Hi.
We’re the Time Twins.
We’re twins.
Obviously.
And we have a time machine.
Just go with it.
Today, we’re going back to Ancient Greece
to see what that Democracy thing is all about.
So, how was your trip to Ancient Greece?
Exhausting.
Really?
Greece is exhausting?
Yeah.
Is it because you’re wearing armor?
Yes.
No.
Kinda.
It’s because of the hiking.
The hiking?
There’s a lot of it.
Hiking?
Yeah.
Turns out that Greece is a pretty mountainous
place, so every city and village is separated
by a lot of...well...vertical rock.
You couldn’t take the roads?
No roads.
No roads?
No roads.
There are some goat paths, though.
Which would be fine, if I were a goat.
You’re not a goat.
I am not.
So I guess Ancient Greeks didn’t travel
a whole lot?
If they did, they were in really good shape.
And I guess all those cities didn’t really
trust each other much, since the people never
really visited each other a lot?
Because of the mountains.
Because of the mountains.
So, where did you end up?
Athens.
Oh, wow.
Birthplace of democracy.
demos kratos, rule of the people!
That had to be neat.
The first place in the world where things
were decided by a vote!
Kind of.
...kind of?
Yeah, kind of.
Turns out that only male citizens could vote.
Oh, so no girls.
No girls allowed.
Correct.
And I guess it was hard to actually become
a citizen of Athens?
Yeah.
You had to be born there.
Huh.
So you visited the home of democracy and never
actually voted?
Yeah.
I hiked over those mountains and never voted.
Because you weren’t born there.
Uh-huh.
But, you know, I’m not sure Athenian democracy
was all that great.
Because you couldn’t vote?
Because you could legally kick unpopular people
out of town by voting.
What?
Yeah, if enough people wrote your name on
a shard of pottery called an ostrakon, they’d
kick you out.
They couldn’t just hold up their hands?
No, it was a secret vote.
That doesn’t seem right.
Well, it happens.
If a majority wrote your name on an ostrakon,
you were ostracized.
Bye bye Athens.
Is that where that word comes from?
Yeah.
Were you ostracized?
Yeah.
So ostracism was a problem?
Well, consider this: the most famous Athenian
was probably a leader named Pericles.
He led Athens through a thirty-year long war,
sponsored some of the best art in world history,
and supported democracy and freedom of speech.
So they ostracized him?
Nope.
He ostracized other people.
Oh wow.
Like, a lot of other people.
Basically anyone who didn’t agree with him,
Pericles would encourage Athens to ostracize
them.
That doesn’t sound very free.
Welcome to Athens...although, I guess not,
since you look like me.
And you were ostracized.
And I was ostracized.
Well, thanks for keeping me from ever visiting
one of my favorite time periods.
You’re welcome.
