Athens CHW3M

The Acropolis Inhabited as of around 4000 BCE Natural elevation provides security, defence

Pre-Classical Greece Attica (the region in which Athens is located) ruled by four tribes Worked relatively cooperatively People had the ability to elect and depose chiefs

Pre-Classical Greece Athenian kings elected by a council of elders  King is chief priest, judge, and general  But still just a person like any other – not a god During the age of colonization and the rise of the city-state in the wake of the dark ages, kings gradually lose power to the land-owning aristocrats

Pre-Classical Greece A new position is created: archon  A land-holding aristocrat responsible for supervising gov’t administration Initially elected to serve for life Eventually increased to 3 archons, and elected (by council of landowners) to serve for 1 year terms

Pre-Classical Greece Merchants and artisans are getting richer from trade and start to demand a greater say in gov’t  Backed by the lower classes Political power comes to be based on military power  The wealthy could afford weapons and hoplites

The Age of Tyrants Anyone who used their military muscle to seize power unconstitutionally was called a tyrant Between BCE some rulers are legitimate, some are tyrants Tyrants are not necessarily bad – many were very effective administrators, and in some cases got a lot more done than more democratically elected rulers

From Tyranny to Democracy Even the “elected” rulers are still representative of the elite moreso than the common person Key rulers in the transition to a more democratic Athens:  Draco  Solon  Pisistratus  Cleisthenes

Draco Athenian law is administered by the land- owning aristocracy As such, law is often biased in favour of landowners and against commoners In 621 BCE an archon (Draco) writes down a comprehensive list of laws that would apply to all citizens  Still favours the elite, but provides greater legal protection to commoners than they had before

Draco However, many punishments under Draconian law are quite harsh Death penalty for many crimes, even ones that seem less serious

Solon Elected archon in 594 BCE Freed farmers who had been enslaved because of debt Made so any wealthy man could hold political office  Previously only those from aristocratic families can hold office Opens things up to landless merchants

Solon Archons increased to nine Creates “Council of 400”  100 citizens from each of the traditional four tribes of Athens

Pisistratus A tyrant who seizes power by military force in 546 BCE Drove out wealthy landowners and divided their lands among the landless Instituted state loans for farmers Created circuit judges whose authority superseded local aristocracy

Hippias and Hipparchus Sons of Pisistratus Not popular – Hipparchus is murdered and Hippias is exiled  Hippias joins the Persians and may have instigated the Battle of Marathon

Cleisthenes Takes over from there (508 BCE) Replaces the 4-tribe division with a 10- tribe division based on each precinct of Attica  Each tribe contains a mix of social classes All citizens get membership in the assembly

Cleisthenes Council of 400 increased to 500  50 members from each tribe  Not elected but chosen randomly by lot Assembly passes laws, acts as court, elects generals Council of 500 proposes laws and controls day-to-day administration of gov’t

Cleisthenes Assembly can vote any man into exile if they are considered a threat to city’s democracy If at least 6000 people scratched your name onto a shard of pottery (ostraka) then you were exiled for 10 years

Classical Greece After the Persian Wars ( BCE - Hippias/Hipparchus and Cleisthenes all rule during this period) things get better Increase in trade, contact with Egypt and Persia Developments in crafts, art, architecture, science, etc.

Pericles Athenian General Charismatic, strong orator Instituted pay for military service Patron of the arts and beautification of Athens (see Parthenon) Encouraged foreign merchants to settle in Athens

Pericles

The Peloponnesian War

Remember it was Pericles’ strategy to hide behind the walls of Athens and survive the Spartan siege with supplies from Athens’ naval fleet Also remember how that turned out: 1/3 of Athens died from a plague (including Pericles himself)

The Peloponnesian War See Pericles’ funeral oration (p. 118)

Questions Page 120 #1-4 Page 128 #2-3