Greek Government

End of the Dark Age

Communities that survived the Dark Ages were very small and simpleRuled by local nobles and wealthier

citizens who owned most of the land:Virtually impossible to change your

status in lifeCommoners were forced to pay tribute

to these rulers

During the Archaic Age

Evolve into city-statesRemember: Greece is not one unified

nation, but rather a collection of federations

The Greeks called their city-state the polis.Each polis was an independent

governing unit with varying forms of government.

City-States and Ethnic Groups

Classifications of Government

Aristotle:Rule by the one Rule by the fewRule by the many

Aristotle on Government

“Now it is evident that the form of government

is best in which every man, whoever he is, can

act best and live happily.”

Aristotle on Government

• Expands upon Plato’s initial political philosophies and identifies 6 forms of government.–What were Plato’s categories of government?

1. Aristocracy2. Timocracy3. Oligarchy4. Democracy5. Tyranny

Aristotle on Government

• Expands upon Plato’s initial political philosophies and identifies 6 forms of government.

1. Monarchy2. Dictatorship3. Aristocracy4. Oligarchy5. Polity6. Democracy

Do you notice anything about

these groupings?

The few

Monarchy Aristocracy Polity

Government of one for the common good of the

people; based on heredity.

Government of the (few) best according

to virtue alone.

Government of many in the best interests of the country –

combines aristocracy with democracy.

Tyranny (Dictator)

Oligarchy Democracy

Government of one for personal advantage.

Government of the few based on wealthy

and property.

Government where poor masses have control and

use it to serve themselves.

The one

The many

Aristotle’s View on Government

• Monarchy vs. Tyranny– A monarchy can be successful if the king is moral, but can

easily degrade into tyranny if he is not.

• Aristocracy vs. Oligarchy– An aristocracy becomes an oligarchy when it caters only for

the interests of the rich.

• Polity vs. Democracy– The fairest constitution is a mixed “ polity” of rich and poor.– Aristotle’s “fear that the rule of the “Many” would typically

lead to the tyranny of the poor and property-less majority over the middle classes.

Athenian Government

Most notably Athens was a democracy; however, it was not the only form of government in the city state…

Lineage of Athenian Government

Monarchy: Rule by king or queen

Aristocracy : Rule by a small group of land owning elite

Tyranny: Rule by one person, the Tyrant, who takes power, sometimes

by forceDemocracy: Rule in which the people are the source of power

Athenian GovernmentOn its way from a Monarchy to

Democracy Athens had several people who made important reforms to develop their government:

Early Athens was ruled by a king after it became a unified polis about 700 B.C.

Later aristocrats took power as they controlled most of the land

Increased trade led to the development of a merchant class, these merchants become Tyrants

The Reformers: Draco

First Athenian lawmaker (7th century BC)

The first to codify & write down laws of Athens—previously interpreted & administered arbitrarily by aristocratic magistrates Code famous for its

Death was the penalty for almost all crimes

One advance was in the laws of homicide, which recognized the responsibility of the state, not the victim's family, in punishing a murderer; thus blood feuds were to be avoided

Draconian - unusually severe or cruel

harshness

The Reformers: Solon Laid foundation for democracy

in Athens Drew up clear, simple plan that

balanced rights of citizens Built-in safeguards to keep one

group from oppressing others Passed law that canceled all debt

owed by poor to rich landowners ; forbade anyone be enslaved for debt

Wrote code of laws, simpler and less brutal than existing Draconian laws

Divided citizens into 4 classes according to property ownership (each with a different share in the government)

Draco needed to chillax…

Pentacosiomedimnoi - property or estate could produce 500 bushels of goods per year; eligible for all top positions of government in

Athens.

Hippeis - second highest; could produce 300 bushels per year; could afford to maintain a

war horse in the service of the state

Zeugitai - whose whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels per year; men who

could afford armor or a yoke of oxen

Thetes - manual workers or sharecroppers, they served voluntarily as auxiliaries with a

sling or naval row men

Solon’s Political Classes

Drafted into army

based on what you

could provide:

Bushel:8 gallons (wet)4 pecks (dry)

The Reformers: Peisistratus

Aristocrat who seized power in 560 B.C. and becomes a “tyrant”Took land from the rich

and gave it to the poorGreek Robin Hood?

Popular with the poor in AthensFirst form of “socialism”?

The Reformers: Cleisthenes

Came from one of the most powerful families in Athens

Created a new council of 500 that oversaw foreign affairs, and made laws that were voted on by male citizensThe basis for The Boule

(council of 500); came into prominence after his rule helping to shape Athenian Democracy.

The Reformers: Pericles

Organized a vote in the popular assembly that deprived the Areopagus (old aristocratic courts & judges) of its remaining powerPower to the People! Believed to have been

the defining moment of Athenian democracy

What did Athenian Democracy Look Like?

Athenian democracy was a participatory democracy. Government was carried out directly by

the citizens who voted on all major issues

Two Governing Groups:Ekklesia- general assembly, the main

body, open to all male citizens over the age of 18

Boule - a council of 500 elected officials

The Ekklesia

• Adult male Athenian citizens (age 18+) who had completed their military training (2 year service)– About 20% of the population

• Excluded a majority of the population:– slaves, freed slaves, children,

women and metics.

The Boule Set the agenda for the ekklesiaCarried out all laws & administered

decisions of ekklesiaDid not receive recompense Requirements: >30 and an Athenian

citizenServed for one year at a time and could

not serve for more than two years in a lifetime

50 men were elected from each of the 10 tribes of AthensChosen by lot (lottery)Each section of Attica was equally

represented

Spartan Government A highly unusual system of government

Primarily an oligarchy, but it included democratic elements.  

Two kings from two different families ruled the city-state,

But a 28-member 'council of elders' limited their powers. Council of Elders (known as the Gerousia)

male citizens over the age of sixty elected and served for life.     

Apella all male citizens over the age of thirty voted on proposals that originated in the gerousia also elected the elders who served on the gerousia. 

Athens vs. Sparta: Culture

Seaports on the

Aegean

Eurotas River

Pindus Mountains

Athens vs. Sparta

• Compare and Contrast Athens & Sparta–How would geography impact the

economy and culture of Athens?–Look at your Venn Diagram…

Similarities? Differences?–Pros/Cons of Athens? Sparta?

The Archaic Period

Athens• Located near the coast of

Aegean Sea with good port• Many rivers nearby• Acropolis—high hill;

center of religious life• Agora—center of public

life; public market and meeting place

Sparta• Located in central,

southeastern section of Peloponnesus

• Eurotas River Valley• Protected by Mountains

The Acropolis

1. Parthenon2. Old Temple of Athena3. Erechtheum (temple to Poseidon) 4. Statue of Athena Promachos5. Propylaea (entrance way)6. Temple of Athena Nike7. Eleusinion (sacred storehouse)8. Sanctuary of Artemis9. Chalkotheke (treasury)10. Pandroseion (sanctuary to daughter of

first king of Athens)11. Arrephorion (lodging for servants)12. Altar of Athena13. Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus14. Sanctuary of Pandion (king)15. Odeon of Herodes Atticus (ampitheater)16. Stoa of Eumenes (walkway)17. Sanctuary of Asclepius (god of

medicine)18. Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus19. Odeon of Pericles (ampitheater)20. Temenos of Dionysus Eleuthereus

(sacred land)21. Aglaureion (shrine to daughter of King

Actaeus )

The Acropolis

Athenian Culture & Education

• Center of trade and culture– Wealthy– Exposure to finest art, literature, & products the

world over– Developed an appreciation for beauty & skill

• Education exceedingly important– Why would this be the case in a democracy?– Education included reading, writing, rhetoric,

philosophy, etc… but also physical training– Only available for sons’ of citizens

Daily Life in Athens

• Greeks ate simple foods– Meat was reserved for special occasions

even amongst rich

• Limited army but developed a navy of triremes for sea supremacy

• Men ran public sphere• Women were restricted to domestic

sphere– Raised children & kept home running – Some poor women worked - only in menial

tasks– Could not vote or take part in politics– Had to live in a special section of the house

called the gynaeceum

Sparta• Military primary focus after 600 BC• Citizens taught to put needs of the city

above their own, ALWAYS!• No longer worked to conquer

surrounding areas and instead focused on protecting city-state– Landlocked geography kept them isolated– Fertile plains allowed their helots to

supply the city’s agricultural needs– They lived in fear of helot revolt (citizens

were greatly out-numbered by the helots)

Helots

• Slaves that formed the main population of Sparta

• Ritually mistreated, humiliated and even slaughtered

• During the crypteia, in autumn, any helot could be killed by a Spartan citizen without fear of repercussion or fear of guilt– Crypteia = the final test of a

Spartan warrior in training

Daily Life in Sparta: Men

• Children lived with their mothers in the women's quarter until they were 7 years old

• Training for boys started at 7; went to live in barracks• Training continued until 20 and it was harsh:

– Only owned weapons, one cloak, no shoes, thin mat– Given starvation rations to encourage resourcefulness– Rigid discipline, painful and demanding training, all to be

borne silently

• Served in army from 20-60 years• At 30:

– Could marry – Join Assembly (government)

Daily Life in Sparta: Women

• Girls also trained and competed in wrestling, gymnastics, and combat training.

• At 18 the Spartan girl had to pass fitness test– Pass = allowed to marry– Fail = lose citizenship (Perioikos)

• Not training as soldier but their health ensured health of their children—bearing children was #1 goal

• Men were frequently away, women:– Could own property– Run farms, businesses & households

• Women were second-class citizens

Spartan WomenWho

wears short

shorts?

We wear short

shorts!

The Spartan Mentality• No mingling with other city-states (travel or trade)• Only interaction through alliances to ensure safety

of city-state• No interest in trade, wealth, or culture• Lived such simple lives Spartan has come to mean

simple and harsh• Community above the individual:

– Children did not belong to parents but to polis – Sickly or deformed babies were left to the elements or

thrown off a cliff to die or trained to become slaves– Only soldiers who died in battle and mothers who died

in childbirth were allowed gravestones

Spartan Mentality

Either come back with your shield or on it!