Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
City States of Greece Geography of Greece • Peninsula jutting into the • • Mediterranean Sea Made up of over 4000 islands Surrounded by three seas – Mediterranean Sea – Ionian Sea – Aegean Sea • The Greeks became great sailors and colonized many lands The Land of Greece • Rugged mountains, • deep valleys Terrain shaped politics of Grecians – Mountains divided cities from each other = ISOLATION! – Led to many different forms of government – Made communication & overland trade difficult • Only about 20% of land • was good for farming Trade was lifeline Central Greece – very rugged terrain, not good for agriculture Rise of City States • City states = • Polis = “City” independent • Center of polis = Acropolis cities (like who?) • Acropolis = fortified hill Acropolis of Athens Greek Politics: Different strokes for different folks • Because of physical isolation, many different government forms were invented – Tyranny: one person w/ absolute power to rule – Monarchy / Aristocracy: king w/ advisor nobles – Oligarchy: small group rules – Democracy: people rule • Citizen soldiers protected polis Armies of the City States • Iron weapons were cheap & very common; owned by virtually all Greeks – Bronze armor though (lighter, better metallurgy) • Led to the rise of the citizen-soldier • Called “hoplite” – Armed with long (6-8’) spear & a short sword (used only in emergency) – Armored with bronze breast plate, helmet, shield – Fought together with friends from young age (lower chance to run away) Phalanx: Fact . . . • Group of hoplites fighting in formation • Formation a solid block of spears, men • Each man protected the man to his left with his shield (tended to drift right) • Relatively few casualties (too tired to pursue) Phalanx: . . . and Fiction The historical phalanx The 300 phalanx The City State of Sparta • Located in Southern • • Peloponnese peninsula, made up of five villages Spartans conquered neighboring Messenians, enslaving them Around 600 BC, Messenians revolted – Spartans almost defeated – Changed government to make state supreme: Purpose? – Purpose: survival of Sparta Original territory of Sparta; by 500 BC, they controlled up to Red line across middle of pic The City State Sparta • Education (“Agoge”) – Male education dedicated to developing physical, mental, moral, social Spartan – Brutal training lasted 11 years, from age 7 years – Taught how to fight, steal, live off land, endure terrible hardship – They were simply the best in Greece – Spartiates = full citizens – Women were treated = to men, but could not be citizens The City State Sparta • Class structure: three classes – Helots = Messenians • Conquered people were essentially slaves • Subject to cruel, brutal treatment by all – Spartans (“Spartiates”) • Any resident of original five villages who completed agoge • Their life was dedicated to protecting the state – Perioikoi (Honors!) • Non citizen resident of Sparta • Farmers, merchants who were not citizens The City State Sparta • Government – Monarchy: Two kings (hereditary rulers; agoge; military, political, 2 Spartan religious leaders) Kings – Oligarchy: Council of Elders (Senate) • 28 spartiates, 60+ years • Day to day decisions Ephors (Overseers) Council of Elders (Senate) – Democracy: Assembly • All spartiates, 18+ • Vote yes or no only – Five Ephors • Any spartiate Assembly of Spartiates • Responsible for best interests of state • Indep. of king, senate, assembly (beat king) Non Spartans (Periokoi, Helots) – no political rights Perspective: Spartan Military Success • The Spartan army was defeated only 6 times in battle, in almost 250 years – – – – Athenians (2x) Thebans (2x) Argives (1x) Persians (1x) • Simply the finest Greek land force, ever – but at what cost? The City State Athens • Located on European mainland, near coast – Oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe (3000+ years) • City was a port, only 8 km from sea Artist’s rendition of Athens, ca. 400 BC The City State Athens • Law code first written around 621 BC Draco - Lawgiver – Unfair law written by Draco (“Draconian”) • Most punishments = death • Can’t pay debt = slavery to creditor – People rejected & threatened civil war • New code written in 594 BC, by Solon Solon – lawgiver – Allowed more land to poor farmers – No more debt slavery – Encouraged trade, commerce (middle class) Athenian Democracy • Athenian democracy (“demos” = people; “cratia” = rule) arose about 510 BC – All citizens split into ten artificial “tribes”; citizens attended assembly to hear debate and vote – Assembly was both a legislature and a supreme court – Offices filled by lot (random chance) – Ten Strategos (generals) elected for 1 year term – Assembly had power to ostracize, or banish, citizens for 10 years Athenian Democracy • Who were citizens? – Males who completed their military training – Disallowed majority of Athenians • Slaves, women, debtors • Direct democracy – Citizens heard debate and voted directly on issues – Citizens expected to serve as government officials, if chosen – Absolute majority rule (50% +1) Legacy of Athenian Democracy • Most stable democracy in • • • • Greece Gave people voice in government Rule of law (all subject to rules of society) Democracy spread throughout Mediterranean world, including Rome Huge influence on USA, too Other City States • Thebes – Often fought with Athens – “Sacred Band” = core of army • 150 homosexual couples (bravest soldiers on battlefield) • Professional soldiers • Beat Spartans twice! • Corinth – Strategic location astride isthmus – Often allied with Sparta