Athens and Experiments in Democracy

Colonization City states emerge from dark ages Population increases Lack of arable land causes problems Era of colonization 750 BC to 550 BC People went out to establish new colonies 150 different cities along the Mediterranean Sea Colonization

Panhellenic sanctuaries – religious centers that belonged to no one city but rather served as gathering places for all the Greek city-states Oracle – a place the Greeks believed the gods spoke to mortals Delphi – most famous oracle for over 1,000 years – 800BC to 390 AD

The Oracle at Delphi Greeks felt it was the center of the earth Discusses ?s from going to war to basic daily problems Will I become rich? Will I get a divorce? Will I get a vacation? Have I been poisoned? Advice – know yourself and practice moderation The Oracle at Delphi

Tyrants Tyrants – men who controlled city-states through revolution Not all tyrants were bad Bad tyrants surrounded by bodyguards Most tyrants are eventually overthrown Drinking songs about tyrants Tyrants

Wealth Coinage – introduced about 6th century BC Value was based on actual worth Each city stamped a symbol on it’s currency Athens was most valuable with Athena on one side and an owl on the other Wealth

Athens Athens was the largest, richest and most populated city-state Produced the most writers so we know more about it Plagued by class warfare (?) Poor were debtors and rich were unhappy Poor could not pay or earn enough Rich could not attain political posts Athens

Close to civil war when they put the wisest man, Solon, in charge Solon abolished debts (How does that work today?) Divided citizens into 4 groups based on wealth Top 2 groups could become elected officials Establishes Heliala – new court of law All citizens had the right to appeal to a jury of their peers Anyone could bring a lawsuit Athens

Athens Solon was good at compromising Solon not popular at times and Athenians had to take an oath not to change laws for 10 years Solon leaves Athens and travels Peisistratus rules as a tyrant for decades after fooling people with a fake 6’ Athena declaring him the leader Assassination attempt on his life over a girl Exiled twice, championed the poor, he was wealthy, improved trade and agriculture, and built the 1st acqueduct Athens

1st democracy begins in 508 BC after people grew tired of tyrants Wise man, Cleisthenes, sets up 1st real democracy Divided Athenians into 10 tribes made up of people from 3 different geographical locations People had to work together Athenian Democracy

Council of 500 – 1st legislature chosen by 10 tribes with 50 reps Council of 500 – 1st legislature chosen by 10 tribes with 50 reps. chosen by random lottery Each citizen had a chance to serve Could vote people they didn’t like (600 votes) out of Athens for 10 years (ostracism) Some ballots had similar handwriting How would this work today? Athenian Democracy

Athenian Democracy Each citizen could speak at Council of 500 Democracy was only for those that qualified as citizens Women, children, slaves and foreigners did not count as citizens Athens experimented with different ways of sharing power Did not want God kings and power with 1 person Athenian Democracy

Athenian Democracy Many forms of democracy were tried over the years Many other city-states, except Sparta, experiment with democracy. Athenian Democracy