Government In Greece

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Government In Greece

• SS.A.2.4.4 SS.B.2.4.3-6

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The Polis Center of Greek Life

• Polis Greek name for city-states, and the
  surrounding countryside
• The meeting place in every polis was usually a
  fortified area, atop a hill, called acropolis,
  with an agora below
• The polis was a community made of citizens with
  rights (adult males), citizens with no rights
  (women and children) and non-citizens (slaves and
  foreigners)

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Ancient Greek Military

• At first, rich land owners fighting on horseback,
  fought the wars in order to control and protect
  the polis
• By 700 B.C. the military system was based on
  hoplites, infantrymen heavily armed with a round
  shield, a short sword, and a thrusting spear
  about 9 ft. in length
• Phalanx a unit of soldiers fighting shoulder to
  shoulder in a rectangular pattern creating a wall
  of shields

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Greek Colonies

• 750-550 B.C. Many Greeks leave Greece to settle
  in other, far-away lands in order to expand
  trade, and find good farmlands
• Colonies were founded in along the coasts of
  Italy, France, Spain, parts of North Africa not
  under Egyptian control
• Greeks also headed north to an area they called
  Tharce, and settled around the Black Sea,
  establishing cities like Byzantium

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The Rise of Tyrants

• Expanded trade created a new wealthy class in the
  polis, at odds with rulers
• Tyrants are people who take power from
  aristocrats by force, often with support from
  rich merchants and peasants
• Once in power, tyrants usually embarked on
  large-scale building projects to build popularity

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The Fall of Tyranny

• By the end of the sixth century B.C., Tyrants had
  fallen out of favor with Greekswho believed in
  the rule of law
• Tyranny had ended rule by aristocracy, resulting
  in two new forms of government
• Democracy government of the people or rule by
  many (Athens)
• Oligarchy rule by few (Sparta)

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Sparta

• Many Greek city-states found a need to search
  outside the polis for new farmlands
• Sparta chose to conquer its neighbors, rather
  than colonize other lands
• Sparta conquered Laconia Messenia, enlisting
  the people as serfs called helots, meaning
  captured
• To control the helots, Spartans established a
  military state

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The Spartan Military State

• Lives of Spartans were rigidly organized, and
  tightly controlled by the government
• Men went to school to learn military discipline,
  and enlisted in the army at 20
• Men lived in army barracks until 30, even if
  married, and ate in public dining halls. At 30,
  men were given the right to vote and live at
  home. At 60 they were discharged.
• Spartan women had more freedom than other Greek
  women, and were expected to exercise and stay fit
  for childbearing

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Government of Sparta

• Oligarchy headed by two kings, who lead Spartans
  in battle
• An elected group of five, called the ephors, were
  charged with educating the youth, and regulating
  citizen conduct
• A council of 28 men over 60, and the kings,
  debated topics to present to a larger assembly of
  men over 30 who could only vote on the issue at
  hand.
• Outside visitors were not welcome, and Spartans
  were forbidden from studying philosophy,
  literature and art

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Athens

• Early Athens was ruled by kings, then aristocrats
  who owned land. An assembly of many citizens
  existed, with little power
• Citizens who owed debts they could not pay were
  often sold into slavery, a practice which almost
  resulted in civil war
• The oligarchy avoided war by granting power to an
  aristocrat named Solon, cancelled debts and freed
  many slaves
• Solons reforms werent enough to keep
  Pisistratus taking control as a tyrant in 560 B.C.

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Athenian Tyranny

• Pisistratus worked to improve trade and took land
  from aristocrats and gave to the poor, an effort
  to gain popularity
• Pisistratuss son was unpopular and replaced by
  Cleisthenes
• Cleisthenes created a council of 500 men to
  supervise foreign affairs, the treasury and the
  writing of laws to be voted on by the assembly,
  creating the foundation for democracy

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Do Now

• Page 120, write and answer questions 2, 3, 4, 5
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