1. What do you think of when you hear the words Sparta and Athens?
Warm-Up
What do you think of when you hear the words Sparta and Athens?

2. Section 5-2 Greek City-States
Goals
Identify the different types of political systems that developed in the Greek city-states.
Describe the development of democracy in Athens.
Compare and Contrast the different governments of Athens and Sparta
Summarize the events of the Persian War.

3. Rule and Order in Greek City-States
By 750 B.C. the city-states were the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece
“polis” – the city and the surrounding countryside, usually sq. miles of territory often including small villages c. 10,000 people or less
Citizens would gather at the agora (marketplace) or the acropolis (protected space on top of a hill)to discuss government policies and actions

4. Greek Political Systems
Monarchy – mono = one, archy = leader or rule, one ruler, king Aristocracy – aristo=best, cracy=government, government by the best, nobles, rich land owners Oligarchy- olig=few, archy=leader or rule, a small group of powerful, wealthy leaders in charge In some cases the common people would clash with the rulers, and powerful leaders would emerge and take control of the gov’t with the people’s support=tyrant “Tyrant” was not a negative term like today, often they would enact policies that would benefit the common people who supported them.

5. Athens & Limited Democracy
Athens struggled with rich vs. poor like most city-states But reformed their system and created a democracy Demos=people, cracy- government, a system where the citizens participate directly in the governing Draco- a nobleman who took power over Athens in 621 B.C. Draco’s Code - stated all Athenian citizens, rich and poor were equal under the law, laws were written down to prevent the wealthy from manipulating the law against the poor Draco’s Code also set out harsh punishments for crimes, (draconian) and supported the practice of debt slavery (making someone a slave until their debts were paid off)

6. Athens and Democracy cont.
Solon-a leader who came to power in 594 B.C.
He declared that debt-slavery was illegal.
He also divided up the Athenians into 4 classes according to wealth where only the top 3 could hold political office
However, all citizens regardless of class could participate in the Assemblies
Any citizen could bring charges of wrong-doing against others

7. Athenian Democracy cont.
Cleisthenes became ruler of Athens c. 500 B.C.
He got rid of the wealth classes and divided the citizens up according to where they lived
He also changed the Assembly rules so that all citizens could introduce laws for debate and passing
He also created the Council of the 500 – a body of members chosen by lottery that would propose laws and counsel the Assembly
Citizens of Athens= Free, adult males who owned property and were born in Athens, women, slaves, and foreigners were not considered citizens and had few rights

8. Athenian Education
Boys – were sent to school around 7 yrs old and learned: reading, grammar, poetry, history, mathematics, and music. Also how to be good citizens =logic, public speaking and debate skills to prepare them for the Assembly. When they were old enough they were sent to military school to learn how to be a good soldier. Girls – taught at home by their mothers and other women in the household, they learned: child-rearing, weaving, cooking, managing the household etc. some were able to learn how to read and write, but primarily their lives were centered on the family and the home.

9. Sparta & the Military
Sparta was located on the Peloponnesus, Sparta was a military state- the government and society was centered around a strong military c. 725 Sparta conquered Messenia and took their land, made the Messenians “helots” peasant farmers that had to pay tribute C. 650 Helots revolted and outnumbered the Spartans 8:1, the Spartans barely managed to beat the Helots- decided to concentrate on a strong military

10. Spartan Government
Spartan Gov’t had several branches: An Assembly – all Spartan citizens and elected officials who would vote on laws Council of Elders – 30 older citizens who proposed the laws that were voted on by the Assembly 5 elected officials (Ephorate) that enforced the laws that were passed and who controlled education and acted as judges 2 kings who where strictly military leaders

11. Spartan Gov’t cont. Spartan social order:
Spartan Citizens-descendents of the original inhabitants of the land, including the wealthy ruling families
Free Non-Citizens- usually merchants and industry workers who were free born but moved into Sparta from other places
Helots- Messenian descendents, peasant farmers and house servants – little more than slaves

12. Spartan Daily Life
c B.C. Sparta had the most powerful army in Greece Because all the emphasis was on military strength, there was little personal expression and the arts were not valued Duty, strength and discipline were more important than freedom, beauty and learning

13. Spartan Education
Boys- left home at age 7 to go live in Army barracks and begin military training & stayed in the barracks till the age of 30 Boys trained all day, in all weather with only light tunics and no shoes Slept w/o blankets on hard benches and received very little food- those that were still hungry were encouraged to steal from others =tough, resourceful soldiers who served in military until they were 60 yrs old

14. Spartan Education cont.
Girls – received basic military education and encouraged to be athletic, running, wrestling and sports were common with girls They were taught to put Sparta above family As adults, women often had considerable freedom, especially when the men were away on military missions – very different than other Greek city-states