The Ancient City :: essays research papers

The Ancient City PompeiiHow democratic was Pompeian politics?In order to dress the above question, it is first necessary to consider the exact meaning of the name democracy. Whilst it is difficult to give an exact definition of the word, it is certainly possible to get a list of the implications of democratic government for a partnership and its citizens. possibly the most obvious of these implications, certainly when considered from a forward-looking standpoint, would be that all(prenominal) full fraction of a society would be considered as world equal, and thus would have an equal say in the running and appointing of a government. Secondly, truly democratic government would similarly imply that e actually member of society would have an equal opportunity to be elected to a governmental position. Such an opportunity should at least(prenominal), in theory anyway, not be reliant on social class or position, nor monetary support. Finally, the existence of a truly democrat ic system of government would also imply that governments be periodically elected, and during any given term of government, politicians would be fully employed by the state in the running of the country. disposed such implications of democracy, Pompeian politics would appear at first appraisal to exactly be democratic at all. Certainly, it can be said that the politics of Pompeii in particular and by extension the politics of Roman society as a whole do not meet the modern, occidental thinkings of a relation backly liberal, democratic society. However, such a modern, Western idea of democracy was one that was entirely alien to the citizens of Pompeii and to the citizens of many ancient civilizations. Therefore, the temperament of Pompeian politics must be considered not only from a modern political standpoint, but also from a standpoint more relative to the political ideals of Pompeian society and the Roman Empire, where a very different var. of democracy was in existence. Whi lst such a form of democracy is very different to that of today, it is certainly accurate to say that there was at least some element of democracy in Pompeian politics. Without such an