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Warring City-States Chapter 5 Section 2 Rule and Order in Greek CityStates The center of Greek life was the polis, or citystate. This name was given to Greek cities and the countryside villages surrounding them. Each city-state was independent. The people who lived in them were fiercely proud of their homes. Greek Political Structures A monarch or king might rule some. A family of nobles might rule a few. A few wealthy merchants might rule others. Also, the idea of a government made of representatives chosen by the people took hold in some citystates. A New Kind of Army Emerges Over the years, the Greeks developed the ability to make iron weapons. Because these cost less than weapons made of bronze, more people could afford them. Tyrants Seize Power Soon each city-state had its own army. The soldiers were from all walks of life-armed with iron weapons and ready to defend their homes. Sparta Builds a Military State Sparta Dominates Messenians One very strong city-state was Sparta, in the south of Greece. The leaders of Sparta made their city a military state. Boys joined the army at age seven and went through a long period of training as soldiers. Sparta’s Government and Society Spartan women ran the farms and other businesses, freeing their husbands to serve in the army. A small Council of Elders suggested laws that had to be approved by a vote of all men over 30. Athens Builds a Limited Democracy Solon’s Political and Economic Reforms Athens, another city-state, developed in a very different way. The wealthy nobles and the poor people clashed in a contest for power in Athens. In 594 BC, the nobles gave a man named Solon the power to change the government of Athens to end this fight. He removed some of the laws that the poor had not liked. He also made it possible for any citizen of Athens to join the assembly, which discussed and approved laws. The conflict between the rich and the poor did not end, however. Later, new changes were needed to open the government even more. Political Developments in Athens Athens became a democracy, or government by the people. However, the government by the people. However, the Government of Athens was not a full democracy. All citizens were free to join in, but only onefifth of Athenians were citizens. Women had no role in political life. Finally, many who lived in Athens were slaves who had no rights either. The Persian Wars While these changes were taking place in Athens and Sparta, trouble loomed on the east. The powerful Persian Empire set its sights on conquering the Greeks. Battle at Marathon In 490 BC, Persian ships landed 25,000 soldiers on the coast of Greece. At the Battle of Marathon, the Greeks won a tremendous victory that saved Athens. Thermopylae and Salamis The Persians returned ten years later. The Greeks lost a battle on land, despite the heroic efforts of a small band of Spartans. The Persians also burned Athens. However, the ships followed it with another victory on land. The threat from Persia was over.