1. Greek City-States: Athens and Sparta
09/15/2011

2. Spartan society 3 social groups
Equals: descended from the invaders, controlled Sparta
Half-citizens: free, paid taxes and served in the army but had no political power, some farmed but others worked in the city as traders or artisans
Helots: slaves, greatly outnumbered the other groups so Spartans used force to control them, in large part this is why Sparta became a military city-state
09/15/2011

3. Spartan Government Two kings led Sparta A council of Elders
1 king handled military
1 king took care of domestic matters
A council of Elders
Made up of 28 male citizens over the age of 60
Proposed laws and served as a criminal court
An assembly
Included all male citizens over 30
Elected 5 ephors
Made sure the kings stayed within the law
Elected for a 1 year term
Controlled the education of Spartans
09/15/2011

4. Sparta’s Military Society
Goal was to make every male citizen a part of the military machine
Military worked to expand Sparta and control the helots
A group of officials examined new born babies and those deemed unhealthy were left to die
At 7 boys left home to join the barracks
Mainly military training but they also learned how to read and write
From age they learned specifically about warfare
At 20 they could marry but could not live at home until age 30
Were available for military service until the age of 60
09/15/2011

5. Sparta’s Military Society (cont’d)
Spartan women
Received strict physical training
Taught to be devoted to the city-state
Their best value was seen as producing Spartan soldiers
Results of military society:
Strong government
Almost unbeatable army
No individual freedom
Created almost no art or literature and made almost no advances in science
09/15/2011

6. Athenian Society 3 class groups
Citizens: extended to all those born in Athens, only the men had political rights
Metics: born outside Athens, free and had to pay taxes but had no political rights and could not own land
Slaves: captured in war, together with metics made up more than half of Athenian society
09/15/2011

7. Early Athenian Government
After the monarchy ended, an aristocracy took its place
All adult male citizens met in an assembly
Elected generals in time of war
Elected nine archons (rulers with a 1 year term)
First written code created around 621
Solon (archon in 594 B.C.)
Outlawed selling people into slavery who could not repay their debts
Divided citizens into 4 groups based on wealth: wealthiest 2 could hold office
09/15/2011

8. Early Athenian Government
Solon granted all citizens the right to vote for government officials (only adult males who had Athenian parents)
Woman could not participate in politics
Foreign residents were denied citizenship

9. More Democratic Reforms
In the mid 400s B.C., Pericles set up salaries for public officials so that poor people could serve in government
Direct Democracy under Pericles where citizens took part in the day-to-day affairs of government
Today in the U.S., people instead participate in government through elected representatives
However still some forms of Direct Democracy today (i.e. referendum, town hall meetings, Swiss govt.)