AthensOver 2400 years ago, the famous Greek general,

Pericles, said, "It is true that we (Athenians) are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few, with equal justice to all alike in their private disputes."

In the beginning…

* Solon—trusted, impartial noble

* Oligarchy and unrest

•Peisistratus- tyrant. Redistribute nobles land * gave loans and offered “fresh start” * redistributed nobles land!

Solon

•Forgave debts•Call for participation of citizens

Cleisthenes•Credited with making Athens a democracy• from a family of wealth & power•Divided Athens into 10 tribes—none dominated by people with great wealth.•All male citizens could:--- debate matters openly--- hear court cases--- appoint army generals•Cleisthenes’ reforms didn’t include ALLMembers in society- slaves, women and Foreign-born men still excluded.*** it was every citizen’s duty to participateIn government.

Democracy•Born out of belief that no ONE person or group should make the laws.

•Citizens could choose Gov’t officials and vote for/against laws.

•Athens’s democracy is not a perfect democracy, but it established the roots of democracy!!

** Direct democracy– Gov’t in which people vote in order to make their own rules and laws.

** Representative democracy- Gov’t in which people elect representatives. These representatives make the laws that govern themselves and the people who elected them.

Life in AthensBoys

Focus was create well-rounded

Athenians with healthy minds * taught to read, write, math,

playing the lyre and singing.

***all male citizens required to serve in military for 2 years.

Girls Moms taught daughters to

spin yarn, weave and other household duties.

* Only in some wealthy homes did girls learn to read, write and play the lyre.

**women considered “property” of their husband

Athens: The Place to Be!!

“thinkers” welcome

Philosophers- who theorized about life, gods and man

Theatre

Music- tells a story

Art: Beauty portrayedIn sculpture

architecture

Military

•Not a strong army (like Sparta)

•GO NAVY!!!!! The Athenian Trireme

Slaves

*lowest social class in Athens* ¼ of population were slaves*treated less harshly then most other Greek city-states*trusted slaves given positions of power such as police chief and tutor

To honor Zeus!

776 B.C.

Late summer

Religious ceremonies

5 days

Temple of Zeus!