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Sparta and Athens:
City-State Rivals
Chapter 7, Section 2
Political Changes
► As
Greek-City States grew, Nobles became
more powerful than Kings.
 They didn’t rule as long as the kings did though.
► The
farmers did not like the Nobles.
 Often borrowed money from them to buy land.
 When they couldn’t pay the loan they:
►Would
have to work for the noble.
►moved to the city to find jobs
►sold themselves into slavery.
► By
650 B.C., farmers wanted a stronger
voice in government (looking for political
change.)
Political Changes
► Merchants
reforms.
and Artisans also wanted
 They made a lot of money but because most
did not own land, they were not considered
citizens. (meaning they have no role in ruling
the polis.
► This
growing unrest would lead to the rise
of Tyrants (someone who seizes power
and rules with total authority.)
 Most tyrants in charge of a city-state rules
fairly.
► The
Political Changes
harsh rule of a few tyrants gave the word
tyranny its current meaning (rule by a cruel and
unjust person)
► Many Greeks supported these tyrants for
overthrowing nobles during the 600 B.C.
 Tyrants also had the support of Hoplites, or
citizen soldiers, in the army.
► Tyrants gained popularity by building temples,
marketplaces, and fortresses.
► Despite this, most Greeks wanted a government in
which they could all participate.
 Not just one person.
► Tyrants
Political Change
ruled many City-States until about
500 B.C.
 From this point until 336 B.C., most City-States
were ruled by oligarchies and democracies.
►Democracy
– All citizens share in running the
government.
►Oligarchy – A few wealthy people/powerful people
over the larger group of citizens.
► Two
of the major City States were governed
differently and created different societies.
 Sparta and Athens.
Sparta: A Military Society
► Sparta
was located on the Peloponnesus (peh-luhpuh-NEE-suhs) Peninsula in southern Greece.
 Descended from the Dorians.
 Economy was based on Agriculture.
 Did not set up colonies.
►Invaded local city-states and enslaved the
people calling them helots (Greek word for
“capture”)
► The
A Strong Military
helots revolted against their Spartan masters
in 650 B.C., but were not successful.
 To avoid future uprising, Sparta became a
military society.
►Believed this would make a more obedient
and loyal citizens.
► Sparta’s government prepared all boys and men
for a life of war.
 Boys often left their home to join the military at
age seven.
►They
learned to read, write, and use weapons.
A Strong Military
 They were also treated harshly believing that if
they could overcome this, they would be men
who would survive the pain of battle.
► They joined the regular military at age 20.
 Allowed to marry into their twenties but could
not live at home and lived in military camps.
 Shared barracks and ate meals together.
 A typical army dish was known as black broth.
►Pork boiled in animal blood, salt, and
vinegar.
► They could live at home again when they were 30.
 They still had to train for combat however.
A Strong Military
They were allowed to retire at the age of 60.
► Since men lived away from home, Spartan women had
more liberties. They could:
 Own property and travel.
 Trained in sports such as wrestling and throwing the
javelin.
► They remain physically fit to fulfill their roles as
mothers.
 The goal was to raise sons who were brave, strong
Spartan soldiers.
► Expected their men to either win or die in battle
(surrendering was not an option.)
 One mother even told her son, “Come back carrying
your shield or being carried on it.”
►
How Was Sparta Governed?
► Sparta’s
government
 It was an oligarchy.
►Two kings ruled jointly but, with little power.
 Their two roles were to lead the army and
carry out religious ceremonies.
►Also
had two governing bodies.
 Assembly:
►All male members over the age of 30.
►Made decisions about war and peace.
 Council of Elders:
►Most powerful body in government.
How Was Sparta Governed?
► Council
of Elders:
 Most powerful body in government.
 Members served as judges.
►Only officials who could order executions or
exile.
 Each year they elected five people to be ephors
(EH-fuhrs)
 Enforced laws and managed the collection
of taxes
► Sparta’s strict government brought stability but, It
took its toll on the people of Sparta.
 Restricted free thinking and new ideas for fear of
losing control of the Helots.
How Was Sparta Governed?
This resulted in Sparta not allowing foreign visitors
and prevented citizens from traveling outside the CityState except for military reasons.
 Didn’t even allow for studying literature or the arts.
► Other changes it resisted included:
 Used heavy iron bars for money instead of coins
like other Greek City-States discouraging trade with
the rest of Greece.
 While most of Greece flourished and prospered,
Sparta remained a poor farming society.
► They only cared for military power and victory.
 They would serve a key role in protecting Greece
against invaders.
►
Athens: A Young Democracy
► Athens
was located northeast of Sparta.
 Roughly a two-day trip.
► It
was founded by descendants of the
Mycenaeans and different from Sparta in its
ideas about society and government.
An Athenian Education
► Athenians
received a very different education to
that of Spartans.
 Athens educated its males, as did Sparta.
►Boys studied arithmetic, geometry, drawing,
music and public speaking.
► They also participated in sports.
 Believed it would create young people with
strong minds and bodies.
► When boys were finally 18 and finished with
school, they were expected to take an active role
in public affairs.
An Athenian Education
► Athenian
at home.
mothers educated their daughters
 They learned spinning, weaving, and other
household tasks.
 In some wealthy families they learned to read,
write, and play music.
 Women were not generally active in business or
government in Athens.
► The
Early Reforms
history of Athens was similar to that of many
Greek City-States.
 Owed money to the nobles and selling
themselves into slavery to nobles.
 Eventually they rebelled, calling for an end to all
debts, and the distribution of land to the poor.
► The nobles avoided an uprising by making some
changes.
► They turned to a respected merchant known as
Solon (SOH-luhn) for leadership.
 In 594 B.C., he ended the debt of farmers,
freed those who were slaves, and opened the
assembly and the law courts to all male citizens.
► The
Early Reforms
assembly was a council made up of 400
wealthy citizens who were responsible for making
laws.
► The common people praised Solon’s reform but
many Athenians were unhappy with his reform.
 Many wealthy Athenians felt he had gone to far
and the poor thought he did not go far enough.
 He lost most of his support by the time he left
office.
Early Reforms
By 560 B.C. a tyrant named Peisistratus (py-SIHStruht-uhs) made reforms that went further to what
Solon had done.
 He divided large estates amongst farmers who had
no land.
 He provided loans to help farmers buy equipment
to work their farms.
 Granted citizenship to those who did not own land.
 Hired the poor to construct temples and other
public works.
► Since religion was important to Athens he built
additional shrines to different gods.
 He also encouraged the worship of the Goddess
Athena, and held athletic contests to honor Athena.
►
► After
Towards Democracy
the death of Peisistratus, Cleisthenes (KLYSthuh-neez) was the next ruler of Athens.
 Prizing democracy, he made the assembly the
city-state’s major governing body.
 All male citizens could participate and vote on
laws.
 They were allowed to discuss issues freely, hear
legal cases, and appoint army officials.
► He also created a new council of 500 citizens.
 They were to help the assembly manage daily
government affairs.
► The
Towards Democracy
council introduced law and controlled
the treasury as well as manage relations
with other city-states.
► Each year they held a lottery to choose the
council members.
 It was preferred to an election as an election
may unfairly favor the rich, who were well
known.
 Terms on the council were one year and no one
could serve for more than two terms and made
it possible for everyone to be a council member.
► While
Toward Democracy
Cleisthenes’s reforms made Athens
more democratic, many were still excluded
from the political process.
 If you were not a citizen you could not
participate in government.
 This included all Athenian women, foreign-born
men, and all enslaved people.