Question

document #3: professor hansen mogens herman hansen was a professor of philology and classics at the university of copenhagen before retiring in 2010. he is considered a leading expert in the world on the subject of athenian democracy. the following is an excerpt from an article he wrote in 1989 the objections regularly raised against athenian democracy are twofold: first, democracy is the rule of the whole of the people, excluding minors and maniacs only. demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women; free foreigners (metics) and slaves. thus, by our standards it was oligarchy, not democracy. second, rule was exercised directly by the people, whereas democracy today means government by representatives of the people. popular assemblies belong to the past, and direct democracy has been made impossible by the size of modern nations. athenian demokratia is criticized for being both more democratic and less democratic than democracy. it is more democratic by being government by the people instead of government by those elected by the people. it is less democratic by narrowing down the concept of demos to mean the adult male citizens in assembly. source: mogens herman hansen, \was athens a democracy?\, 1989. 1.who is hansen? what are the strengths and weaknesses of this document as a source about athens’s political system? 2. according to hansen, how was athens’s political system more democratic/less democratic than democracies we think of today? considering the time period when democracy came into existence should the argument that it was less democratic than today be the final say in whether athens was a true democracy?

Explanation:

1. Who is Hansen?: Mogens Herman Hansen was a professor of philology and classics at the University of Copenhagen, a leading expert on Athenian democracy, who retired in 2010.

• Strengths of the document as a source: Hansen's expertise gives the document authority. His long - standing study in the field implies in - depth knowledge.
• Weaknesses: It may be influenced by his personal academic perspective. Also, as it is from 1989, newer research may have emerged since then.

1. Athens's political system more/less democratic: More democratic as it was government by the people directly instead of by elected representatives. Less democratic as it limited the concept of demos to adult male citizens, excluding women, free foreigners (metics), and slaves.
2. Final say on Athens being a true democracy: Considering the time period, the argument that it was less democratic than today should not be the final say. Social and political norms were different then. Athens was a pioneer in democratic concepts, and while it had limitations, it was a form of democracy within its own context.

Answer:

1. Mogens Herman Hansen was a professor of philology and classics at the University of Copenhagen, a leading expert on Athenian democracy, who retired in 2010. Strengths: Authority due to expertise, in - depth knowledge. Weaknesses: May be biased by personal perspective, outdated since 1989.
2. More democratic: Government by the people directly. Less democratic: Limited demos to adult male citizens.
3. The argument that it was less democratic than today should not be the final say considering the time period as social and political norms were different and Athens was a democratic pioneer within its context.