ancient history 10 december 1 st, 2014. ancient athens

Ancient History 10

December 1st, 2014

Ancient Athens

Athens

• City States- A City state can be defined as an interdependent, self governing city such as Sparta, Athens and in today’s world Vatican City

• Polis was what Greeks referred to City-States as

How many?

• There were hundreds of City States within Ancient Greece

• Approximately 300 or so

• However two rose above the rest and became the principal City-States, though they rose to importance by vastly different methods

AthensDemocracy

Plato

Olympics

Colonies

Philosophy

School, tradition, future

SpartaWar

Warriors

Love of Country

• City States began to become prevalent around 750 BCE

• Aspects of City States: independence, customs, politics, citizen treatment

• Population ranged between 10-15 thousand

History of Athens

• Artifacts found on the Acropolis and below in region called Agora that date to as far back as 5000 BCE

• Legend of how Athens gained its name

• Athenian King Cecrops named city after himself but the Gods thought it so beautiful that it deserved immortal name

Athena

Poseidon

Athena

• Goddess of reason, activity, arts and literature• Daughter of Zeus who was born from his

forehead fully grown and in armour• Favourite child• Embodiment of wisdom, reason & purity

Poseidon

• God of Sea and Protector of Aquatic life• Zeus older brother• 2nd most powerful God• Creator of Horses• Standoffish demeanour

History of Athens

• 8th- 6th century a prosperous community economically, but no more then any other City State

• The marble and clay was useful for skilled potters which made money

• Politcal power lay in the hands of large aristocratic families

• Social prestige and political power = property and military prowess

• Not all people had political power• Aristotle- “...supreme offices went by birth and

wealth”• Wealthy economy and harmony• Wealth = dedications made at sanctuaries

Social Unrest

• By 6th century tensions were high between the rich and poor

• Sharecroppers

• Sell self into slavery to pay off debt

Solon’s reforms

• Solon is elected by the people as magistrate and lawgiver

• Wants to be just, goes into exile to not be pressured

• Cancelled debts, freed enslaved Athenians but left power with aristocracy

Class Divisions

• Solon divided the people into 4 different class divisions based on the ownership of properity

• The more you have the higher up you are

• 1) Pentekosiomedimnoi- the highest level• Could produce 500+ measures of grain a yr• Gained highest offices

• 2) Hippeis (knights)- owned horses• Could produce 300+ measures of grain a year

• 3) zeugitai (teamsters) – had 2 oxen for plowing

• Could produce 200+ measures of grain a year

• 4) Thetes (labourer)- the lowest of the citizens, they were just above slaves

• Worked the land and did not own much of their own

• However could never actually be enslaved by fellow citizens

• Could sit in assembly and vote

The road to Democracy

• Political participation was duty of citizen not privilege

• Reforms did not establish democracy but on the way

• Gave important rights to the middle class• Not all good things last... New form of gov’t

comes in a generation

Tyranny

• Tyrant- this was a single individual who took power illegally, instead of in a manner approved by the State, usually through force

• This government was in a way two faced• Arose in the 6th century within Athens and

many other Greek City States

Reign of Peisistratos

• Seized power in 546 BC and ruled until death in 527 BC

• Succeeded by two sons; Hippias & Hipparchos

• He was head of aristocratic family, used force for seizure

Tyranny is good and bad

• Aristotle described him as a good and just man who worked for the peace within all situations

• Generally a very well liked man

• His reign created the 1st public works that Athens had seen in centuries

Temple of Zeus in Athens

• Created Temples to honour the gods but his most important building project was that of a new aqueduct system

• This system brought fresh clean water into the city and helped the people greatly, like our water system

The leadership of his Sons

• Hippias was the elder of the two and he was considered wise, he controlled the political matters

• Hipparchos is younger and has much more literary tastes as well as enjoying the fruits of life

Death of Tyrant

• 514 BC Hipparchos is stabbed to death

• The killers are applauded and honoured with statues

• Interesting way to treat people after they killed your leader

Tyranny becomes what we know today

• Hippias becomes a ruthless tyrannical leader

• He has citizens executed and exiled

• Seeks to avenge the death of his brother

• No longer trusts the people who put his family in power

Destruction of Tyranny

• The Alkmaeonidai family decides to take power (ironic that they would destroy Tyranny by becoming tyrants themselves)

• Bribe oracle at Delphi to make Sparta help them

• By 510 BC the tyrants are pushed out of Athens

Two Leaders emerge

• Kleisthenes vs Isagoras

• Kleisthenes has the support of the common people through his idea of new constitution

• Isagoras uses Spartan muscle

Exile

• 700 Athenian families exiled including Kleisthenes

• Exile does not work• When constitution is questioned the

commoners rise up in arms and throw out Sparta and Isagoras

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8iHcJwiJys

The beginning of Democracy

• 508-507 BC the footprints of Democracy begin to form

• King Kleomenes of Sparta not happy about being thrown out, plans to invade with massive Army

• Convinced last minute to back out...viewed as the first huge win for Democratic people

Kleisthenes

10 new tribes

• Creation of new administration units called phylai, and the abolishment of the old aristocratic power

• All citizens were assigned to one of the tribes• Tribe was community, common place where

new bonds were formed with ppl from different regions like a dorm, essential for democracy