing the basic framework of the democratic system and a solid social foundation.

During the tyranny period of Peisistratus, Solon still maintained the momentum of Solon's reforms. In public affairs, he pursued a policy that was more civil and political than tyranny[8] (p. 308). He developed the social economy and created favorable conditions for the establishment of democratic politics. The Cleisthenian reforms emerged under the influence of factors such as divisions within the nobility and strong demands for democratic reforms in society. The significance of this reform was epoch-making. The struggle of the common people against the nobility finally achieved a decisive victory, and democratic politics was finally established. Cleisthenes strengthened the power of the Citizens' Assembly and the Assembly of Five Hundred, creatively implemented the Shell Exile Law, and formed a mass supervision mechanism to maintain the democratic system. The people's sovereignty was dominated by civilians, including some nobles. It’s a foregone conclusion. At this point, Athenian politics underwent a qualitative change and a democratic system with both form and content was formed.

It was on this basis that in 462 BC, Ephiarte reduced the Consul Council, which was controlled by the clan nobles, and the Ares Council, composed of outgoing consuls, to a subordinate status. The Citizens' Assembly, which all citizens have the right to participate in, became the highest decision-making body for Athens' domestic and foreign policies [9] (p. 237). Shortly after the establishment of Athenian democracy, the Greco-Persian War broke out. Athenian democracy withstood severe tests during the war, developed steadily, and prospered. After the Greco-Persian War, Athens' commercial trade further expanded, and the power of industrial and commercial slave owners increased. The small-scale peasant economy and handicraft workshop production developed, the power of the third and fourth estates of free people increased, and the economic and mass base of democratic politics became broader. During this period, another historical figure appeared who greatly promoted the democratic political process in Athens - Pericles. From 443 BC to 429 BC, when Pericles was re-elected as chief general for 15 years, history is called the "Pericles Era". During Policles's reign, Athens' politics, economy and culture flourished. Marx said: "The internal heyday of Greece was the era of Pericles." [10] (p. 113)

During the era of Pericles, the Athenian slave-owner democracy was highly developed and reached its peak. Sheng. All citizens have gained the right to vote and be elected for official positions at all levels, and citizens who hold public offices have begun to receive monetary subsidies. Citizens have equal rights to decide on the national system and manage the country. According to Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War", Pericles once gave a speech: "The reason why our system is called democracy is that political power is in the hands of all citizens, not in the hands of a few. In private disputes, everyone is equal in law..." [11]

(p. 130) Plutarch's "Life of Pericles" also said: "No one is like Like Pericles, he was able to be moderate in severity and yet still be gentle in his majesty. His enviable power was once called despotism, but now it seems that it is the mainstay of the political system..."[ 12] (p. 501) Therefore, Pericles became an outstanding democratic politician with his political vision, firm belief in democracy, and personal charm of honesty and diligence. The democratic system he perfected and innovated is still famous in the world today. praised.

Athenian democracy began with Solon's reforms and was established during Cleisthenes' reforms. It reached its peak in the Periclean era and the democratic process moved along an upward path, and its impact was huge. Since Athenian citizens have more democratic rights, they have exerted their enthusiasm to participate in and discuss politics, injected new vitality into the defense of national defense, national management, official supervision, etc., and played a decisive role in enhancing national strength. Democratic politics also protected the interests of industrial and commercial slave owners. Small producers strengthened their power, and the national economy showed unprecedented vitality. Coupled with the democratic politics of the Athens city-state, it attracted many famous scholars and artists to Athens, and encouraged citizens to actively participate in cultural activities, which promoted the prosperity of Athens and even the entire Greek culture. Philosophy, literature, sculpture and other achievements were among the best in the world at that time. To a certain extent, city-state democracy allows individual creativity to have sufficient room for development. In various aspects such as economy, military, science, technology, culture, art, etc., it fully absorbs, digests, transforms, and advances the legacy of ancient Eastern civilizations. The speed should be improved [13] (p. 153). Lenin once regarded ancient Greek countries such as Athens as the most advanced, civilized, and civilized countries at that time, mainly because of its democratic politics [14] (p. 50).

This is indeed the most thorough political democracy in history, and its influence permeates every corner of the city-state. But we must be clear that the essence of Athenian democracy is the democracy of slave owners in Athens. Its democracy is based on the cruel oppression and exploitation of two to three hundred dependent states and two hundred thousand slaves. It suffocates or restricts other parts of society. The self-development ability of its members—slaves and foreign immigrants, as well as subordinate nationals—actually blocks the further improvement and development of its own democratic system. Therefore, it is not only a catalyst for great civilization, but also a prominent manifestation of social slavery and injustice. [4] (p. 204). This limitation made Athens' military situation in the Peloponnesian War increasingly unfavorable. Athenians gradually lost confidence in democratic politics. The crisis in the city-state deepened day by day. Democratic politics became more and more a shell and lost its past. of brilliance.

Although Athenian democracy had to end with the conquest of Alexander of Macedonia, its democratic ideas were bequeathed to later generations through the works of many ancient scholars, such as Plato's "The Republic" and Aristotle's "Politics". " and "The Constitution of Athens", and even to the Roman era Polybius's "General History" and Cicero's "On the Peace of Rome" and so on. These works have been passed down from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and then to modern times, and have had a major influence and role on the development of social and political thought and theory in the West and even in modern times in the East.

Although feudalism and Christianity dominated the Middle Ages, during these more than a thousand years, the undercurrent of democracy and democratic ideas surged, not only inheriting and developing the legacy of ancient democracy; On the basis of this, systems such as the British parliamentary system and the French three-tier parliament were established that had a great influence on later generations. Although there were barbarian invasions in the early Middle Ages, democracy in Western Europe continued to flow. The democratic legacy of the Germanic tribes; the elements of democracy and democracy in Roman political laws and ideas, as well as the democratic and legal elements that emerged from feudal contracts and charters, etc., all reflect the legacy and style of democracy. By the middle and late Middle Ages, democracy and democratic ideas were becoming more and more perfect. The development of the British Parliament and the representative system, the origin and evolution of the French three-level parliament, Machiavelli's political ideas, etc. were all reflected in the religious reform and Renaissance movements. and development. Even the modern British bicameral parliamentary system and the French bourgeois democratic parliamentary system cannot but be said to have historical origins with the medieval British parliamentary system, the French Estates-General, and even the ancient Greek democratic tradition.

The Renaissance set off an upsurge in research on ancient Greek democracy and culture. A large number of Athenian democracy, democratic thoughts and related works were published, and together with the democratic thought trend in the Middle Ages, they formed a powerful trend of studying democracy, which not only influenced the thinking of people at that time but also had a great influence on later generations, and it has been enduring to this day.