Greek Government

End of the Dark AgeCommunities 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 AgeEvolve into city-states

Remember: 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

Now it is evident that the form of

government is best in which every man, whoever he is, can act best and live happily…holla!

Athenian GovernmentMost 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 harshness 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

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 - the second highest; made of men who could afford to maintain a war horse in

the service of the state

Zeugitai - hose 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 or naval row men; didn’t produce enough for military

census

Solon’s Political Classes

Drafted into army

based on what you

could provide:

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: PericlesOrganized 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 participative democracy. Government was carried out directly by

the people who voted on all major issuesTwo 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 who had completed their military training as ephebes– 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 lotEach 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.