Conclusion
Remember what I said in the introduction? I'm coming back to it. Well? Do you have an answer? What other code lasted for 300 years with minimal changes? I don't know if you can, but I sure can't. This system was not only revolutionary for the time period, but it also laid the foundation for the court system in the United States today. It gave the accused actual rights. they didn't have to sit around helplessly as a judge decided their fate. Their fate was actually in their own hands They could argue that they were not guilty, and actually have a chance for the jury to deem them not guilty. And if they were found guilty, they could set their own punishment and actually have a chance for the jury to select that. The accused weren't even detained during the time before the case. This allowed them to come up with their own case to persuade the jury with. It also allowed them to find and possibly hire professional orators to help them with their case if they couldn't think of one themselves.
But I think the best part about this was that regular people decided what happened. Once you step into the courtroom, you have all the power; even more than the rich people who can boss you around outside. But they can't in here. However, the thing about that is that you don't know. it. You're wielding enormous power, and you don't even know that it's there. And you were even paid for wielding that power. The system really was ingenious. It satisfied everyone, made Athens a true democracy, and gave people who were accused actual rights. It was their responsibility to exercise those rights, but exercising them wasn't very hard, so anyone could do it.
This was democracy at its finest. A court by the people, for the people, and of the people. I hope you have enjoyed my website. I'm signing off.
But I think the best part about this was that regular people decided what happened. Once you step into the courtroom, you have all the power; even more than the rich people who can boss you around outside. But they can't in here. However, the thing about that is that you don't know. it. You're wielding enormous power, and you don't even know that it's there. And you were even paid for wielding that power. The system really was ingenious. It satisfied everyone, made Athens a true democracy, and gave people who were accused actual rights. It was their responsibility to exercise those rights, but exercising them wasn't very hard, so anyone could do it.
This was democracy at its finest. A court by the people, for the people, and of the people. I hope you have enjoyed my website. I'm signing off.