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Section 3
Athens
Geography
• Located on Aegean Coast
• Attica Region
• Grew olives and grapes
raised sheep & goats on
hillside
• Depended on trade for grain
and other food
Athenian Government
•At first ruled by a King
•750 B.C. – nobles, merchants
and manufacturers took
control of government
•Set up Oligarchy – form of
government where a few
people have a say
Problems with the Oligarchy
•Fights broke out between
wealthy and farmers over
land
•Upper class was faced with
similar problem of Spartans
Choice #1
Make Changes
Choice #2
Leave things as they
were and risk uprising
against the government
Final Decision
Make reforms!
Draco •First to attempt
change
•Failed because his
punishments were
too harsh
Solon
•594 B.C.
•Rich merchant
•set up constitution ( a set of
principles and rules for
governing)
Solon’s Constitution
•Set a limit on how much
land could be owned
•Gave all landowners the
right to vote
•Erased all debts
•Freed all people who had
been enslaved because of
debt
•Offered citizenship to
artisans
•Ordered fathers to teach
sons a trade
Effect of Solon’s Reform
•More Athenians could
take part in government
•Trade increased
Problems with Solon’s
Constitution
•Many were unhappy
•Rich – Solon went too far
•Poor – Solon didn’t go
far enough
Peisistratus
•560 B.C.
•Supported by lower classes
•Divided large estates among
farmers who didn’t own land
•Didn’t have to own land to be
citizen
Sons of Peisistratus
•Took over at death of
father
•Were overthrown by
Spartans
Cleisthenes
•508 B.C.
•Overthrew Spartans
•Put into effect the
world’s FIRST democratic
constitution
Democratic Constitution
•Democratic – favoring the
equality of all people
•Athenians were given
freedom of speech
•Opened Assembly to all males
over 20
Athenian Assembly
•Elected 10 generals each year
to run Athenian army and
navy and to serve as chief
magistrates (judges)
•One general was made
commander-in-chief
•Council of Five Hundred
Council of Five Hundred
•500 citizens were chosen by
lot
•Handled daily business of
Athens
•Two year terms
Why did Athenians prefer to
choose council by lot
and not voting?
•Believed people who had
money had an advantage
•Believed that all Athenians were
smart enough to hold office
Athenian Males
• Citizens must educate sons
• No public schools – tutor or private
school
• At age 7 learned writing,
mathematics, music
• Practiced sports
• Memorized works of Homer and
other poets
Athenian Adult Males
• Citizens at 18
• Went to temple of Zeus and took
oath of citizenship
• Promised to make Athens a better
place, be honorable in battle,
follow constitution, and respect
religion