Chapter 40 4. Discovery

This is very clear at cruising altitude. If we use different colors to represent different national systems, such as blue for democracy, red for republic, black for oligarchy, yellow for monarchy, plus gray for clans and tribes, and white for barren land, then the civilization The original world map, in addition to large areas of gray and white, is a large area of ​​yellow.Red and black are rare, and only appear in individual areas such as the Aegean Sea, the Balkans, and the foothills of the Himalayas.Blue, which represents democracy, is almost just a dot, and it will disappear in a blink of an eye.

Its name is "Athens". However, this little dot that was submerged in yellow came back to life more than a thousand years later and became a vast ocean.Even those de facto authoritarian regimes had to play up the banner of democracy.Today's world is already a piece of blue. At least, it seems to be. So, is democracy an accident, or is it inevitable? This question is difficult to answer.If it was an accident, why did it become a trend later?If it is inevitable, why was it unique at that time? You can only find samples, make comparisons, and check clues. The sample is the United States.This country, which enacted the first written constitution of mankind, and this country, which was talked about rather than typed out, is a model of democracy, republic, and constitutionalism.Yet this country of merchants, artisans, lawyers, illiterates, explorers, gold diggers and vagabonds bears a striking resemblance to Athens.Their founding of the country is actually because of sailing, colonization and business, almost exactly the same.

so what? Sailing makes people feel freedom, colonization makes people understand independence, and doing business makes people learn equality.Equality does not tolerate tyranny, independence requires mutual benefit, and freedom requires laws to follow.The outcome of independence, freedom, and equality is bound to be democracy, republic, and constitutionalism, "governing the country by contract" and "power checks and balances." From Athens to Philadelphia, the secrets of Western civilization are clearly revealed, and the core values ​​are also clear at a glance. But is this the common value of all mankind?