Download Topic(s): Cues – themes, terms, people, places, events, ideas

Name: Matt Caylor
Date:
6
/ 29
/ 2011
pgs: 361-365
Ch.-Sec.:
5
.2
Topic(s): The City-States of Ancient Greece (700s BC - 300s BC)
Cues – themes,
terms, people,
places, events, ideas,
movements, etc.
Notes – Definitions, explanations, connections to previous material, questions, etc.
– These notes should assist you in developing a long-term understanding of the material upon
which we will build over the course of the year. DO NOT simply copy full sentences/paragraphs
word for word – this does nothing to help you understand what you are reading.
- Geography of Greece
: Peloponnesus
- Peloponnesus - Greek word for peninsula - Eastern Mediterranean Sea - long coastline with many good
harbors
: great for trade - Greeks were great sailors - contacted many groups throughout Mediterranean
- Very mountainous - divided the Greek mainland and various communities of people
: Greece was NOT united - very divided
- City-states
- separate communities in ancient Greece - each city-state has its own government and political system,
social system, economic activities, education system, culture and way of life
: Each city-state is independent and proud - strong competition between city-states
: Two strongest and most influential city-states are ATHENS and SPARTA
- Sparta
- Sparta - city-state wholly focused on military supremacy - discipline, loyalty, honor through military
achievements
: Education - very limited - only basic reading and writing - purpose of education is only to have
basic skills for service to the state
: Social structure - 3 basic classes
- Equals - full Spartan citizens - descended from original Spartan settlers (Dorians) - full
voting rights for men - may serve in representative assemblies (Council of Elders)
- Half-Citizens - free citizens but held no political power - paid taxes - served in military
- Helots - slaves, workers, servants of the Spartan state - outnumbered all other Spartans
: Government - focused on the freedom of the state, NOT freedom of the individual
- Council of Elders - made up of senior male Equals - proposed laws
- Assembly - adult male citizens - vote on laws proposed by Council - chose Ephors
: Ephors - overseers of the Spartan state - monitored daily activities- oversee kings
- Kings - 2 kings - control the Spartan military - highly respected figures
: Military - Spartan military machine - do your duty, follow orders, fight to the death
- Training - begins at age 7 for boys - active duty at age 20-60 - taught strict discipline
: girls - must be healthy and fit to bear future soldiers - undergo physical training
: Art, Literature, Culture - no long-term contributions - wholly focused on the military
:Equals
: Helots
- Athens
- Athens - city-state known for its contributions to Western Culture - Democracy, art, philosophy
: Education - extremely important - academies for teaching - encouraged independent thought
: Social Structure - 3 basic classes
- Citizens - those people born within the city-state of Athens - full political rights for all
men, regardless of wealth
- Metics - non-citizens who are born outside Athens - NO political rights, could not own
land - still paid taxes
- Slaves - viewed as property - usually captured from other regions during war
: Government - known as birthplace of Democracy - did not begin as a democracy, though
: aristocracy
- Early gov't - monarchy --> aristocracy - gov't controlled by wealthy elites (aristocrats)
- Archons
: Archons - 9 elected leaders of Athenian aristocracy - made laws (not written)
: Draco
- Draco - archon who created Athens' first written law code - very harsh
: Solon
- Solon - archon who outlawed debt slavery
: Peisistratus
- Peisistratus - tyrant - supported by lower classes
: Cleisthenes
- Cleisthenes - overthrew aristocrats - brought democracy to Athens
: Direct Democracy
: Direct Democracy - all citizens participate directly in all decisions (vote on all laws)
Summary – summarize the
main idea of the
reading in 3
sentences. Look for
the BIG IDEAS,
change, and overall “mood or
theme” of the reading. Look
for connections to previous
material & implications for the
future, when possible.
The geography of Greece, with its many harbors and rugged mountains, divided Greece into separate
city-states, each with their own laws and way of life. The two most influential city-states were Athens
and Sparta. These two city-states were major rivals and exerted their influence over the other city-states.
Athens and Sparta were almost complete opposites: Athens was the birthplace of democracy
and emphasized education, the arts, and individuality, while Sparta was completely focused on military
strength and made no significant contributions in the arts.
(Note: The next section of reading would continue with Greece's Golden Age - The Acropolis, Parthenon,
art, architecture, sculpture, philosophy, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. - What would be the next section?)