Ancient and Medieval Political Theory - Essay Example

ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THEORY: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS Unit Mixed Government In the entire Book VI of the 40 volume book of Histories by Polybius, the topic is centered on the concept of the government, and in particular the role of the constitution within the Roman political system. The book provides an account of the roman political system and the fact that it is based on a mixed constitution with the following features; aristocracy, democracy and monarchy1. He noted the opinion held by Plato on aristocracy being the best form of government2, however mixed form of government was the most practical.

Aristocracy However, this notion of aristocracy was famously propagated by Aristotle. Aristocratic government is not really idealistic, however during the roman heights, kingship and democracy could have been more prevalent, and the democracy practiced then could have been an inverted aristocracy. Even though discusses the three concept of unmixed government, he opines that the roman government is a blend of the three styles of government. Consuls correspond to the idea of monarchy, the senate embodied aristocracy and democracy was reflected in the state’s public gathering.

US and Polybius Constitution Systems of government differ with each with its own advantages and disadvantages, but due to man’s conscious desire for freedom, democracy has emerged to be an overwhelming favorite throughout the globe. Present day ideas behind democracy would totally differ with the notion held by Polybius during the ancient roman glory. The government as perceived by Polybius would be unmanageable with the advent of the more conscious modern man. The United States political system mirrors that was described by Polybius in the book, and that of the evolution of the American system showed the empire growth of the ancient Rome3Bibliography Polybius, Ian Scott-Kilvert, and F. W. Walbank.

 The Rise of the Roman Empire. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1979.Malamud, Margaret. Ancient Rome and Modern America. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.