Democracy used to mean a form of government in which the citizens made the decisions. In opposition to aristocracy, rule of an elite, or a bunch of bastards owning and deciding everything. The meaning of a word can drift and change over time.
Not exactly. Citizenship, in this context of ancient Athens, did exclude women and slaves, but wasn’t related to wealth or land ownership. Basically, it was tied to the obligation of military service.
Democracy used to mean a form of government in which the citizens made the decisions. In opposition to aristocracy, rule of an elite, or a bunch of bastards owning and deciding everything. The meaning of a word can drift and change over time.
Also, the “citizens” were a small number of wealthy men who owned slaves and they could hold votes in a room.
Not exactly. Citizenship, in this context of ancient Athens, did exclude women and slaves, but wasn’t related to wealth or land ownership. Basically, it was tied to the obligation of military service.