Download Assignment #2

Polis (poleis – plural)
Saurabh Sinha
Dr. Rifkind
Global History 1H Period 9
11/18/13
World History Pages 96-99 – Assignment #2: The Rise of Greek City States
1. Identify and explain the importance of the development of each of the following:
a. The Polis (city-state)
 Citizens can assemble for political, social, and religious activities.
 Below the acropolis, a central meeting point, were agoras, a market or a place of
assembly.
 Not only was a size of a polis was varied, poleis, in terms of population, were also
varied.
 A new military system helped develop the polis.
o Hoplite infantry – people who had weapons and was protected by a lot of
armor
b. The Phalanx (rectangular formation)
Phalanx
 Hoplite infantry working together.
o In other words, they formed a unit.
o If one troop inside the rectangular formation left, there is an opening.
 This makes this battle strategy less safe.
c. Colonies
 Factors that led the Greeks to colonize in distant lands and leave their homeland
o Growing gulf between rich and poor
o Overpopulation
o Development of trade
 Greeks colonized in Thrace in the north.
o This helped grow grains
 Other Greeks settled near the Black Sea coasts
 Colonization led to increased trade and industry
 Goods exported by the Greeks
o Pottery
o Wine
o Olive oil
 Imports
o From the West: grains and metals
o From the Black Sea area: fish, timber, wheat, metal, and slave labor
d. Tyrants
 Note: unconstitutional rise to power and were aristocrats who did not favor the
ruling of the aristocrats in their poleis.
 The rich (who received their wealth by trade and industry) and past poor peasants
(who became aristocrats) supported them
 Built new marketplaces, temples, walls.
o Helped make them popular and more beautiful
1
2. Why did Sparta choose to become a military state? What steps were taken to ensure its
success?
Sparta decided to become a military state because they wanted to be in charge of Laconian
and Messenian helots (prisoners).
 Steps taken to ensure Sparta’s success
o After being taken away from their mothers at the age of seven, the boys were now
under control of the state.
 These 7-year olds lived in military-like barracks.
o Harsh discipline was mandatory, in order to become tough
o Received an education in which military training and obedience to
authority were vital
o At 20 years of age, Spartan (which means “highly self-disciplined”) males joined
the army.
 Continued to live in the barracks and ate all meals in dining halls with
everyone
o At 30 years of age, they were allowed to vote and live at home.
o Once they were 60 years old, they could retire from military service.
o An oligarchy was created.
 Both kings shared power with a council of elders, the gerousia.
o Gerousia – 28 people over 60 years old
 Main task: prepare proposals to a group of five men known
as the ephors.
 Main task: Supervising the young and conduct of all
people
o Foreigners were prohibited from visiting Sparta.
o Forming an alliance with other states in the Peloponnesia.
o Powerful military was organized by 500 B.C.E.
3. What problems in early Athens had to be solved before it could develop a democracy?
Which solution seemed best or worst to you? Be sure the mention the person who offered the
solution.

Best
Athenian farmers became slaves and freeing these slaves and getting the economy back normal.
o They could not pay their loans given by the wealthy aristocrats who were in charge of
Athens.
 Solution 1: Solon the aristocrat (attempted to avoid tyranny until Pisistratus)
o He cancelled all land debts, outlawed new loans using humans to pay it
off, and the Athenian farmers were no longer slaves.
 Solution 2: Pisistratus (tyranny)
o His changes that helped Athenian trade favored the factory workers and
the merchants

Solution
3: Cleisthenes
solution
o Council of Five Hundred
 Responsibilities for citizens on this council: maintaining the
administration of foreign and financial affairs and also handing
the assembly that prepared businesses
 Best solution because not only did this solve the problem, this
council was important because it helped develop a democracy.
2