Download Athenian Government What was an Independent Polis, in ancient

Athenian Government
What was an Independent Polis, in ancient Greece?
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Ancient Athens as an independent Polis. Label the following points of interest:
Plaka district- the oldest section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to
automobile traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding
motorcycle or delivery truck.
Temple of Olympian Zeus- The graceful ruins originally had 104 Corinthian columns,
each 17 meters high; 48 of these stood in triple rows under the pediments and 56 in
double rows at the sides. Only 15 columns remain standing today, with lovely
Corinthian capitals still in place. A 16th column blew over in 1852 and is still lying
where it fell.
Acropolis- sacred temples were built in and around Acropolis during the Golden Age of
Athens c. 460 BCE to 430 BCE.
Parthenon-massive foundations made of limestone, and columns made of Pentelic
marble, which was used for the first time, 447-432 BCE it’s the focus of the Acropolis
building complex. The architects were Iktinos and Kallikrates
Temple of Athena Nike- it was a place of worship for deities associated with wars,
perhaps Bronze Age “Nike” gods or goddesses, which with time fused with the cult of
Athena Nike of later centuries.
The Beginnings of Democracy: Greece developed the beginnings of democracy. The
unification of Greece was prevented, not only due to the mountainous geographic
setting but also each polis demanded the loyalty of its citizens in local religious, military
and economic matters. Economy between the Polis prospered mainly because of slave
labor and trade.
In 479 BCE the Polis
formed a defensive
alliance funded
mutually by
taxation. They stored
the money on the
island of Delos, for
safe keeping. This
enabled the alliance
to beat the Persians
at Marathon.
Terrace of the Lions, Delos, Greece, 7th Century BCE
They defeated the Persians by designing the triremes, boats with three banks of oars.
The Persian Wars never completely ended, but continued with small battles. Athens
took full responsibility for saving Greece from the Persians. The young democracy had
a thriving commerce, unique
religion and inquisitive
philosophy that contributed to
their immense artistic
achievement.
600 BCE: The Greeks had a
Prosperous trade based economy
490 BCE: Persians invaded Greece
480 BCE: Persians sacked Athens
479 BCE: Greeks defeated the
Persians
478: Delian League collected
taxes from the many city-states to protect them from ongoing Persian attacks.
Pericles:
Came to power in 461 BCE in the senate
He dominated Athenian politics from 450-429 BCE
The population of Athens was approximately, 230,000.
40,000 were men, 40,000 were women, 50,000 were
foreigners, 100,000 were slaves, almost one per person.
Only free men could vote.
Power originated from men who owned property.
Thucydides, a Greek historian wrote, “Pericles was
enormously popular and known for his financial integrity.”
His vision of Athens brought the Parthenon, Athena’s temple
and the rebuilding of Athens on and around the Acropolis.
Over the next 30 years Athens continued to collect taxes from other Polis for their own
ships, money and rebuilding of Athens. The Golden age of Athens lasted less than less
than 100 years.
How did Sparta react when they found out that Pericles took the Delian League’s
money to rebuild Athens?
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Athenians daily life of
philosophy
and study.
Spartans daily life of
war preparation.
Peloponnesian War 431 BCE.
Sparta v. Athens
431 BCE Peloponnesian War began and ended Athens’ powers.
Both competed for the leadership of the Hellenic world.
Sparta was wholly driven by war due to their inane, militaristic and machismo culture
Athens knew the value of philosophy, art, education, and science in human history.
Spartans descended from the Dorian invaders. Athenians descended from of Ionian
descent. (Two different tribes that inhabited Greece before the beginnings of city-states)
After Athens regained its freedom from Sparta, their intellectual and aesthetic
dominance flourished.
Governments:
Sparta’s five men and 28 elders ruled as an oligarchy.
Athens elected male upper class, landowners, to run the world’s first democracy
Culture and Beliefs:
Sparta stressed military power. All men were kept in barracks and fought for Sparta
from birth to 30 years old, when they were then free to life their lives.
Athenians stressed philosophy, art, architecture, education.
Spartans demanded total loyalty and cooperation from all its citizens.
Athenians democratic belief is to share the power with the people.
Commonalities:
Both City-states worshipped Greek gods and goddesses
Both demonstrated gallantry and heroism in battle.
Geographically located close together.
Lifestyle:
Spartans lived with few amenities.
Sparta trained soldiers from birth. The training toughened Spartan soldiers to the point
of never losing a battle and successfully raging war against all the small city-states.
A Deformed baby would be thrown into a gorge because it wouldn’t make a strong
soldier. Those who survived their birth trained to be vindictive and vicious soldiers
Athenians focused on thinking and learning. Athenian men spent extensively studied
literature, art, science, math, music and were free to follow any discipline as a
profession.
Economy and Military:
Spartans’ agriculture sustained their economy.
Athenians Mediterranean trading brought riches to Athens and by the 5th century BCE
their economy was much healthier than the Spartans
Sparta’s military was strong on land
Athens’ military was strong on water.
List the contributions of the Athenians and the Spartans to modern day life.
How was Greek’s democratic society organized?
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List the ideas of Government that Our Founding Father’s used to design our
government: