Download Ancient Greece Section 2: The Greek City

Ancient Greece
Section 2:
The Greek City-States
Essential Questions
1. Where was the center of Greek life?
2. What differences exist between Athens and Sparta?
Key Terms
Polis: the Greek word for a city-state (page 115)
Acropolis: a fortified area at the top of a hill in a Greek
city-state (page 115)
Agora: an open area below the acropolis where people would
assemble and where the market was located (page 115)
Hoplites: heavily armed infantry soldiers (page 116)
Phalanx: a rectangular formation used by hoplites to create a
wall of shields (page 116)
Democracy: rule of the many (page 118)
Oligarchy: rule by the few (page 118)
Helots: people captured by the Spartans (page 118)
Ephors: a group of five men who were elected each year by the
Spartans and who were responsible for the education of the
youth and the conduct of all citizens (page 119)
Three types of government used in the
Greek city-states.
Advantage
Disadvantage
Tyranny
Ended rule of aristocrats
Went against the rule of
law
Democracy
Places power in the
hands of the people
Difficult to reach a
consensus
Oligarchy
Relatively efficient
Power in the hands of a few
people
(pg 118)
Sparta:
Sparta & Athens
oligarchy (with two kings)
(pg 120)
Athens:
king →
oligarchy of aristocrats →
tyranny →
democracy
Political Reform
Reform-minded aristocrats made major changes in the society and politics of early
Athens.
Leader
Salon
Reforms
Pisistratus
gave aristocrats’ land to the peasants
Cleisthenes
laid the foundations for Athenian democracy
by creating a new council of five hundred and
by giving the assembly, which was made up
of all male citizens, the final authority to pass
laws.
cancelled all land debts and freed people who
were slaves because of their debts.
The Polis
Center of Greek Life
Group
Political Rights
Adult
Males
Women &
Children
Citizens with Full Political Rights
Citizens with No Political Rights
Slaves &
Non-Citizens with No Political
Foreigners Rights
Greek Colonies
What were two results of Greek Colonization?
1. Spread the Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean.
2. Led to an increase in trade & industry.
Socrates (c.469-399 B.C.)
 Socrates
Plato
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
 Alexander
 Aristotle
the Great
(c.427-347 B.C.)
Plato
The Republic
Philosopher Kings
Society ruled by those
motivated by the intellect (2%)
Auxiliary
Society policed & protected by
those motivated by courage (2%)
Hoi Polloi
The masses making up society,
motivated by their appetites
(96%)
Plato’s Allegory (parable) of the Cave
1. The masses are imprisoned, seeing only the illusions of the puppet
masters.
2. The climb out of the cave (through education) is a long & painful
journey.
3. Those that leave are thought mad if they return and speak of truth.