Athens was not the only, or even the first, democracy in Greece—although this is a popular misconception. As mentioned above, many colonies began on a basis of at least partial egalitarianism, leading to democratic structures and ideologies. Likewise, it is probable that the hoplite warfare that evolved in the Archaic Age led to a belief that all members of a city who fight in its defense should share in its administration. Later, the Athenians "inflicted" democratic reforms on many of the poleis in their empire, popularizing the trend. Finally, many poleis simply opted for democracies.
One was Argos in the Peloponnese. Argos appears to have adopted a democratic system around 470-460 b. c.e. The base of the government was the damos (an alternate form of the word demos), which was equated early on with the Aliaia, or Assembly. This Aliaia convened about once per month (more in periods of crisis) to discuss sacred matters and legislation, as well as foreign affairs when necessary. The laws and decrees of the Aliaia were authenticated by an assembly president and a council secretary. This secretary probably served an annual term, but the president himself served for four months at a time. The Aliaia, the president, and the secretary served as the "legislative branch" of government (Pierart 2000, 303-310).
Part of the "executive branch" was the Eighty. They, along with the city treasurer, ensured that decrees were made public, and they served as judicial functionaries and arbitrators. Like the assembly, they had a president and, unlike the assembly, two secretaries. Also functioning in an executive capacity were the Artynai, known only through a reference in Thucydides. These men probably were the equivalent of the Athenian archons, the magistrates in charge of implementing the will of the assembly. Finally, at least until 420 b. c.e., there was a government official called the king, or basileus. This was probably a hereditary title for an official with traditional religious responsibilities to the city (Pierart 2000, 303-310).
Another democracy was established on Rhodes. This Rhodian democracy existed among the three poleis on the island—lalysos, Kameiros, and Lindos— which had synoecized over a gradual process, culminating mainly between 411-407 b. c.e. During this period, they founded the city of Rhodos to serve as a political and military center (much like Washington, D. C., in the United States), and started minting a common coinage for the entire island (Gabriel-sen 2000, 195-196).
The political base of the community was the damos, usually called the pas damos or "entire people." This damos enjoyed freedom of speech (parresia) and especially the right to submit proposals (isegoria) to the ekklesia/assem-bly. This ekklesia was the highest political authority in the state. It met in the theater of Rhodos monthly to debate national and foreign issues and to pass laws and decrees. Thus, it might be seen as the legislative branch of the Rhodian government. The ekklesia worked in conjunction with a boule, whose members were chosen by lot from the damos to serve six-month terms. As with other democratic systems, this boule prepared materials for presentation in the ekklesia. Along with these two bodies were five prytanies, officials who presided over sessions of the ekklesia and probably the boule as well. As with Periclean Athens, there was pay for governmental service, such as attending the assembly, serving on juries, or even for serving various military and civic functions. In all, the system on Rhodes was what we might term a radical (social) democracy, where pay for service allowed even the poorest members of society to take part in government (Gabrielsen 2000, 190-191).
(Please note: This book uses terms like legislative branch and executive branch to make these functions more familiar to the modern reader. The ancient Greeks themselves did not share our concepts of checks and balances, and there was no strict segregation of governmental functions.)
World History
