Greek City-States: Athens and Sparta 09/15/2011

Spartan society 3 social groups Equals: descended from the invaders, controlled Sparta Half-citizens: free, paid taxes and served in the army but had no political power, some farmed but others worked in the city as traders or artisans Helots: slaves, greatly outnumbered the other groups so Spartans used force to control them, in large part this is why Sparta became a military city-state 09/15/2011

Spartan Government Two kings led Sparta A council of Elders 1 king handled military 1 king took care of domestic matters A council of Elders Made up of 28 male citizens over the age of 60 Proposed laws and served as a criminal court An assembly Included all male citizens over 30 Elected 5 ephors Made sure the kings stayed within the law Elected for a 1 year term Controlled the education of Spartans 09/15/2011

Sparta’s Military Society Goal was to make every male citizen a part of the military machine Military worked to expand Sparta and control the helots A group of officials examined new born babies and those deemed unhealthy were left to die At 7 boys left home to join the barracks Mainly military training but they also learned how to read and write From age 18-20 they learned specifically about warfare At 20 they could marry but could not live at home until age 30 Were available for military service until the age of 60 09/15/2011

Sparta’s Military Society (cont’d) Spartan women Received strict physical training Taught to be devoted to the city-state Their best value was seen as producing Spartan soldiers Results of military society: Strong government Almost unbeatable army No individual freedom Created almost no art or literature and made almost no advances in science 09/15/2011

Athenian Society 3 class groups Citizens: extended to all those born in Athens, only the men had political rights Metics: born outside Athens, free and had to pay taxes but had no political rights and could not own land Slaves: captured in war, together with metics made up more than half of Athenian society 09/15/2011

Early Athenian Government After the monarchy ended, an aristocracy took its place All adult male citizens met in an assembly Elected generals in time of war Elected nine archons (rulers with a 1 year term) First written code created around 621 Solon (archon in 594 B.C.) Outlawed selling people into slavery who could not repay their debts Divided citizens into 4 groups based on wealth: wealthiest 2 could hold office 09/15/2011

Early Athenian Government Solon granted all citizens the right to vote for government officials (only adult males who had Athenian parents) Woman could not participate in politics Foreign residents were denied citizenship

More Democratic Reforms In the mid 400s B.C., Pericles set up salaries for public officials so that poor people could serve in government Direct Democracy under Pericles where citizens took part in the day-to-day affairs of government Today in the U.S., people instead participate in government through elected representatives However still some forms of Direct Democracy today (i.e. referendum, town hall meetings, Swiss govt.)