Academy of American Democracy

Created in partnership with the New York Historical Society as part of their Academy of American Democracy project, this series looks at the links between the roots of democracy in ancient Athens and modern day democracy in the USA

Voting in Ancient Athens

The United States is a representative democracy where people vote for politicians to govern on their behalf – but voting in the direct democracy of ancient Athens was a very different process.

Race in Ancient Greece

We often think of ancient Greek society as White, but it was a lot more diverse than we give it credit for.

Women in Ancient Athens

The lives and rights of women in Greece, from a modern perspective, seem severely limited; yet, they played important roles in society.

Democratic Symbols in Ancient Athens

In ancient Athens, symbols were used to promote religious and democratic ideals and beliefs. Thousands of years later these symbols helped to define the United States.

Ancient Greek Theater

Greece was home to hundreds of open-air arenas where citizens came together to discuss the important issues of the day. Like Broadway today, they were a place for both entertainment and important social commentary.

The Road to Athenian Democracy

What forms of government preceded democracy and how did this pave the way for the ancient Athenians to invent democracy?

The Stonewall Uprising

How the The Stonewall Inn became the focus of the LGBTQ+ community’s fight for rights in the 1960s

Public Spaces and Democracy

Why are public spaces – places that are open to everyone, where people can gather – necessary for democracy?