Download URBAN PLANNING IN THE CLASSICAL AGE

Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
Objective: Design an original city that reflects the function of classical cities and the role
that Axial Age philosophies played in those cities.
Directions:
1. Pick an “axis” for your society. This can either be “purist” or “syncretic” tradition.
2. What questions are people in your society asking? What are their concerns? Be sure
to address the following topics when designing your city:
o Axial Age Philosophy/Religion
o Trade/Economic Systems
o Political Power/Security
o Geography
o Empire Context (where is this city, and how do the geopolitical and
economic conditions of that empire contribute to that philosophy?)
*All creative decisions regarding the above should make sense for your society’s axial
philosophy. Consult “City and State,” the Axial Age Readings Packet, and Strayer.
Use the notes at the end of this assignment as a guide as well.
3. What would a city look like that addressed these concerns/questions?
a. What functions do you want your city to provide?
b. How will your city reflect the society’s values?
c. What is unique about your city? Why does it not look like other cities?
4. Design the city! Draw a map of the layout of the city, clearly labeled, on a large piece
of paper or poster board. This should be original, creative, and thoughtful. It should
not be a regurgitation of the “City and State” reading. Be sure to consider geography,
economic system, and political system in planning what goes into the city.
5. Prepare a 10-minute presentation in which you answer: How does your city
reflect its Axial Age philosophy? You will explain your design choices and choice
of geography, economic system, and political system IN THE CONTEXT OF AN
EMPIRE.
Note: Be sure to pace yourself. Decide on the philosophy and type of city, draw a rough
sketch and then transfer it to the larger paper or poster board. These will be hung up in the
classroom and they will be the ONLY visual used in your presentation.
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
The society: GREECE
Background situation:
 Economy based on trade + use of currency  strong middle class
 Geography: rocky Greek soil
 Humanism: belief that humans are the center of all things and can rely on their own
abilities to meet challenges
 City-states or poleis
 Arête: an individual hero’s courage and display of physical strength, loyalty and
fearlessness
 How do you demonstrate arête if you seldom go into battle?  Pan-Hellenic games
(Olympics)
 6th C B.C.E. Sparta and Athens most powerful city-states
o Sparta: military state (to control helots, or non-Spartans); loyalty to state
rather than family; education as preparation for military service; Spartan
women’s role to raise heroes
o Athens: no helots; wealthy landowners hired Athenians to do farm
workproblems below
The problems of the society:
 Poor Athenian farmers had no political rights, resented landowners
 Merchants jealous of aristocracy. Merchants had wealth but no social status or
authority
 Merchants became rich; farmers became poor and accumulated debt. Became the
loan holders debt-slaves
 Revolt and revolution threatened aristocrats
The questions being asked:
 Who should rule?
 What is the relationship between wealth and social status and authority?
 What is the relationship between land ownership and political authority?
 How can we reduce the gap between rich and poor?
 Who should be considered a citizen? What are the requirements for citizenship?
 Why fight for a city-state that denies us political rights?
The answers to the questions-new ideas to the society:
 Solon: canceled debts; graduated income tax; Council of Four Hundred made up of
merchants and other citizens; divided people into four classes based on wealth; all
citizens could participate as jurors; women politically inferior to men.
 Peisistratus: redistributed land, government loans to encourage agriculture; promoted
colonies; promoted worship of Athena and festival to Dionysus to create cultural
unity.
 Cleisthenes (“father of Athenian democracy”) divided Athens into 10 geographic
areas, or “tribes” which included people of all classes; Council of 500; ostracism as
punishment instead of death penalty.
 Expanded the rights of male citizens, made Athens more democratic. Slaves, women,
and resident foreigners not citizens.
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age

Phalanx: military formation that required farmers-political rights give men a stake in
society and made them eager to defend polis.
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
The society: CHINA
Background situation:
 From 442-221 B.C.E. no strong central government control existed in China
 Era of Warring States: period of constant fighting and disorder
 Art of War: manual on how to wage successful military campaign; how to defeat an
enemy without fighting; only a government with united support of its people can
expect to win- must ensure the welfare of the people.
The problems of the society:
 Constant warfare: instability, lack of security, uncertainty
 Lack of faith/support for the government
The questions being asked:
 How can we end fighting?
 How can the government ensure united support of the people?
 How can the government establish order and stability without use of military force?
The answers to the questions-new ideas to the society:
 Confucius: right kind of leadership will end chaos and bring back peace
o Ren- appropriate feelings/humanness; li -correct actions; filial piety-respect
for one’s parents; 5 Relationships
o Chunzi
o Social mobility
o Rule by moral example, not force. People would learn to behave properly
through the example of those superior to them.
 Daoism
o Dao-the way, the way of nature, or the way of the cosmos
o All life is interdependent and human beings should exist in harmony
o wu wei: act by not acting; do nothing and problems will solve themselves like
nature. Be soft and yielding but naturally powerful
o Government useless. Institutions led to competition and eventually fighting.
o Yin-yang: unity and harmony of opposites
 Legalism
o Power is the only way to bring stability. Single, all powerful central authority
who established what is “right” and enforced rules with police force.
o Heavy taxation, revolts quickly put down.
o Man inherently evil and need strict laws and punishment to behave properly.
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
The society: WEST ASIA
Background situation:
 Constant invasions: Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Hyksos, Assyrians
 Assyrians: skilled warriors, efficient military organization; cavalry; force to maintain
control; 900 B.C.E. conquered land from Mediterranean to Babylon; killed off
leadership; forced people to resettle; looted and destroyed Babylon
 Hebrew people (divided into Judah and Israel) attacked by Assyrians
The problems of the society:
 Constant warfare
 Changing leadership
The questions being asked:
 If the Lord had promised to protect us, then why constant invasions?
 How do we keep the covenant with YHWH?
 What is the meaning of our rituals, sacrifices and feasts? Are they effective?
 Why has YHWH punished us with defeat by the Assyrians? Why would the Lord let
this happen?
 How can we find meaning in this insecure world?
 What is the relationship between ethical living and a happy and blessed life?
 Why do good people suffer?
The answers to the questions-new ideas to the society:
 Amos: prophet living in Judah.
o Rituals alone not enough, must have righteous actions
o Social justice applies to rulers and average people; leaders must listen to those
who disagree
o Said YHWH was punish them if they continued to violate the Covenant and
the spirit of the Commandments
 Job:
o What is the relationship between ethical living and a happy and blessed life?
o Why do good people suffer?
o Recognized that the Lord has purposes that he could not understand
 YHWH the only God, not just their God.
o While in captivity, Jews did not lose faith even when the Lord acted in ways
beyond their understanding
o YHWH just and compassionate
 Zoroaster
o Rituals not working, lost faith in sacrifices
o Dualism: world created and governed by two powerful but different forces
 Good-Ahura Mazda represented by light and fire; created truth and
wisdom
 Evil-Ahriman represented by darkness; created falsehood and
ignorance
o World a conflict between these two forces
o Human beings have free will to choose between good and evil
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
o No fasting, sacrifices or rituals; be righteous, just, chaste, compassionate,
charitable, promote education, etc.
o Ethical dualism: pairs of opposites can be judged either good or not good
and individuals must choose which is which.
Name_______________________________ Morelli|APWH Period___ Date__________
Urban Planning in the Classical Age
The society: INDIA
Background situation:
 By 600 B.C.E.-17 small kingdom in n.India ruled by rajas or assemblies of elders.
 Occupations hereditary
 Brahmins stressed doing one’s dharma ensured prosperity and peace
 1000 B.C.E.-Brahmins most prestigious group in n.India
Problems:
 Rajas and other resented Brahmins power
 Merchants wealthy but received little recognition
 Many considered Brahmin rituals extravagant and wasteful
 Many people turning to a life of asceticism
o Life of self-denial: Upanishads-universe composed of one reality identified as
Brahman; atman or essential self is identical with the universal essence,
Brahman; moksha-oneness with Brahman; samsara-life dies and is reborn;
karma; dharma
 Upanishads have great depth and insight, but most people could not read Sanskrit
 Average people wanted a message they could understand and faith they could
embrace
Questions being asked:
 Other ways to achieve salvation than rituals and sacrifices?
 How can you be a great warrior while practicing non-violence?
 Is there a way out of suffering?
 Why is there so much suffering in the world?
The answers the questions-new ideas to the society:
 Mahavira
o Jiva: everything in existence has a soul called jiva
o Goal of life is to free jivas
o Ahimsa-non violence
o Jina: one who has total self-control over physical, emotional, senses
o Give up attachment to worldly things, possessions
o Tolerance of others
o Fought battle against his desires a new kind of hero
 Buddha
o Four noble truths
o Eightfold Path
o Nirvana: release from cycles of reincarnation and achievement of union with
the universe
o do not need rituals of the Brahmins; gods and goddesses not necessary
o equality among believers