Greek Politics and War

Democracy  Greek demos (people) and kratein rule.  It began around 500 B.C.  In a direct democracy, people vote firsthand on laws and policies.  Direct democracy worked because of the small number of Athenian citizens.  In a representative democracy, people select smaller groups to vote on behalf of the people.

How does the Greek definition of a citizen compare to the modern idea of who is a United States citizen? Ancient Greeks decided that only free, native-born, land-owning men could be citizens. In modern United States, men and women, native- born and naturalized people can be citizens, whether they own property or not. The Early Greeks

Citizenship Skills Name three rights granted to Greek citizens that American citizens have today. Answers include voting, holding office, owning property, defending themselves in court.

The Development of Greek City States  Greek farming communities became democratic city-states.  At first, the city-states were ruled by kings.  Control passed to the privileged upper class.  City-states than developed a democracy in which the people ruled.

Greek Democracy 500s B.C. In the Polis Free elections System of representation Government in the hands of the people In Athens Rule by the majority Equality before the law Personal freedom Right to get ahead through ability In Sparta Emphasis on Military Citizens support the state The Development of Greek City-States

Democracy in Athens  Pericles’ four principles of democracy gave Athens democratic rule.  Rule by the majority  Equality before the law  Personal freedom  Right to get ahead through ability  Athens is considered to have had the highest form of democracy in all of Greece.

 Sparta developed into a military city-state.  To obtain more land, Spartans conquered and enslaved their neighbors, calling them helots.  To keep the helots from rebelling, the Spartans created a strong military of boys and men.  Boys were taken at an early age. Boys entered the military at age seven.  Men could marry and start families only after completing military service.  To ensure strong citizens, weak or deformed babies were killed.  Sparta became the Greatest Military Power in Greece Sparta

What was one disadvantage of the Spartans’ focus on the military? They did not learn as much about science or practice as much trade as Greeks in Athens.They did not learn as much about science or practice as much trade as Greeks in Athens.

AthensSparta Direct Democracy Oligarchy The Assembly- all males (30+) The Assembly- all citizens Women did not participate in the political life Strong navy Strong army, best and most feared fighters on land. Girls were educated, participated in sports, and treated more as equals. Girls little formal education- spinning, weaving, and other domestic art; kept at home. Boys-taught reading, writing and mathematics, music, poetry, sport and gymnastics. The citizen boys entered a military training camp for two years, until the age of twenty. Women were rarely seen outside the home and had no rights in the Athenian democracy. Women had few rights, but were more independent in Sparta than elsewhere in Greece. Boys educated in choral dance, reading and writing, but athletics and military training were emphasized. At age 20 they were placed into higher ranks of the military.

Sparta Maternal Instinct  What is the Spartan concept of motherhood?  What was the traditional farewell (goodbye)?  Why did Spartan mothers want sons?

Child Training Sparta  Who determined if a Spartan child lived or died?  What is the rearing?  How were the boys treated?  What is the Secret Service? Who could join it?  Describe the rite of passage for young Spartan boys.

The Persian Greek Wars  The Greeks defended their independence against the Persians.  Athenians defeated the army of Darius I at Marathon.  Six years later, Xerxes invaded Greece and destroyed Athens.  The Athenian navy defeated the Persian army at Salamis.  A year later, the Greeks defeated the last Persian invaders.  The Greeks defeated the Persians because the were good soldiers and navigators.