Download Warring City

Warring City-States: Greece
and Sparta
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Objectives
• Identify the different political systems
that developed in the Greek city-states
• Describe the government of Athens
• Explain how Athenian and Spartan gov’t
differed
• Summarize the battles and results of
the Persian Wars
Focus
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Record your response to the
following questions in your notebook:
1. What were the advantages and
disadvantages of the city-state as a
form of government?
2. Why would tyrants set up building
programs?
Rule and Order in City-States
Polis – The Fundamental Greek
political unit
• Made up of city-state and the
surrounding countryside
• At public center was Acropolis
– male citizens gathered there
to discuss city government
Plutarch, the Greek writer, describes the
describes the great buildings of the Acropolis:
“Each of them is always in bloom, maintaining
is appearance as though untouched by time, as
though an evergreen breath and undecaying
spirit had been mixed in its construction.”
Greek Political Structure
Monarchy
– Gov’t ruled by a King or monarch,
hereditary, divine right (some), Mycenae
by 2000 B.C.
 Aristocracy
– Gov’t ruled by nobles and landowners,
hereditary, based on family ties, social
rank, wealth, Athens prior to 594 B.C.
 Oligarchy
– Gov’t ruled by a few powerful people,
based on wealth or ability, ruling group
controls military, Sparta by 500 B.C.
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Greek Political Structure
Direct Democracy
– State ruled by its citizens, rule based
on citizenship, majority rule,
practiced in Athens by about 500
B.C.
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Defending the Polis (city-state)
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Iron became cheaper than bronze
Now ordinary citizens could afford
Iron spears and shields
“Commoners” defending the polis
make up a “new” army
Foot-soldiers (Hoplites) used the
Phalanx formation to dominate
opposing armies
The Phalanx
Phalanx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McwmRQUTfKk
Feared Warriors: The Spartans
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Uniqueness of
Sparta’s geography
Spartans built a
military state
Conquered areas –
made people
“helots” – or slaves
Spartan Government
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Government composed of two
groups: The Assembly (free adult
males – voted on issues) and the
Council of Elders (proposed laws)
5 elected ephors carried out the laws
Spartan Education
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j
EItBM1dc9o&feature=related
Spartan Education
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Spartan’s lives were
completely focused on
the military
Spartan Goal:
Produced tough,
battle-tested warriors
• Age 7: Boys left home –
went into army
barracks
• Age 20: Allowed to
marry, but still lived
full-time with army
• Age 60: Retirement
from Army – live
w/family
Spartan Education
Questions to answer
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How did life differ for Spartan
women? (Think about their
differences with Spartan men and
with Athenian women)
What did the Spartans “sacrifice” by
focusing so much on the military?
Democracy in Athens
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Athens avoided
problems by creating
the first democracy:
Rule by the people
Who were “excluded”
from being fullcitizens?
What was the
expected “role” for
women in Athens?
The Political and Economic
Reformers in Greece

What was each of the following reformers
responsible for and what did it do???
• Draco –
 Developed a legal code
 All equal under the law (rich and poor)
 Dealt very harshly with criminals
• Solon –
 No citizen should own another citizen
 Outlawed debt slavery
 Organized citizens into four social classes
 Top three hold political office
 All citizens could participate in the Athenian assembly
 Any citizen could bring charges against wrongdoers
Reforms of Cleisthenes
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Helped the democracy
by limiting the nobility
Regular citizens now
could propose laws
and debate
Created the Council of
Five Hundred –
random collection that
proposed laws and
counseled the
assembly
1/5 of Athenian
residents were fullcitizens
The Persian Wars
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Persian King Darius
was upset that
Greeks were
settling in Ionia
(coast of Anatolia)
Darius put down
the revolt in
Anatolia and
wanted to burn
Athens in revenge
Battle of Marathon
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Persians sent a fleet
to Marathon
25,000 Persians vs.
10,000 Athenians
Persians light armor
no match for Greek
phalanx formations
Outcome: 6,400
Persians dead; only
192 Athenians
Athens Undefended
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After Marathon, the
city of Athens was
undefended
Army sent their best
runner: Pheidippides
to run to Athens to
alert them of possible
attack
26-mile journey now
known as a
“Marathon”
After 10 years – Persian War
continues
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Darius’ son Xerxes now in power for
Persia
• What did some people in Athens want to
do when the Persians came back?
• What happened at the following battles –
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Thermopylae
Salamis
Plataea
Thermopylae
HOMEWORK
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READ 5.3 – COMPLETE OUTLINE
READ Gates of Fire – complete
assignment by THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.