Friday 10/4: Athens and SpartaFriday 10/4: Athens and Sparta

Objective: Explain how power in Objective: Explain how power in attained, gained and lost by attained, gained and lost by individuals, groups and nations.individuals, groups and nations.

Discussion Question: Which of the Discussion Question: Which of the following human characteristics is following human characteristics is more important: Brain Power or more important: Brain Power or Physical Power? Why?Physical Power? Why?

 

Quick Comparison…Quick Comparison…

SpartaSparta::

WarriorsWarriors

AuthoritarianAuthoritarian

No educationNo education

Great Army Great Army AthensAthens::

PoliticiansPoliticians

DemocraticDemocratic

ScholarsScholars

Great NavyGreat Navy

Sparta: Where is it?Sparta: Where is it?

The Polis (Greek word for city-state) The Polis (Greek word for city-state) located in the Peloponnesuslocated in the Peloponnesus

– Southern tip of Greek mainlandSouthern tip of Greek mainland– Separated from the rest of Greece by the Separated from the rest of Greece by the

Gulf of CorinthGulf of Corinth

Spartan SocietySpartan Society Three tiers of society:Three tiers of society:

– EqualsEquals: Leaders of the city-state: Leaders of the city-state– Half-CitizensHalf-Citizens: Free, paid taxes, served in : Free, paid taxes, served in

army, but held no political powerarmy, but held no political power– HelotsHelots: Conquered peasants forced to live : Conquered peasants forced to live

and work on farm land (slaves)and work on farm land (slaves) Spartans terrorized the helots, helots hated Spartans terrorized the helots, helots hated

SpartansSpartans

Spartan GovernmentSpartan Government Consisted of:Consisted of:

– 2 kings2 kings One king in charge of armyOne king in charge of army One king in charge of matters at homeOne king in charge of matters at home

– Council of EldersCouncil of Elders 28 male citizens over age 6028 male citizens over age 60

– Citizen AssemblyCitizen Assembly approved all major decisionsapproved all major decisions

Spartan CultureSpartan Culture Goal: make every male citizen a part Goal: make every male citizen a part

of the military machineof the military machine– babies were examined for health babies were examined for health

if they weren’t healthy they were left in the if they weren’t healthy they were left in the hills to diehills to die

Spartan Culture (continued)Spartan Culture (continued)

Boys:Boys: at the age of at the age of 7 were sent away for 7 were sent away for military trainingmilitary training– constant exercise & constant exercise &

disciplinediscipline whippings whippings for punishmentfor punishment

– soldiers could marry soldiers could marry at the age of 20, & at the age of 20, & had to live in the had to live in the barracks until the age barracks until the age of 30)of 30)

Spartan Culture (continued)Spartan Culture (continued)

Girls: Girls: life was also rigorous; expected to life was also rigorous; expected to produce healthy sons for the armyproduce healthy sons for the army– expected to exercise (run, wrestle/sports) in expected to exercise (run, wrestle/sports) in

order to strengthen their bodiesorder to strengthen their bodies– also had all rights except the right to vote & also had all rights except the right to vote &

inherit propertyinherit property– had to obey fathers and husbands; usually had to obey fathers and husbands; usually

managed the household - until the husband managed the household - until the husband retiredretired

– were resented by all other Greeks because of were resented by all other Greeks because of the role that the women playedthe role that the women played

AthensAthens

LocationLocation: in a region called Attica, : in a region called Attica, North of the Peloponnesus North of the Peloponnesus

Athenian SocietyAthenian Society

Also three tiers:Also three tiers:– CitizensCitizens

Could be rich aristocratic or poor farmerCould be rich aristocratic or poor farmer Only Athenian-born men could voteOnly Athenian-born men could vote

– MeticsMetics Born outside AthensBorn outside Athens Free and paid taxes just as citizensFree and paid taxes just as citizens Could not participate in governmentCould not participate in government

– SlavesSlaves Treated as property thus no right to voteTreated as property thus no right to vote

Athenian Government: Athenian Government: DemocracyDemocracy

Leaders chosen by casting lotsLeaders chosen by casting lots– everyone had an equal chanceeveryone had an equal chance

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy– All citizens participate directly in making All citizens participate directly in making

decisionsdecisions Indirect/Representative DemocracyIndirect/Representative Democracy

– Citizens elect representatives to govern Citizens elect representatives to govern for themfor them

Athenian Government: Athenian Government: DemocracyDemocracy

Pericles: Athenian politicianPericles: Athenian politician– 3 Goals for Athens:3 Goals for Athens:

Strengthen Athenian Democracy: Direct Strengthen Athenian Democracy: Direct DemocracyDemocracy

Hold and strengthen the Empire: Build larger Hold and strengthen the Empire: Build larger Athenian navy and increase overseas tradeAthenian navy and increase overseas trade

Glorify Athens: Build Parthenon and beautify Glorify Athens: Build Parthenon and beautify AthensAthens

Athenian Culture:Athenian Culture:

Heavily based on ideas of democracy Heavily based on ideas of democracy and education as important rather and education as important rather than militarythan military

Focus on theFocus on the arts and philosophy arts and philosophy (thinking about the world around us)(thinking about the world around us)

Two Forms of GovernmentTwo Forms of Government

Spartan and Athenian governments Spartan and Athenian governments form the basis of two kinds of form the basis of two kinds of government today.government today.

Authoritarian (Authority) and Authoritarian (Authority) and DemocracyDemocracy

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

Authoritarian is imposing a form of Authoritarian is imposing a form of government in which the political authority government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of lifeover all aspects of life, the individual is , the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is political and cultural expression is suppressed.suppressed.

Within Sparta there existed three groups: Within Sparta there existed three groups: slaves, known as Helots; Spartan females, slaves, known as Helots; Spartan females, who were taught to be fit, brave, and who were taught to be fit, brave, and patriotic; and Spartan males, all of whom patriotic; and Spartan males, all of whom became warriors.became warriors.

This form of culture had its roots in the This form of culture had its roots in the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta. ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.

Newborn males judged to be weak were Newborn males judged to be weak were left to die of exposure. left to die of exposure.

DemocracyDemocracy

The democratic political system used as The democratic political system used as its model Athenian democracy. its model Athenian democracy.

In the ancient Greek city-state of Athens In the ancient Greek city-state of Athens all citizens participated in Athenian all citizens participated in Athenian governmental activities. governmental activities.

All citizens were equal before the law and All citizens were equal before the law and participated in the government. participated in the government.

Slaves and women, however, were not Slaves and women, however, were not allowed citizenship. allowed citizenship.