The Story of Democracy | The Human Odyssey Series

For most of human history, power was simple: it was taken by force and held by blood. Kings, emperors, and pharaohs ruled by divine right, their word was law. But then, in the bustling city of Athens, a radical new idea was born—what if the people, the ordinary, everyday citizens, were the ones in charge? In this episode of The Human Odyssey, we trace the dramatic, often bloody, life story of democracy. We’ll stand on the Pnyx hill with the first citizens who ever voted. We’ll see the idea fall, lost for a thousand years in the darkness of empire and monarchy. We’ll witness its explosive rebirth in the fires of the American and French Revolutions, and we’ll follow the long, arduous fight to expand the meaning of “We the People” to include all races and genders. This is a story of an idea that has toppled empires and freed nations, but one that remains eternally fragile. It’s a story about the ongoing, unfinished, and essential struggle for control over our own destiny. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don’t forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!

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