BellaOnline Forums Education History The Evolution of Athenian Democracy

The founding fathers in colonial America were well versed in Greek, Roman, and European history and government. Based on their knowledge of what succeeded and failed in those early days is how they came up with our form of government.

In light of events today, I recall Khrushchev banging his shoe on the podium screaming that he would bury us from within - sometimes I think that is what is happening.

Rebecca, your articles are interesting - so few of us know our history.

I've just come across this forum-topic. Coincidentally, in November 2011 I posted an item on my blog called *True democracy in ancient Athens* - which can be linked to by searching for that title (inside quotation marks) on Google. It contains some interesting speculations, I think.

In tracing the origin of the word back to the Greek god whose name is usually transliterated as Themis, I forgot to note that that that name is familiar to most of us as the name of the River Thames in England. That's interesting, too!