Discussion Topic Classical Greece and Rome have contributed greatly to our current understanding of
democracy. In ancient Greece, citizens were directly responsible for participating in
government decisions. In Rome, the citizens elected government officials to make
decisions on their behalf as part of a republican government. Both systems of
democracy-direct and representative-have influenced the US political system.
After learning about the history of ancient Greece and Rome, what do you think are the
benefits of a democratic system? In what ways did democracy serve Greece and Rome?
Has there been a time when democracy didn't serve Greece or Rome in a way that was
beneficial? What circumstances contributed to the failures of democracy you learned
about in the lessons on ancient Greece and ancient Rome? Are there any potentially
negative aspects of democracy? Why or why not?