Section II: Greek City-States Rise to Section II: Greek City-States Rise to PowerPower

(Pages 106-111)(Pages 106-111)

This section is about: How Greek towns organized

into city-states with different forms of government.

How Sparta was governed by military leaders.

How Spartan society emphasized military discipline.

How Athens developed a limited democracy in which only free men could participate.

How Sparta, Athens, and many other city-states united to defeat Persian invaders in the Persian Wars.

Before we start, we Before we start, we should look at the should look at the ““Main IdeasMain Ideas”” on page on page 106106

Lets also look at Lets also look at ““Compare and Compare and ContrastContrast”” on the same on the same page – but letpage – but let’’s s change the last two change the last two words (ancient words (ancient Greece) to Greece) to ““the United the United States.States.””

Greek City-StatesGreek City-States Greek towns organized Greek towns organized

themselves into themselves into ““city-city-statesstates”” – which they called – which they called a a ““polispolis..””

Each had between a few Each had between a few hundred and a few hundred and a few thousand people.thousand people.

It was usually as big as a It was usually as big as a city and the area around it city and the area around it (about like our towns/cities (about like our towns/cities and their suburbs now).and their suburbs now).

They usually had a fortress They usually had a fortress on the top – called an on the top – called an acropolisacropolis (highest point). (highest point).

It was for protection from It was for protection from attacks, but was also the attacks, but was also the center of their government center of their government and their religion.and their religion.

Below the acropolis: the Below the acropolis: the main part of the city – main part of the city – with a public square and with a public square and a marketplace for a marketplace for farmers, shopkeepers farmers, shopkeepers and politicians.and politicians.

There were several city-There were several city-states in Greece.states in Greece.

Being a citizen Being a citizen of a city-of a city-states states was important was important – – along with the along with the responsibilities and responsibilities and duties duties of being a citizen. of being a citizen.

Greeks adopted the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet – Phoenician alphabet – and later their language and later their language (they thought if you (they thought if you didndidn’’t speak Greek, you t speak Greek, you were a were a ““barbarian).barbarian).””

City-State GovernmentCity-State Government Each polis tried to set Each polis tried to set

up itup it’’s own government.s own government. Citizen-soldiers would Citizen-soldiers would

defend their city-states defend their city-states if the needed to. if the needed to.

They fought in a They fought in a ““phalanxphalanx”” with helmets, with helmets, body armor, spears, body armor, spears, and swords (bronze).and swords (bronze).

It was expensive for all It was expensive for all their equipment, so their equipment, so only wealthy people (or only wealthy people (or their slaves) could be their slaves) could be soldiers.soldiers.

Wealthy landowners began to Wealthy landowners began to demand some form of powerdemand some form of power

Some city-states became Some city-states became aristocraciesaristocracies – run by a – run by a small, wealthy group.small, wealthy group.

Wealthy nobles and Wealthy nobles and businessmen also wanted businessmen also wanted some power and formed some power and formed oligarchies (small powerful oligarchies (small powerful group in control – group in control – ““the rule of the rule of a fewa few””))

Athens and Sparta end up Athens and Sparta end up becoming two of Greecebecoming two of Greece’’s s most powerful and most most powerful and most famous city-statesfamous city-states

SpartaSparta

By 700 BC, Sparta had By 700 BC, Sparta had conquered many of itconquered many of it’’s s neighbors.neighbors.

There were even more There were even more conquered people in conquered people in Sparta than there were Sparta than there were Spartans.Spartans.

To control them, they To control them, they developed a very military developed a very military lifestyle.lifestyle.

Very little individual Very little individual freedoms, family life, the freedoms, family life, the arts, luxuries.arts, luxuries.

Today – if you live a Today – if you live a ““Spartan lifeSpartan life”” – you live – you live with very few (or no) with very few (or no) luxuries.luxuries.

SpartaSparta Governed by 2 military Governed by 2 military

leaders/kings.leaders/kings. Had a 28 member council of Had a 28 member council of

elders (men over 60).elders (men over 60). The chose issues to be The chose issues to be

presented to presented to ““the assembly.the assembly.”” The Assembly was made up The Assembly was made up

of any free male over 30.of any free male over 30. The Assembly had 5 The Assembly had 5

overseers (ephors) who gave overseers (ephors) who gave advice to the kings (who had advice to the kings (who had to to ““considerconsider”” the advice). the advice).

Ephors were also responsible Ephors were also responsible for the education of Sparta for the education of Sparta youth.youth.

Sparta was all Sparta was all about militaryabout military

They were all about producing soldiers They were all about producing soldiers and keeping them in shape.and keeping them in shape.

When boys were 7 they were sent to live When boys were 7 they were sent to live in in ““barracksbarracks”” to start to train to be to start to train to be soldiers.soldiers.

They were under-fed and only given 1 They were under-fed and only given 1 pair of light clothes (to toughen them up). pair of light clothes (to toughen them up).

They lived there until they were 30. They lived there until they were 30. Then, they could live at home (even Then, they could live at home (even though they ate each day with all the though they ate each day with all the other soldiers).other soldiers).

When they were 30, they could vote.When they were 30, they could vote. They were available to fight until they They were available to fight until they

were 60.were 60. Boys were told: Boys were told: ““come home with your come home with your

shield or on it.shield or on it.””

Spartan Spartan WomenWomen

Had more rights than other Had more rights than other Greek women.Greek women.

They could inherit land.They could inherit land. Women often controlled Women often controlled

property after their husbands property after their husbands were killed while fighting).were killed while fighting).

They were encouraged to They were encouraged to exercise and keep physically exercise and keep physically fit (so they could have strong, fit (so they could have strong, healthy babies).healthy babies).

Girls were taught to run, Girls were taught to run, wrestle, and throw a spear.wrestle, and throw a spear.

They also got to go to school They also got to go to school a little.a little.

Sparta (History Channel)

AthensAthens

Athens grew quickly Athens grew quickly (around 750 BC).(around 750 BC).

They had some They had some tyrantstyrants (unfair rulers) who tried to (unfair rulers) who tried to gain power, but Draco gain power, but Draco was appointed to was appointed to establish new rules and establish new rules and laws (even though he laws (even though he came up with unpopular came up with unpopular and harsh laws).and harsh laws).

Death was a penalty for Death was a penalty for most crimes (even most crimes (even smaller ones).smaller ones).

It was pretty much a It was pretty much a military state military state (government where the (government where the police/military are in police/military are in charge).charge).

Reforms and a Limited Reforms and a Limited DemocracyDemocracy

When they almost had a civil war, When they almost had a civil war, Solon was given authority to write Solon was given authority to write new laws.new laws.

He tried to balance power He tried to balance power between rich and poor (it used to between rich and poor (it used to be if you couldnbe if you couldn’’t re-pay t re-pay someone, you became their someone, you became their slave).slave).

He gave citizenship to some He gave citizenship to some foreigners – to attract more foreigners – to attract more business to Athens.business to Athens.

He came up with an idea to have He came up with an idea to have a council of 500 citizens to a council of 500 citizens to propose laws to the assembly propose laws to the assembly (free male citizens).(free male citizens).

This is probably the first This is probably the first legislaturelegislature (law making group) (law making group) and created some of the ideas for and created some of the ideas for democracy later used by…democracy later used by…

But – only free adult men were But – only free adult men were considered citizens.considered citizens.

Um…

The School of Athens / By Raphael (some of the world’s greatest thinkers)

Education in AthensEducation in Athens(yes – school even then)(yes – school even then)

Boys were expected to become Boys were expected to become well-rounded individuals.well-rounded individuals.

It was important to be able to It was important to be able to read, write, and do arithmetic.read, write, and do arithmetic.

Also: play musical instruments, Also: play musical instruments, sing, and exercise their body.sing, and exercise their body.

Learned public speaking, Learned public speaking, debating, and other political debating, and other political skills.skills.

Recited memory passages (like Recited memory passages (like HomerHomer’’s Iliad and Odyssey).s Iliad and Odyssey).

The wealthier learned all this The wealthier learned all this better than the poor.better than the poor.

Girls – stayed at home and Girls – stayed at home and maybe learned a little on their maybe learned a little on their own.own.

By 499 BC. the Greeks had to unite.By 499 BC. the Greeks had to unite.

To fight against the Persians To fight against the Persians (in many battles).(in many battles).

Sparta and Athens even Sparta and Athens even fought fought together together against the against the Persians (in the Persian Persians (in the Persian War).War).

At one time Athens and At one time Athens and Sparta werenSparta weren’’t doing to t doing to well.well.

But they re-grouped and in But they re-grouped and in the battle of Salamis (first the battle of Salamis (first naval battle ever recorded) naval battle ever recorded) beat the Persians (300 sunk beat the Persians (300 sunk ships to 40).ships to 40).

There were more battles, There were more battles, but the Persians finally but the Persians finally ended up going home.ended up going home.

After these wars…After these wars… The Spartans went back The Spartans went back

to Sparta to do their to Sparta to do their thing.thing.

Athens wanted to make Athens wanted to make sure they would be okay sure they would be okay if the Persians attacked if the Persians attacked again.again.

They organized an They organized an alliance (including 140 alliance (including 140 city-states that fought in city-states that fought in the Persian Wars) which the Persian Wars) which promised to help defend promised to help defend each other.each other.

The center of this The center of this alliance alliance (friendship) was in Athens (friendship) was in Athens – which ended up giving – which ended up giving Athens enormous power.Athens enormous power.

This ends up being This ends up being ““the the Golden Age of AthensGolden Age of Athens..””

Herodotus: Herodotus: the the

““Father of HistoryFather of History””

We get a lot of these stories We get a lot of these stories from him. He traveled from him. He traveled around the Mediterranean around the Mediterranean to study places he wrote to study places he wrote about and to learn stories of about and to learn stories of historic events which took historic events which took place there.place there.

He did present many facts, He did present many facts, but also included many but also included many ““legendslegends”” that may or may that may or may not have been true.not have been true.

What do you think about What do you think about that?that?

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