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509 BCE
Roman Republic
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Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE
Roman Republic
Roman society was split into three different classes, the Patricians, the Plebeians, and the Tribune. In 451 BCE, the Twelve Tablets were created and hung in the Forum, these became the basis for all of Roman law and confirmed the rights of all free citizens. By 133 BCE the Roman Republic stretched all the way from Spain to Egypt, although corruption would lead to 100 years of civil war before turning into the Roman Empire in 27 BCE under the rule of Augustus. -
508 BCE
Athenian Democracy
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Period: 508 BCE to 332 BCE
Athenian Democracy
Athenian Democracy started in 508 BCE by Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes’ three pillars of Athenian Democracy were the Boule (Council of 500), the Ekklesia (Assembly), and the Dikatera (Courts).
The system of ostracism was a system centered around protecting democracy by exiling anyone though a threat to it for 10 years, however if one was powerful enough, it was highly exploitable to rid rivals. -
902
Thing
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Period: 902 to
Thing
A Thing was a gathering between Norse clans to discuss matters of importance. Things were where laws were made and accepted, although no laws were written down until their Christianization. Laws were known through a Law-Speaker, who memorized the laws and made sure they were followed. The Things had the authority to set taxes, say who was king, settle disputes, and handle murders and similar cases. Although the most powerful usually held more sway, the Things allowed most people equal opinion. -
Jun 15, 1215
Parliament of the United Kingdom
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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a document outlining rights and liberties for the upper class of England, and eventually everyone, and put the sovereignty of England under rule of law. After years of King John’s abuse of power, England was put into civil war. Eventually King John was cornered on Runnymede and forced to sign an early draft of the Magna Carta known as the Articles of the Barons, the first formal draft would be issued four days later, with modifications happening to it over the following years -
Period: Jun 15, 1215 to
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom Parliament started its life as nothing more than an advisory council to the king. The first parliament that wasn't limited only to the super rich and would hold the first elections would occur in 1265. In 1707 Scotland was brought under English rule and became apart of its parliament, and again with Ireland near the end of the 18th century. -
1231
Landsgemeinde
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Period: 1231 to
Landsgemeinde
A Landsgenenine is a form of direct democracy still used in the Switzerland cantons Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. They take place on the last Sunday of April and the first Sunday of May and are used to discuss and conduct business that concern those cantons. Voting is done by a show of hands, with experiencing men deciding if there is a majority or not, if it’s not clear an exact count is had. -
1302
Estates-Generals
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Period: 1302 to
Estates-Generals
The Estate-Generals of France were meetings between the three estates to provide counsel and aid to the king. The three estates were the clergy, nobility, and a Third Estate, that represented everyone else. Estate-Generals were frequently called together to discuss matters of importance between the years 1302 and 1789. The last meeting would be called in the year 1789, due to the Third Estate leading a revolution against it during the start of the French Revolution. -
1493
Polish Sejm
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Period: 1493 to
Polish Sejm
The sejm was Poland’s form of parliament. It was divided into two chambers, the Senate, derived from the Royal Chambers, and the House of Deputies, representing the middle nobility., and until the 1795, was the only representative of the nobility. Each chamber was considered its own deliberating party, with the king acting as his own one person deliberating party. The sejm’s greatest achievement is considered to be its adoption of the first modern form of the basic law of Poland on May 3, 1791. -
Glorious Revolution
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Period: to
Glourious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution marks William of Orange claiming the English throne from King James II, forming a co-monarchy with Mary II. Under request of Parliament, William landed with a Dutch army in England on November 5, 1688 and officially took the throne on February 13, 1689. King William III and Queen Mary II would lead a co-monarchy that was much more restricted than previous monarchies, handing most power to parliament and retaining very little. -
US Constituation
The US Constitution was first created to replace the Articles Confederation, which was very weak and had each state acting like its own nation. Alexander Hamilton saw this and called for a constitutional convention in 1786 to rectify this. The final draft of the Constitution would be made on September 17, 1787. On March 4, 1789 the US would follow the Constitution and its amendments.
