SECTION 4: CITY-STATES

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

POLIS

By 750 BC the polis was a fundamental political unit in Ancient Greece

City and the surrounding country (city-state)

50-500 square miles Often fewer than 10,000 people

AGORA Public square for trade and government

ACROPOLIS Fortified hill top Gather to discuss city government

MODEL OF ATHENIAN ACROPOLIS

POLITICAL STRUCTURES

Different among city-states Monarchy-rule by a king Aristocracy-rule by nobility

Dynastic Oligarchy-rule by a few powerful people

TYRANTS

Nobility who seized control Worked for the interest of the people Tyranny-gaining power and ruling by

force

ATHENS

LOCATION

Rocky Hillside North of Sparta Attica Peninsula

REFORM

Power struggle between rich and poor Moved towards democracy Citizens participated directly in

decisions Direct Democracy

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Monarchy to Aristocracy to Tyranny to Democracy

Democracy-government where citizens hold power Originator of Democracy

CITIZEN

Person who could take part in government Free Adult Males

Expected to take part in government Land Ownership was required at first

EVERYONE ELSE

No political rights Slaves (1/3 of population) Women-expected to take care of family

and household

CLASSICAL ATHENS

Developed the most democratic system Became the foundation of modern

democracy Developed direct democracy-each citizen

had input into all decision making Debate The Assembly-to speak their minds and

exercise their votes regarding the government

DRACO

621 BC First Greek Legal Code-all Athenians

equal under law Harsh punishments for crimes Retained debt slavery

SOLON (SO-LUHN)

594 BC Outlawed debt slavery Organized all citizens into 4 classes

(according to wealth) Top 3 could hold office All could participate in assembly

PEISISTRATUS

561 BC Loaned money for farming Gave jobs to poor by building

CLEISTHENES (KLYS-THUH-NEEZ)

500 BC Organized Citizens by location not

wealth 10 groups

All citizens could submit laws to assembly

COUNCIL OF 500

Created by Cleisthenes Proposed law Counseled the Assembly Chosen by lottery

ATHENIAN EDUCATION

Boys Only wealthy Reading, grammar,

poetry, history, math, music, public speaking

Military school

Girls Educated at home by

mothers Learned child rearing

and household tasks, weaving, and cooking

Few learned to read or write

SPARTA

INTRODUCTION

Peloponnesus-Peloponnesian Peninsula Militaristic State

MESSENIANS

Conquered by Sparta-725 BC Helots-peasants forced to work land

Paid ½ of crops in rent Military developed after Helots revolt-

650 BC

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Assembly All citizens (free adult males) Elected officials and voted on issues

Council of Elders (30 older citizens) Proposed laws to Assembly

Ephors-5 elected officials Carried out laws (administration) Controlled courts and education Power to veto laws Oligarchy-rule by a small group

SOCIAL GROUPS

Ruling families owned lands Free non-citizens-traders and artisans Helots-farming and servants

SPARTAN DAILY LIFE

Effects of militaristic society Most powerful army Did not learn value of arts and learning Valued duty and discipline over freedom

and learning Lagged behind other states (Athens) in

trade and cultural achievements

BOYS

Military training to become good soldiers

Infants-left to die on hillside if not healthy

Age 7-moved to barrack to learn military skills

Age 20-became soldiers on frontier Age 30-married, supported family Age 60- Retired, trained soldiers

BARRACKS

GIRLS

Received Military Training Were taught Sparta before their family Married at 19 Expected to be mothers of good

soldiers