12-3 Notes: Rise of Greek Cities

Homer• Poet who is thought

to have lived sometime between 800 and 700 B.C.E.

• Wrote epic poems such as Odyssey and Iliad

Herodotus• “Father of History”

lived between c. 484 and 425 B.C.E.

• Often credited as the first person to systematically gather evidence, test their accuracy, and arrange them to create narrative stories of the past (“history”)

• The Histories is his only known work

Rise of the Polis• 1500 B.C.E.,

Mycenaean civilization dominates Greece

• By the 700s B.C.E., new independent city-states(“polis”) became cultural centers of Greece

• Athens, Sparta

Acropolis – Large hill where city residents could find shelter in times of war

Agora – Clearing near the Acropolis where people would trade; marketplace, meeting place

Government in Greek City States• Citizenship – Leaders of

governments had to be citizens of their polis

• Naturally born native, free men only

• Women, slaves have less rights

• 600 B.C.E. – Greek city of Athens ruled by an oligarchy, a system of government in which the most rich and powerful citizens control most decision making

• Athens was also ruled by a monarchy, a system of government ruled by one person

Sparta• 700 B.C.E. –

Sparta covers most of southern Peloponnesus and was Greece’s largest polis

• Slavery common in Sparta – 7 to 1 slave ratio at times

• 600s B.C.E. – Spartans forced to crush slave revolt; militarize their state

Spartan Children• Boys and girls begin school

at age 7• Boys enter the agoge

system, a highly rigorous education system that included military training, education, social preparation

• Starting at the age of 20, Spartan boys served the army for 10 years

• Spartan women went to school and trained vigorously to become strong women, mostly to become strong mothers

• Women engaged in business, public life

Athenian Children• Athenian girls spent

their time at home, helping their mothers weave cloth or farm

• Athenian boys worked in the fields or in workshops

• Some parents could afford to send their children to school to study reading, writing, and physical education

Democracy in Athens• Over time, poorer

people began to grow unhappy with Athens’ government, which was dominated by richer people

• Government slowly began to include large meetings where all people could participate in decision making

• Democracy – “rule by the people”