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Archaeologists investigate the dramatic origins of democracy in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago.
Official website: https://to.pbs.org/4bJRb7c | #novapbs
The United States has experimented with democracy for 250 years, but our system of government was once a radical idea, born in ancient Greece. Ravaged by civil war and tyranny 2,500 years ago, the city of Athens forged a revolutionary new system that gave power to the citizens. Witness the archaeological quest to unearth the ingenious tools and pivotal moments that shaped this unprecedented experiment in self-government. From mysterious fragments of ancient voting machines to mass graves and dramatic assassinations, discover the dark secrets and innovative solutions that defined the world’s first direct democracy. What enduring lessons can this surprising historical journey offer us today?
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:28 A Mysterious Ancient Burial Ground
10:29 The First Experiments of Democracy
28:34 Early Voting Systems in Ancient Greece
38:04 Inequality and Slavery in Greek Society
43:04 Replicating the Ancient Greek Lottery
49:57 Restoring Democracy After Civil War
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Athens documentary, democracy, greece democracy, acropolis, parthenon, ancient greece lottery, kleroterion, greek democracy, greek politics
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