THE GREEKS Classical Greece 700 – 300BCE

THE POLIS Center of Greek life City-State Autonomous – separated from other Polis’s by geography Ex) Athens

THE ACROPOLIS of ATHENS

THE PARTHENON

THE AGORA

ANCIENT ATHENS

ATHENS TODAY

COMMUNITY 3 Classes of citizens 1. Citizens with no rights (women & children) 2. Non-citizens (slaves & aliens) 3. Citizens with political rights (adult males)

ATHENS DEMOCRACY! - Rule by many –Intellectual society –Value education, wisdom, arts, debate

RULERS OF ATHENS

Solon 594 BCE Freed enslaved farmers and canceled debts Citizens vote in assembly (1/10 of population)

Cleisthenes 508BCE Foreign policy, treasury, propose laws Free & open public debate FOUNDER OF DEMOCRACY IN ATHENS!

“ THE GOLDEN AGE OF PERICLES 461 BCE – 429 Height of Athenian Culture Citizens sit on juries Paid public officials Fairer code of laws DIRECT DEMOCRACY- all citizens participate in government directly

THE PHILOSOPHERS

SOCRATES 470BCE-399BCE “The unexamined life is not worth living”

The goal of education is to improve understanding: Socratic Method: careful question & answer format to lead students to draw out their own knowledge & see things for themselves Focus: ability to REASON & QUESTION EVERYTHING!

Put on trial for corrupting Athenian youth – found guilty of treason – sentenced to exile or death by hemlock – choice: death

PLATO 427BCE – 347BCE Student of Socrates The Republic: ideal state Philosopher-Kings: -educated & wise - equality Academy of Athens –Teacher of Aristotle

ARISTOTLE 384BCE -322BCE Attends Plato’s Academy for 20 years – opens own school- The Lyceum - Teacher of Alexander the Great

3 Best forms of government: 1. Constitutional Gov. (Politeia) -citizens are governed with everyone’s self interest in mind; compromising between rich and poor (constitutional monarchy) 2.Kingship (monarchy) philosopher-king 3.Aristocracy: “rule of the best” – focus on merit – those who deserve to govern

Worst forms 4. Democracy – “rule of the people” masses use government to their own ends – tax & exploit rich 5. Oligarchy – “rule of the few” – government controlled by minority ruling in own self – interest. Disregard the poor. 6. Tyranny (WORST FORM!) Rule of a single individual

SPARTA

Oligarchy: rule by few military society Value discipline, war, physical strength, bravery, & WAR (Training begins at age 7)

COMMUNITY 25,000 Citizens 500,000 Helots (slaves) Spartans declare war on the helots once a year to rid troublemakers Women participate in sports, own businesses and property

PELOPONNESIAN WAR Sparta vs. Athens 27 years Sparta defeats Athens