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**DO NOT TAKE** Government Athens was one of the first known democracies. It was powerful, stable and had set rules which everyone could follow. Athenians followed a direct democracy. This is where the people do not elect representatives to vote for laws but rather vote on laws on their own, or directly. The Athenians who were free male citizens could participate in an assembly which was an opportunity for males to speak openly about political concerns and vote on laws. The Athenians also introduced the idea of a trial by peers, or jury duty. Jury duty was considered a privilege and demonstrated your citizenship and ability to make important decisions which would affect your community. **DO NOT TAKE** Reasons for Government Around 700BC most nobles were the citizens with power and chose officials. Nobles judged major cases in court and dominated the assembly. After Solon was appointed chief official he made an attempt at reform. He outlawed slavery based on debt, granted citizenship to some foreigners and gave the Athenian assembly more say in important decisions. In essence in organized the social classes to be fairer. He also encouraged economic reform by exporting wine and olive oil to increase the money coming into the city. Another reformer Cleisthenes encouraged education and participation of government. He set up the Council of 500 which supervised the day-to-day work of the government. Solon Cleisthenes **DO NOT TAKE** Education The primary purpose of education was to produce thinkers and people well trained in the arts which included painting, writing and dancing. It was only open to males. Young boys were tutored at home until the age of 6 and then they were sent to neighborhood schools until they were 14 years old. Schools were private, but tuition was low to encourage poor families to send their children to school. During primary school, younger boys learned how to play ball games, while older boys were taught more military-type activities such as running and boxing. All Athenian boys were expected to read heavily, especially epic poems such as the Iliad and Odyssey. These works were mandatory for students to learn in elementary schools. **DO NOT TAKE** Roles of Women Women also had very little say in public life. Many Athenians took this idea from Aristotle who said “The man is by nature fitter for command than a woman, just as an older person superior to a younger.” Women were not allowed to attend school. However, they were allowed to privately get tutored at home. But as a result women were primarily educated with domestic duties. They managed the entire household, cared for the children and prepared food. They were skilled weavers and produced all materials for the home and their family clothing. Rich women tried to limit their trips outside the home, sending slaves and children to fetch water from the public well and buy food. Poorer women worked outside the home, tending sheep or working as weavers or making pottery. **DO NOT TAKE** Military Male teens were trained to fight and hold their own in military battles as part of their arts education. Soldiers were required to serve two years in the military. After the first year, they were given a sword and a shield with the state’s emblem on it. Although they served only two years, they could be called at any moment up to age sixty if the numbers during military conflicts were low. The army consisted of horsemen and hoplites (foot soldiers). They were armed with swords, shields and extremely long lances. Most military success for Athenians came from the Navy, as their location allowed the males to practice skills eve from a young age. **DO NOT TAKE** Values Athenians believed they were superior to every one city-state for their government as well as their well-rounded citizens. As a result Athenians valued education above all else. They believed that good citizen decisions depended on the education they had. They also believed that education should be well rounded, not simply in military skills but in the arts and literature. The arts were so important to Athenians that male children learned how to play instruments in school as well as sing. The idea was that the arts demonstrated the beauty of their culture and their city. For that reason they encouraged women to spend time not only weaving clothes but weaving tapestry and pottery. The pottery and tapestry was displayed in the homes for guest to admire. Athenians also valued physical beauty. They believed that humans should be healthy and physically active. For this reason, many Athenian women were forced to cook meals which were nutritious and encourage their children to take part in physical activities from a young age.