 By 750 BC the polis was a fundamental political unit in Ancient Greece  City and the surrounding country (city-state)  square miles  Often fewer than 10,000 people

 Public square for trade and government

 Fortified hill top  Gather to discuss city government

 Different among city-states  Monarchy-rule by a king  Aristocracy-rule by nobility  Dynastic  Oligarchy-rule by a few powerful people

 Nobility who seized control  Worked for the interest of the people  Tyranny-gaining power and ruling by force

 Rocky Hillside North of Sparta  Attica Peninsula

 Power struggle between rich and poor  Moved towards democracy  Citizens participated directly in decisions  Direct Democracy

 Monarchy to Aristocracy to Tyranny to Democracy  Democracy-government where citizens hold power  Originator of Democracy

 Person who could take part in government  Free Adult Males  Expected to take part in government  Land Ownership was required at first

 No political rights  Slaves (1/3 of population)  Women-expected to take care of family and household

 Developed the most democratic system  Became the foundation of modern democracy  Developed direct democracy-each citizen had input into all decision making  Debate  The Assembly-to speak their minds and exercise their votes regarding the government

 621 BC  First Greek Legal Code-all Athenians equal under law  Harsh punishments for crimes  Retained debt slavery

 594 BC  Outlawed debt slavery  Organized all citizens into 4 classes (according to wealth)  Top 3 could hold office  All could participate in assembly

 561 BC  Loaned money for farming  Gave jobs to poor by building

 500 BC  Organized Citizens by location not wealth  10 groups  All citizens could submit laws to assembly

 Created by Cleisthenes  Proposed law  Counseled the Assembly  Chosen by lottery

 Boys  Only wealthy  Reading, grammar, poetry, history, math, music, public speaking  Military school  Girls  Educated at home by mothers  Learned child rearing and household tasks, weaving, and cooking  Few learned to read or write

 Peloponnesus-Peloponnesian Peninsula  Militaristic State

 Conquered by Sparta-725 BC  Helots-peasants forced to work land  Paid ½ of crops in rent  Military developed after Helots revolt-650 BC

 Assembly  All citizens (free adult males)  Elected officials and voted on issues  Council of Elders (30 older citizens)  Proposed laws to Assembly  Ephors-5 elected officials  Carried out laws (administration)  Controlled courts and education  Power to veto laws  Oligarchy-rule by a small group

 Ruling families owned lands  Free non-citizens-traders and artisans  Helots-farming and servants

 Effects of militaristic society  Most powerful army  Did not learn value of arts and learning  Valued duty and discipline over freedom and learning  Lagged behind other states (Athens) in trade and cultural achievements

 Military training to become good soldiers  Infants-left to die on hillside if not healthy  Age 7-moved to barrack to learn military skills  Age 20-became soldiers on frontier  Age 30-married, supported family  Age 60- Retired, trained soldiers

 Received Military Training  Were taught Sparta before their family  Married at 19  Expected to be mothers of good soldiers