ICSE Class 6 Answered

After the Greeks secured a victory over the invading Persians, they formed a league of independent Greek city states called the Delian League. Athens became the leader of the League under the helmsmanship of Pericles. He is said to have developed the system of democratic governance. In fact, ‘democracy’ itself is a Greek word meaning ‘power of the people’. In a democracy, citizens played an active role in the government and welfare of the state.

There was also a General Assembly of citizens, and all males, except the salves, were members of it. Meetings were held in a big open ground where issues of the city state were discussed. Proposals for laws were made by the members and passed according to the procedure. Such laws were enforced by the Council of Five Hundred whose members were elected by the people. Courts were also established and cases were tried by the jury. The jury had people from all classes of society. Hence, Athens gradually became the best example of a country with a democratic form of government.