The Rise of Democratic Practices in Classical Athens

课文

1. In 508 BCE, Cleisthenes introduced reforms that gave ordinary male citizens real political power.

   公元前508年，克利斯提尼推行改革，赋予普通成年男性公民真正的政治权力。

2. Athenian citizens gathered regularly in the Assembly to debate laws and elect officials.

   雅典公民定期在公民大会上辩论法律、选举官员。

3. They drew lots to choose many public servants, believing chance reduced corruption and favoritism.

   他们通过抽签方式选任许多公职人员，认为随机性可减少腐败与偏袒。

4. Juries were large—often 201 or 501 people—and decided cases by majority vote.

   陪审团规模庞大，通常为201人或501人，案件由多数票裁决。

5. Women, slaves, and foreigners had no voting rights, yet this system still inspired later democracies.

   妇女、奴隶和外邦人没有投票权，但这一制度仍启发了后世民主政体。

6. Speeches in the Assembly trained citizens to think critically and argue respectfully.

   公民大会上的演说训练公民批判思考、理性辩论。

7. Even though limited by today’s standards, Athens’ model proved self-governance was possible.

   尽管以今日标准衡量存在局限，雅典模式却证明了自治可行。

8. Its ideas traveled across centuries and shaped modern parliaments and civic participation.

   其理念跨越世纪，塑造了现代议会制度与公民参与形式。