Download warring city-states

WARRING CITY-STATES
There were different ways to rule a polis,
(city-state) IN ANCIENT GREECE:
• Monarchy- rule by a king
• Oligarchy- rule by nobles and wealthy
merchants
• Democracy –rule by the people
Question #1:
How was ancient Greek
civilization and culture affected by
geography? Be sure to consider the
sea, the land, and the climate.
• Greece is a peninsula, surrounded by many
seas, divided by rugged mountains, and with
mild Mediterranean climate.
• Access to the sea links Greek trade, travel and
economy to other civilizations.
• Mountains make overland trade and political
unity difficult. This explains also why the early
Greece did not become an united nation. With
difficult overland trade and communication
their city-states developed independently.
• The moderate climate formed an outdoor civic
and cultural way of life.
Question #2:
What were a few ways in which
Sparta and Athens were similar
and how were they different?
What is a POLIS?
A polis was the typical structure of a community in the ancient
Greek world. A polis consisted of an urban centre, often
fortified and with a sacred centre built on a natural acropolis,
which controlled a surrounding territory of land.
The term polis has, therefore, been translated as ‘city-state’ as
there was typically only one city and because an individual
polis was independent from other poleis in terms of political,
judicial, legal, religious and social institutions and practices,
each polis was in effect a state.
Like a state, each polis was also involved in international
affairs, both with other poleis and non-Greek states in the
areas of trade, political alliances and wars.
Sparta v/s Athens
Similarity:
•
•
•
•
•
Greek language
Religion-many Gods and Goddesses.
Women and slaves had no political power.
Citizens were a minority of the population.
All of the citizens were free adult males.
Sparta v/s Athens
differences:
1. Values
2. Government
3. Education/Social life
Values :
Sparta
• DUTY
• STRENGHT
• DISCIPLINE
Athens
- INDIVIDUALITY
- BEAUTY
- FREEDOM OF
THOUGHTS
Government
SPARTA
OLIGARCHY
1. Two kings- only in time of war
2. Assembly – free adult males
3. Council of Elders- 5 ephors (nobles)
Government
ATHENS
DEMOCRACY
The Athenians avoided civil war by developing
democratic rule. However only free men can be
citizen.
• Draco• Solon• Pisistratus• Cleisthenes-
Draco
around 620 BC
• Gave the Athenians a written code of laws
(Draco’s code gave a person accused of murder the
right to be tried. The accused have to be proven guilty
before being punished)-positive
( He helped to develop a government based on
written laws) -positive
(His laws were said to be written not in ink but in
blood.)- negative
SOLON- 594 BC
• He made economic and social reforms to the
laws, which helped the poor.
• He created a political reform, a court for all
citizens. (the idea that all citizens are
responsible for justice was revolutionary)
• Every male citizen could participate in
political debate.
• He neglected land reforms- led to fight
between rich and poor
Pisistratus
(c.600-527BC)
• He was a great general and tyrant of Athens.
• His enemies were the rich aristocrats who he
drove out the city.
• He was a popular ruler, reducing taxes, helping
the poor and disabled, uniting Attica and
beautifying Athens with new buildings.
• Because of the increasing export, he was able to
finance water pipes for the city.
• He was a patron of the arts and is credited with
the first written versions of Homer's works.
• He also founded the first public library of Athens.
Cleisthenes
570 BC— 508 BC
• Established democracy in Athens- Cleisthenes'
1.
2.
3.
4.
reforms at the end of the 6th Century BC made possible the
Golden Age of Athenian civilization that would follow in the
5th Century BC.
Increasing the power of the Assembly he allow all citizens
to submit laws for debate.
Created a Council of 500 instead of 100. This body proposed
laws and counseled the Assembly.
The Council members were chosen by lot, or at random.
These reforms allowed Athenian citizens to participate in a
limited democracy.
Question#3
• What is the main difference
between Athenian democracy
and the democracy in the USA?
• Individual citizens in Athens
participated directly, while U.S.
citizens elect representatives.
Question #4
• If comparing the two
democracies which one you
think is more democratic and
why?
• The USA democracy because in
ancient Greece only 1/5 of the
people were citizens. Women,
slaves and foreigners were not
allowed to vote.
EDUCATION/Social Structure
SPARTA
SPARTA
SPARTA
ATHENS
ATHENS