This passage was written by Herodotus and is found in his work Histories 3.80. In the passage, a character named Otanes is arguing against monarchy and proposing that the Persions adopt a democratic government. He outlines a variety of issues concerning monarchy and explains how democracy creates equality while preventing problems associated with one ruler.
Although democracy didn’t exist until 508 BC, after the time period in which this text is placed, we can still compare the ancient and modern ideas of democracy. We can explore Otanes’s reasons against monarchy and learn why it may not exist in modern society. We can also compare how democracy might have been seen in the past to how it is seen today. For example, Otanes states how the
Although democracy didn’t exist until 508 BC, after the time period in which this text is placed, we can still compare the ancient and modern ideas of democracy. We can explore Otanes’s reasons against monarchy and learn why it may not exist in modern society. We can also compare how democracy might have been seen in the past to how it is seen today. For example, Otanes states how the