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The City-State• By 750 B.C. the Greek city-state, or polis, is the
formal government • A polis is a city and its surrounding villages; 50 to
500 square miles• Population of a city-state is often less than 10,000• Citizens gather in the marketplace and acropolis—a
fortified hilltop
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Greek Political Structures• City-states have different forms of government• Monarchy—rule by a king; aristocracy—rule by
nobility • Oligarchy—rule by small group of powerful
merchants and artisans
Tyrants Seize Power• Rulers and common people clash in many
city-states• Tyrants—nobles and wealthy citizens win
support of common people • They seize control and rule in the interests of
ordinary people
Rise of Athenian Democracy
Draco: 621 BC, instituted a strict code of laws that could not be misinterpreted by aristocrats.
After Draco the Areopagus (council of elite) became the dominate fixture in Greek politics. The Areopagus elected nine officials: Archons
Solon: became leader of Athens in 594 BC. Cancelled all land debts and freed debtors from slavery to improve economic conditions.
Allowed all citizens of all classes to participate in the Assembly and public law courts, while an aristocratic Council of 400 proposed laws to the Assembly.
Cleisthenes: Came to power in 508 BC. In 507 BC Cleisthenes introduced a new constitution that made the Assembly the major political body.
All citizens could belong to the Assembly, where they were considered equal before the law and guaranteed the freedom of speech.
Athenian Democracy
A council of 500 open to any citizen, carried out daily government business.
Members of the Council were chosen by lottery rather than election.
Jury System
Athenian juries ranged from 201 to 1001 members with a majority vote needed to reach a verdict.
Ostracism
A system in which any politician would be exiled if his name was submitted on 6,000 clay tablets called ostraca.
Cleisthenes’ democracy only affected the 20 percent of Athenians who were citizens.
Non-citizens-women, foreign-born males, and slaves- were excluded from political life.
The Persian Wars
A New Kind of Army Emerges• Cheaper iron replaces bronze, making arms and
armor cheaper• Leads to new kind of army; includes soldiers from
all classes• Phalanx—feared by all, formation of soldiers with
spears, shields Battle at Marathon• Persian Wars—between Greece and Persian
Empire—begin in Ionia• Persian army led by Xerxes attacks Athens, is defeated at
Marathon in 490 B.C.
The Persian Wars
Thermopylae and Salamis• In 480 B.C., Persians launch new invasion of Greece• Greeks are divided; many stay neutral or side with
Persians• Greek forces hold Thermopylae for three days before
retreating• Athenians defeat Persians at sea, near island of
Salamis• Victories at Salamis and Plataea force Persian retreat• Many city-states form Delian League and continue to
fight Persians
Phidippides Brings News• Runner Phidippides races to Athens to
announce Greek victory
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The Persian Wars
Consequences of the Persian Wars
• New self-confidence in Greece due to victory
• Athens emerges as leader of Delian League
• Athens controls the league by using force against
opponents
• League members essentially become provinces of
Athenian empire
• Stage is set for a dazzling burst of creativity in
Athens
The Golden Age of Athens
461 to 429 BC Athens
experiences great achievements in the arts and sciences
Pericles in Charge
In the 450s BC, Pericles leads Athens through its Golden Age.
The Parthenon was built on the Acropolis during his rule.
A week after birth, a male child was given a name and enrolled as a citizen. Males received formal education because they were expected to participate in
government, while Athenian girls did not receive a formal education.
Athenian Education The training or education an Athenian received
depended on social and economic status.
Athenian males entered school at age 7 and graduated at age 18.
Athenian Education An Athenian girl learned household duties, such as
weaving and baking, from her mother.
When young Athenian men reached 18, they left for two years of military service.
Athenian Education Males studied Homer’s epics, arithmetic, geometry, drawing,
music, and gymnastics. When they entered their teens, they also studied rhetoric – or the art of public speaking.
L12
Create a flow chart that shows the development of democracy in Athens.
Use either words, symbols, or pictures to depict the importance of each person in developing Athenian Democracy.
Draco 621BC -> Solon 594BC ->
Cleisthenes 507BC ->Pericles 461BC