Equal Justice

Justice and equality are the foundations upon which Democracy stands. These fundamental principles insure that all citizens have the right to be treated equally before the law, regardless of their status in society.

Were justice and equality valued in the ancient world? How would you classify the socioeconomic position of the average man of antiquity, living in Europe, Asia or anywhere else?

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

The typical relationship between the public and the aristocracy is reflected in the Feudal System.

Joe Average was a serf, a peasant, which usually meant that he either farmed land that he didn't own or owned his land but gave most of his crops in taxes to his lord. Certainly he lived at the bottom of the economic barrel. This was the position of the overwhelming majority of people throughout history.

Above the peasant masses existed a tiny minority, the ruling elite, and the nobility. What gave them the right to rule? Were they democratically elected by the masses?

THE GOLDEN RULE

Popularity did not determine ruling status; wealth gave them their power. They practiced the "Golden Rule" that is, "He who has the gold makes the rules." Ancestry, success in killing enemies and in conquest of land, the value and expanse of one's property,  all determined the right to rule. It had nothing to do with democracy, personal integrity, education, or competence. We see this as well in feudal Europe and feudal Japan, and almost everywhere else we look throughout history.

A king or an emperor usually presided above the nobility. He was all-powerful, completely above the law, and often given the status of a god.

The vast majority of the people were not protected by any lawful procedures and lived at the mercy of the small ruling elite. The serf couldn't go over to the nobleman and say, "Your horse knocked me over, I'm going to sue you!"

As a matter of fact, in many feudal and quasi-feudal societies the lord practiced what was called "droit de seigneur," "the right of the lord." According to this practice, the lord or nobleman would take the peasant's bride on the night of her wedding and rape her before the new bridegroom consummated the marriage. This was considered a legal right of the lord over his peasants.

What about democracy in Greece?

The concept of democracy comes from the Athenian Greeks. About 2,500 years ago, in the Golden Age of Athens, Peracles established the most perfect democratic system in history. They invented the idea of democracy, meaning "government of the people." In Athens every citizen voted directly. (Today we have representational democracy: You vote for someone who hopefully will vote in your interests.)

Who voted in this beautiful Greek democratic system?

Citizens!

Who were citizens? (click your answer)

A) All adult residents of Athens

B) Non-slave Athenians, including merchants, farmers, women

C) Only land-owning adult men

D) All men - no slaves, women, or children

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