[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c7.524 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.524 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.524 - **Language:** English ### [c7.524](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.524) Then, Professor Sharma talks of the "function of debate" being exercised by the "Vedic assemblies, e.g., the \*vidatha\*, the \*sabhā\* and \*samiti\*" which, in his opinion, "is not to be found in the early popular assemblies of the other Indo-European peoples".¹ He forgets that the Roman \*patres-familias\* elected the \*rex\* before the foundation of the republic, and that later the \*comitia centuriata\*, the assembly of the Roman Republic, elected the chief magistrates and heard appeals in capital cases.² The Athenian \*ecclesia\* had the absolute power of the republic; it debated on the questions of war and peace, and it was the members of the \*ecclesia\* who tried Socrates.³ It was the community of the early Germans which chose chiefs, conducted trials and decided larger questions.⁴ Moreover, we have also noticed the role that the Vikings played in the election of their chiefs. Hence, it is a wrong assertion that "the early popular assemblies of the other Indo-European peoples" had no debating function. - [Previous: c7.523](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.523) - [Next: c7.525](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.525) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.524](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.524) · Pramāṇa