Download Outline 1 - Calaveras Unified School District

The Foundation of Government in the West
I. Ideas out of the Fertile Quest and the Middle East
A. Mesopotamia is conquered by the Amorites.
1. They were nomadic people who conquered the region.
2. Hammurabi was their great general who established the first empire - land outside of region
controlled by the leader.
3. To unify the people over the vast area, he created a single code of law - Hammurabi’s code
a. 282 specific laws to clarify life.
b. 88 deal with marriage, property and inheritance
c. It was an attempt to establish justice.
d. It was the first ever statement that the government was responsible for society as a
whole.
e. The code did have different standards for rich and poor male and female.
f. Many future civilizations used it as a model.
B. Persians (p. 46-49)
1. United a vast people from Northern Egypt to India, from Greece to the Arabian Sea
2. The Persians were very generous and respectful of conquered people.
3. Allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
4. Divided empire into 20 provinces and set up governors and tax collects,
5. Two means of control were road system and standardized coinage, which improved trade.
6. The Greeks and Romans would build off of these.
7. Religious unifier - Zoroasterism - a battle of good verses evil.
a. a new picture of heaven and hell
b. Ahura-Mazda - god of truth and light
c. Ahriman - god of evil and darkness
d. Final end judgement where good go to paradise and evil goes to fiery pit for eternity.
II. Development of Democratic Ideas in Ancient Greece
A. Cultural Foundation of the Greek Hero
1. Homer’s stories
2. The Olympics started in 776 BC, crowned with wreath of olives leaves, honor and fame.
3. Greek gods were like humans in conflict, but immortal
4. Myths tried to explain the mysteries of nature and the power of human passions.
5. Religion in Greece was tied to government and civic pride.
B. City-states (polis), the cradle of democracy, compete for power.
1. Citizens were expected to be involved.
2. Only free males were viewed as citizens.
3. They were to be involved in all discussions of public matters, open debate.
4. They were considered free and rational men.
5. Leaders were expected to be willingly to listen.
C. Power passes from kings to citizens.
1. After warrior-kings, an aristocracy (group of nobles) ruled the city-states and served
themselves.
2. Because iron was now cheap, citizens were soldiers and courageous.
3. Often an out-of-place noble would lead these farmer-soldiers into a revolt.
a. He would set himself up as a tyrant - person who gains power by force.
b. Not liked by nobles for his part and for giving out their land.
c. He would build community buildings.
4. Many other city-states tried other forms of government.
D. Sparta built an army state.
1. Spartans conquered their neighbors and made them helots (serfs), forced to work the land.
2. After a helot revolt in 600 BC, the Spartans created a harsh society.
a. Babies examine for fitness, if not fit, they were left to die.
b. Boys at age seven were moved into barracks and given little food and clothes, but tough
discipline.
c. Girls were raised to be hard, and as women were given nearly equal rights as men and ran
the family lands.
3. Great army, but no art or architecture.
4. Values were duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, beauty and individuality.
E. Athens turned to democracy.
1. They were educated to think and act as a free people.
2. They were eager to learn new ideas.
3. Two leaders reformed the government into a democracy, rule by the people.
4. Solon (594 BC) reforms the economy and politics.
a. Canceled all debts, freed indebted slaves, made farming profitable and required sons to get
a trade.
b. Allowed all males to discuss and vote on issues, and allowed anyone to bring charges
against anyone committing a wrong, so all were responsible for justice.
5. Cleisthenese (508 BC) creates a Council of 500 to prose laws and advise the Athenian
assembly.
6. Athenian direct democracy was where citizens voted on all legislation and participated in
decision-making
7. Athenians believed that Individual achievement, dignity, and worth are of great importance
F. The Persian Wars came twice to Greece, one in 490 and again 480 BC.
G. Philosophers searched for truth.
1. Philosopher is “one who loves wisdom”.
2. Socrates created the Socratic method of asking questions to find the truth of something; he
was sentenced to death for corrupting the youth of Athens.
3. Plato theorized that the average citizen was incapable of governing wisely.
a. He created a school of thought called the Academy.
b. Wrote The Republic about the best form of government.
c. Only the top third should rule, and their greatest philosopher would be king.
d. Plato’s three groups of a country were philosopher-kings, warriors, and producers
4. His greatest pupil was Aristotle who was hungry for knowledge.
a. He developed syllogism - If A and B, then C.
b. Aristotle believed that government actions must adhere to the law
c. Aristotle believed that laws maintain the stability of the nation
d. According to Aristotle, best type of government was a constitutional
III. Roman Civilization and its Republic (1000 BC to AD 476)
A. Rome creates its “own” culture.
1. All trade routes from north and south cross at one point, Rome.
2. Greeks, Latins, and Etruscans battled for control of Italy
3. Romans combine the best of all.
a. Religious ideas from the Greeks (gods) and the Etruscans (signs).
b. Romans overthrew the king and set up a republic.
c. Romans value family ties.
1.) The ways of the fathers - discipline, strength, & loyalty - gravitas.
2.) Paternalism - ruled by father.
a.) controlled property.
b.) could sell into slavery or kill any member without penalty.
c.) spoke for family.
d.) chief priest.
3.) Women ran the household and were viewed as background equals.
d. Society was divided into classes.
1.) Upper - patrician - original families had the right to make laws, held offices.
2.) Plebeians - commoner, artisans, merchants - could vote.
3.) Later huge numbers of slaves.
4. Romans built a mighty army.
a. All males were required to serve for 10 years.
b. Legion 6,000 fought as century (100), flexible to attack in any direction.
B. The Roman Republic spread its power.
1. Plebeians demanded more rights, government in which citizens have the right to vote for their
leaders
2. 12 Tables
a. Now written down, nobles could not misinterpret.
b. All citizens had the right to protection under the law.
c. Universal Law was a Roman code of law applied to ALL people
d. Law of Nations was an early Roman laws of legal principles foundation of Western law
3. Rome achieved a balanced government.
a. 2 Consuls - general/president 1.) power of life and death
2.) term only one year, once every 10 years
3.) veto - “I forbid” - stops other consul’s laws
b. Senate - aristocratic branch
1.) advised consuls
2.) influenced domestic and foreign affairs
3.) membership for life, continuity and power
c. Democratic assembly of all citizen-soldiers, later decisions were law.
d. Dictator - in times of crisis - 6 months of total power
e. checks and balances where each branch of government can limit the power of others
4. Rome won control of Italy.
a. After sack of Rome in 390 BC, Romans rebuild their wall that stood for 800 years.
b. They drove the Greeks from the land by 275 BC.
c. Three levels of citizens.
1.) Romans - from the city and area around
2.) ½ citizens were given all rights except voting.
3.) Allies of Rome, gave troops, formed alliance with only Rome, free to self-govern.
d. Citizenship could be granted to a select few in other lands.
C. The Republic collapsed in Rome
1. As the empire expanded, the gap between rich and poor grew.
a. rich upper class
1.) Hannibal destroyed many farms thus creating huge farms.
2.) Many conquered people were brought in as slaves, workers and servants.
3.) Great spoils of war made the wealthy accustom to great art, decorations and food.
b. Bottom was the slaves brought back from war
c. Proletariat - proletarius "citizen of the lowest class," in ancient Rome, landless people,
exempted from taxes and military service, which served the state only by having children.
Without farms or jobs they became dangerous discontent mobs.
2. Attempts to reform the political system.
a. Gracchi attempt to reform, give land to the poor?, deal with unemployment.
b. Both were killed by the senate (Tiberius 133 and Gaius 123 BC).
c. An army leader, Marius 105 BC, takes political power after creating a professional army.
d. This army would now fight for its leader who brought wealth, not the Republic.
e. 88 BC, Sulla ends the six-month dictator’s limit
3. Julius Caesar takes power.
a. Bribes Sulla’s soldiers not to kill him.
b. After playing politics for 20 years, he became governor of Spain.
c. With that wealth, and the support of the rich Crassus and popular general Pompey, they set
up the First Triumvirate.
d. The 3 bribed and bullied the senate and assembly into following them.
e. Julius would go off to conquer Gaul and Britannia.
f. Upon return (50 BC) he was ordered to disband his army, which would lead to his end.
g. He crosses the Ribicon - a decision from which there is no return.
h. He attacks Rome to start a civil war.
i. Defeats Pompey in Greece, who is later beheaded in Egypt.
j. Returns to Rome in 46 BC with the support of 2 armies and the people.
k. He made several great changes.
1.) Granted citizenship to many outside of Rome and Italy.
2.) Increased the Senate to 900 and filled it with his followers.
3.) He ordered landowners to substitute at least 1/3 of slaves for free workers.
4.) To create jobs he set up public works programs - great buildings and roads.
5.) He founded many colonies where landless could go.
6.) These programs cut in half the number on government dole - grain handouts.
7.) The Julian calendar based on the sun, 365 days plus 1, used until 1582 AD.
l. He was murdered by a group of senators on March 15, 44 BC, “Ides of March”.
4. The Republic dies after Caesar’s death.
a. A third civil war creates a great leader, Octavian (Augustus).
f. Octavian returns as triumphant 1st citizen.
g. He later takes the title Augustus - exalted one
h. He was the 1st emperor of the Roman Empire - ruled for 41 years.
i. Romans found it convenient to let the republic die, while acting like it still existed.
D. The Roman Empire
1. Pax Romana - peace and prosperity in the empire
a. Pax - Peace
b. 27 BC - AD180
c. No war inside of empire, the size of the US and 90 million people
2. Augustus set up a sound government.
a. He created policies - plans for governing
b. He encouraged the values of simplicity, soberness, and patriotism.
c. He improved trade and transportation.
1.) A common coinage of a denarius made trade easier.
2.) Removed transportation taxes to move goods freely.
3.) Great highways around the empire.
4.) Aqueducts - above ground structures carried water from hills to cities.
d. He created public building programs.
1.) Concrete was used widely for it was easy to move.
2.) Covered things with marble to make them look grander.
3.) Great buildings like temples, assembly houses, and coliseums.
e. A civil service is created, removing real power from the senators.
1.) Free(d) people ran the grain, roads, post, etc.
2.) Since it improved their lives, these men were loyal to emperor.
3. Peace continued after Augustus.
a. The civil service that Augustus created survived good and bad Caesars over the next 170
years.
b. Succession was a problem, who chose? Last emperor, senate, or army.
c. 5 Good emperors ruled the last 85 years of Pax Romana.
E. Romans extended the Greek Culture
1. The blend of the two cultures is called Greco-Roman.
2. New Schools of philosophy arose.
a. Epicuranism
1.) Free the body of pain and mind of fear.
2.) Avoid pain by avoiding excesses.
3.) Accept death as the end, so therefore, there was nothing to fear
4.) Forgot avoiding excesses, wealthy used ideas to justify pursuit of pleasure.
b. Stoicism
1.) Encouraged virtue, duty, and endurance.
2.) Universe was controlled by Universal Law, Divine Reason, or Supreme Power.
3.) Taught virtues of reason, duty, and courage.
4.) Pain and pleasure were unimportant.
5.) Many wealth students would later be in politics and spreading stoic ideas.
7.) Human laws and power should be reasonable and just.
8.) Pater familias no longer had power of life and death.
9.) Also masters were prohibited in killing or injuring their slaves.
5. Roman law united the empire.
a. Early law (12 Table) dealt with the rights of Romans.
b. Later the laws were applied to all people.
c. Many of the most important principles were Stoic. For Example
1.) No person could be judged without first seeing the facts.
2.) All accused had the right to face their accusers and defend themselves.
3.) If there were questions about someone’s guilt, then he should be viewed as innocent.
4.)Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside (unconstitutional).
d. Long after Rome was gone, its laws endured.
e. They became the basis for many European countries, and later nations of the world.
F. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
1. Crises weakened the empire.
a. Economics decay
1.) Trade was disrupted by barbarian attacks.
2.) Most trade was import and not export, so money was flowing out.
3.) Prices rose because of devaluation of coins - inflation.
4.) Farming output dropped off.
b. Military decay.
1.) Military was being defeated on the borders & the soldiers were having morale trouble.
2.) Roman soldiers were fighting for pay now and not patriotism.
3.) To keep costs down, the empire hired barbarians to fight, they had limited loyalty.
c. Political decay
1.) Most people were concerned about themselves and not the “republic”.
2.) With the loss of income, few wanted to enter govt., and lose money.
3.) The soldiers were the only ones willing to take over, but it was bloody.
d. Diocletian (284 - 311 AD) reformed the empire to keep it alive.
1.) Doubled the size of the army to protect borders.
2.) Beat inflation by creating price and wage controls.
3.) Restored Roman religion by persecuting Christians.
4.) Increased emperors prestige by looking more like a Persian ruler in purple & gold.
5.) To administer empire he divided it into West & East and he took the east.
6.) Reforms didn’t work very well, but they did set the stage for the next emperor.
e. Constantine (312 - 337 AD) reformed the empire more and unifies it again for only a short
time.
1.) While preparing to defeat a rival, he sees the sign of a cross of light in the sky, so he put
the symbol on his soldiers’ shields and he credits the victory to God.
2.) Edict of Milan allows freedom of religion. (In 395 AD Theodosius makes Christianity the
official religion of the empire.)
3.) Moved capital to Byzantium, because
a.) trading crossroad
b.) easier to defend
c.) Christian city
d.) located in prosperous east.
e.) Renamed city Constantinople.
4.) After his death, empire will be split forever.
2. Barbarians overran the empire.
a. Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Lombards, Vandals (all
Germanic people) Final sacking of Rome came in 455 AD by the Vandals.
G. Legacy of Roman Empire
1. Republic form of government spread through world, but not until after American Revolution.
2. Laws spread through much of Europe and the world.
3. Language - Latin
a. Latin roots form the foundation of the Romance Languages of Italian, French, Romanian,
Spanish, and Portuguese.
b. Latin roots make up more than 1/3 of English (English is also a 1/3 Germanic).
c. Alphabet of 23 letters is the basis for many languages such as English.
4. Architecture
a. practical - useful - such as roads and aqueducts.
b. grand scale - large to impress.
5. Art was realistic, impressive and beautiful.
Western Civilization (103)
Men spent their leisure time where? (agora 105)
arete (107)
acropolis (108)
phalanx (109)
Eratosthenes (126)
Euclid (126)
Archimedes (126)
Cincinnatus (137)
Pyrrhic victory (137)
tribune (142)
civil war (145)
Plotted to be king (L146)
Cicero (146)
gladiator (peace 151)
Caesar (rb 151)
Roman Forum (158)