Power And Authority
- the growth of city-states in Greece led to the development of several political systems, including democracy.
- many political systems in today's world mirror the varied forms of government that evolved in Greece.
Setting The Stage
- during the Dorian period, Greek civilization experienced decline.
- two things changed life in Greece.
- first, Dorians and Mycenaeans alike began to identify less with culture of their ancestors and more with the local area where they lived.
- second, by the end of this period, and method of governing areas had changed from tribal or clan control to more formal governments---the city-states.
Rule and Order in Greek City-States
By 750 B.C., the city-states, or polis, was the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece. Polis was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside, which include numerous villages, and controlled between 50 and 500 square miles of territory. At the agora, or marketplace, or on a fortified hilltop called an acropolis, citizens gathered to discuss city government.
- Greek Political Structures
- had many different forms of government
- a single person, called a king, ruled in a government called a monarchy.
- adopted an aristocracy, a government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families.
- a new class of wealthy merchants and artisans formed an oligarchy, a government ruled by a few powerful people.
- Tyrants Seize Power
- repeated clashed occurred between rulers and the common people.
- powerful individuals usually nobles or other wealthy citizens seized control of the government by appealing to the common people for support. These ruled called tyrants.
- they are not harsh and cruel
Athens Builds a Limited Democracy
The idea of representation government also began to take roots in some city-states particularly Athens. Athens went through power struggle between rich and poor. They avoided major political upheavals by making timely reforms, and reformers moved toward democracy-ruled by people.
- Building Democracy
- first step toward democracy is when a nobleman named Draco took power.
- he developed a legal code based on that all Athenians were equal under the law.
- Solon came to power in 594 B.C.
- he state that no citizens should own another citizens, he outlawed debt slavery.
- organized all citizens into four social classes.
- 500 B.C., Cleisthenes organizing citizens into ten groups based on where they lived rather than on their wealth.
- he allow all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage
- this reform allow Athenian citizens to participate in a limited democracy.
- Athenian Education
- for the most part, only the son of wealthy families received formal education.
- they studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, mathematics and music; then they received training in logic and public speaking; athletic activities.
- boys went to military school when they got older, to help defending Athens.
- girls did;t attend school but was educated by their mother or other female members.
- they learned about child-rearing, weaving cloth, preparing meals, managing the household, and other skills that helped them become good wives and mothers.
Sparta Builds a Military State
Southern part of Greece known as the Peloponnesus, Sparta was nearly cut off from the rest of Greece by the Gulf of Corinth.
- Sparta Dominates Messeninans
- 725 B.C., Sparta conquered the neighboring region of Messenia and took over the land.
- the Messenians became helots, forced to stay on the land they worked.
- Sparta's Government and Society
- Spartan government had several branches.
- An assembly-all Spartan citizens, elected officials and voted on major issues; The Council of Elders-30 older citizens, proposed laws on which the assembly voted; Five elected officials carried out the laws and controlled education and prosecuted court cases; two kings ruled over Sparta's military forces.
- Spartan social order consisted of several groups.
- First were citizens descended from the original inhabitants of the region.
- Second, noncitizen who were free.
- The helots, at the bottom, little bit better than slaves.
Spartan Daily Life
- 600-371 B.C., Sparta had the most powerful army in Greece.
- did not value artistic and intellectual pursuits, value duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, individuality beauty and learning.
- men expected to serve in the army until 60.
- girls were taught to put service to Sparta above everything-even love of family, were expected to remain out of sight and quietly raise children.
The Persian Wars
Danger of a helot revolt led Sparta to became a military state; struggles between rich and poor led Athens to become a democracy. The Greatest danger of all-invasion by Persian armies---moved Sparta and Athens alike to their greatest glory.
- A New Kind of Army Emerges
- Dorian Age, only rich could afford the things in the armies.
- soon, citizens could afford arm and defend themselves.
- the foot soldiers called hoplites stood side by side; this fearsome formation, or phalanx, became the most powerful fighting force in the ancient world.
- Battle at Marathon
- the Persian Wars, between Greece and thePersian Empire, began in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia.
- 546 B.C., the Persians conquered the area.
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