Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

Democracy, which etymologically means the 'power of the people,' is a form of government that, although common in the modern West, has its roots in antiquity. Its first significant manifestation occurred in Ancient Greece, specifically in the city-state of Athens, where decision-making power was shared by all citizens. The concepts of citizenship, in turn, were also strongly linked to the idea of democracy.

However, ancient democracy and Athenian citizenship were very different from contemporary conceptions. Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, where all citizens (excluding women, slaves, and foreigners) could directly participate in government and decision-making. Citizenship was also restricted and based on criteria such as birth and wealth.

Over time, the concepts of democracy and citizenship expanded and evolved, undergoing various changes and interpretations as different societies and civilizations emerged and fell. Nowadays, most democracies are representative, which means that citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. In addition, citizenship is generally based on criteria such as birth in a country's territory or naturalization.

Contextualization

Studying democracy and citizenship, from antiquity to the present day, is not only to understand the history of these concepts but also to comprehend their everyday implications and their importance for contemporary societies. The history of democracy is the history of the struggle for inclusion, participation, and rights, and it is still ongoing. By understanding the evolution of democracy, we gain a greater understanding of the tensions and challenges we still face today.

Citizenship, in turn, goes beyond the right to vote or participate in a government. It is also about belonging to a community, a nation, and having rights and duties in that context. Citizenship reflects an individual's connection to the state and to other citizens, as well as the values that guide such relationships. By understanding how citizenship has evolved throughout history, we can better understand our own expectations and obligations as citizens and how we contribute to the construction of democracy.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Democratic Journey: From Ancient Athens to the Modern World'

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to explore and understand the evolution of democracy and citizenship from antiquity to the present day, through the creation of a historical documentary made by the students themselves.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5, and each group will be responsible for highlighting a specific era or region (Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Democratic Revolutions, Modern Democracies, etc.) in which democracy and citizenship played a crucial role. They must research, collect materials, and prepare the content for a historical documentary covering the evolution of democracy and citizenship in that era or region.

Necessary Materials

1. Access to books, articles, websites, and videos on the history of democracy and citizenship.
2. Computer with internet access for research and for creating the documentary.
3. Materials for documentary production (it can be a slide presentation, a video made with a smartphone, or a more complex production with video editing software).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Research and Information Collection: Each group must research democracy and citizenship in the era or region assigned to them. They should look for information on how democracy was perceived and practiced, who were considered citizens, what rights and duties they had, and how these concepts evolved over time.
2. Script Development: Based on their research, each group must develop a script for their documentary. The script should include an introduction to the period or location, a detailed description of democracy and citizenship at that time, and an explanation of how these concepts evolved during and/or after that period.
3. Documentary Production: Using the script as a guide, each group must produce their documentary. The documentary format may vary depending on the resources available to each group, but it must be multimedia (incorporating text, images, sound, video, etc.) and must be presentable to the class.
4. Documentary Presentation and Discussion: After completing the documentary, each group will present their work to the class. After each presentation, there should be time for questions and discussions.

Project Delivery

The final work will consist of the documentary and a written report, to be delivered one month after the project start date. The report should contain the following topics:

1. Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, its relevance and real-world application, and the project's objective.
2. Development: The theory of the central theme of the project (democracy and citizenship in the studied era or region) must be explained, the activity detailed, the materials and research methodology used indicated, and finally, the results obtained presented and discussed. Here, they should also provide a summary of the documentary script and explain the narrative choices made.
3. Conclusion: Recap of the main points, the learnings obtained, and the conclusions about the project. Students should highlight how the completion of this project deepened their understanding of the evolution of democracy and citizenship.
4. Bibliography: The sources used for the project work should be indicated here, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Remember: the purpose of this project is not only to assess students' knowledge of the topic but also their skills in working as a team, managing time, and conducting independent research.