The Greek Roots of Democracy Chapter 1 lesson 1 H-SS 10.1.1 analyze the similarities and differences in Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman views of law, reason and faith, and duties of the individual. H-SS 10.1.2 Trace the development of Western Political ideas of the rule of law and illegitimacy of tyranny, using selections from Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics

Vocabulary City- State Monarchy Sparta Athens Democracy Tyrant legislature .political unit made up of city and surrounding areas. 2. King or Queen. 3. military city-state. 4. where democracy first took root. 5. gain power by force.6. lawmaking body

Vocabulary Pericles Jury Socrates Plato Aristotle 1.Athenian Statesman.2. panel of citizens who make final judgement.3.Philosopher. 4. student of Aristotle. 5. preferred government of the many.

Location and Geography Greece lies at the southern end of the Balkan peninsula, surrounded by the Mediterranean Geography influenced history. Mountainous terrain restricted overland travel and limited farming They became thinkers, writers and artists

Rise of Greek City-States Classical Greece began around the year 500 B.C. Began as isolated city-states 700B.C. lack of fertile land prompted Greeks to seek land overseas Colonies appeared along the Mediterranean from Spain to Egypt They brought their ideas about literature, arts and government

Governing City-States City-State was called the polis City was built on 2 levels. On the hilltop was the acropolis (high city) with marble temples. On the flat ground was the marketplace, theater, public, buildings and homes. Population was small. Citizens shared responsibility.

750-500 B.C. First a king ruled the polis Power shifted to noble landowners They were military defenders As trade expanded a new class of wealthy merchants emerged.

Changes in Warfare: Sparta The defense of the city-state fell to the ordinary citizens Sparta became a military state At the age of 7 boys began training for a life in the army Girls were expected to produce healthy sons for the army

Spartan Government Consisted of 2 kings and a council to advise kings An assembly made up of citizens approved major decisions Citizens were male, native-born, over the age of 30

Athens: A limited democracy Athens was Northeast of Sparta Here the idea of democracy first took root Around 700 BC nobles made decisions Citizens became resentful 594 BC the wise ruler Solon made changes

Solon Outlawed debt slavery Freed existing debt slaves Opened offices to more citizens Ensured fairness and justice Citizenship remained limited Unrest led to the rise of tyrants

Pisistratus/Cleisthenes Pisistratus was a tyrant who gave farmers and poor citizens more power. Cleisthenes set up a council of 500 chosen by lot from citizens to prepare laws and supervise government, a legislature Democracy was limited

Age of Pericles 460-429 B.C. Athenians participated in direct democracy. Citizens took direct part in day-to-day affairs 6,000 members had to be present to decide on important issues Pericles felt rich and poor should participate, so he paid men who held public office

Greek Philosophers Greeks had confidence in the power of the human mind They used observation and reason to determine why things happened The Greeks called the thinkers “philosophers” which means “lovers of wisdom”

Moral and Ethic Principles Ethics and morality concern the idea of goodness and the establishment of standards of human behavior For example, how people should dress and how government should run

Sophists In Athens Sophists questioned accepted ideas Morals and ethics are simply opinions, not principles Success was more important For a fee they would teach the art of persuasion

Socrates Roamed the market place asking people “What is for the greatest good?” He posed a series of questions to his students and challenged them to examine their answers. This would help them to seek truth and self knowledge

Socrates When he was 70 he was put on trial He was accused of corrupting the youth and failing to respect the gods He was condemned to death by a jury He was a defender of the democratic process and wouldn’t escape. Then individual should submit to the needs of the state. He drank a cup of hemlock tea.

Plato The execution of Socrates left him with a distrust of democracy He left Athens for 10 years When he returned he set up the Academy He taught and wrote about his ideas Through rational thought people could learn how to best organize society

Plato Wrote the Republic Rejected Athenian Democracy State should regulate every aspect of citizens lives Believed in equality at birth, but that people can rise only as high as their abilities would allow.

Plato’s ideal society Three class society -workers to produce the necessities of life -soldiers to defend the state -philosophers to rule

Aristotle Plato’s student Analyzed all forms of government Found good and bad in all Suspicious of democracy, thought it could lead to mob rule Favored a constitutional government ruled by middle class

Aristotle’s Polity Government ruled by middle class Goal is to establish just and stable rule Believed that within the city-state people could reach their full potential and achieve the good life Rulers should be subject to the law

Aristotle’s school The Lyceum Studies included Politics Ethics Logic Biology Literature And many others These were the basis for the modern universities that would emerge 1500 years later

Alexander Aristotle left Athens when Plato died He moved to Macedonia Began tutoring the king’s 13 year old son, Alexander Alexander took throne after his father died, he was 2o years old Alexander’s army conquered area all the way to the Indus river.

Alexander the Great He dies 4 years after establishing his empire His generals split up the empire The empire crumbled Greek traders and soldiers settled in the cities he established

Hellenistic civilization It is a blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences During the Hellenistic Age , Rome began to emerge as a powerful new state Rome would replace Greece as the dominant Mediterranean culture Greek ideas about law, freedom, government and justice influenced thinking to the present day.