Warring City-States Chapter 5, Section 2
Rule and Order in Greek City- States Polis city state, fundamental political unit in Ancient Greece. - most controlled 50 to 500 square miles. - less than 10,000 residents Acropolis fortified hilltop where citizens gathered to discuss city govt.
Political Structures Monarchy king rules the government. - some cities ruled this way. Aristocracy others adopted, govt. ruled by small group of noble, landowning families. - usually gain power after serving in kings military cavalry. Oligarchy govt. ruled by a few powerful people. - many artisans/merchants
Tyrants Seize Power Tyrants powerful individuals who seized control by appealing to the people. - not harsh/cruel - helped their supporters when in power
Athens Builds a Limited Democracy. Democracy rule by the people - takes root in Athens - citizens participate directly (Direct Democracy) Draco 621 B.C., developed legal code. - equality under the law - dealt harsh w/ criminals - upheld debt slavery
Cont. Solon 549 B.C: outlawed debt slavery. - organized all into four social classes based on wealth. - top 3 classes could hold office, but all can participate in political assembly. - any citizen can bring charges on others.
Cont. Cleisthenes 500 B.C: organized citizens into 10 groups based on address. - all can submit laws for debate - created Council of Five Hundred, who proposed laws/ chosen at random. - Only adult property owners could be citizens/ have rights.
Education Only sons of wealthy were educated mostly. - began at 7yrs. - training in logic/public speaking - athletics important/ later boys go to military school. - girls did not attend school, prepared household
Sparta Builds Military States Peloponnesus S. part of Greece where Sparta was located. Sparta: Built a military state instead of Democracy. (Contrast w/ Athens) - helots peasants forced to stay on land they worked. - revolted, but lose. Forces Spartans to revamp military.
Spartan Govt. Several Branches Assembly all Spartan citizens elects officials Council of Elders 30 older citizens propose laws 5 Elected Officials carry out laws (court) 2 kings rule over military forces
Social Order Citizens- original inhabitants/ ruling families Noncitizens worked in commerce/industry Helots bottom servants
Daily Life Individual expression was discouraged. Valued duty/strength/discipline Men serve in army until 60 yrs old. - very hard life Girls receive some military training - service before all else
Persian Wars Iron replaced Bronze for making weapons. - cheaper, allowed ordinary citizens to serve. Hoplites foot soldier army, stood side by side. Phalanx formation of side by side fighting. - most powerful formation
Cont. Persian Wars btwn Greece and Persian Empire. - begins in Ionia on coast of Anatolia. - 490 B.C. Persian fleet of 25,000 lands NE of Athens. - Greeks defeat Persians using Phalanx
Pheidippides Runs 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to bring news of Persian defeat. - collapsed and died - Greeks move more to Athens to defend city. Persians retreat.
300 480 B.C. Xerxes (son of Darius) decides to invade Greece. - Some Greeks sided w/ Xerxes, which allowed Persians to land on E Greece coast safely. Thermopylae narrow mountain pass - 300 Spartans + 7000 Greeks defend
300 cont. 7k Greeks stopped Persians for 3 days Traitor leads Persians to a secret path. 300 Spartans defend the narrow pass while Greeks retreat All were killed. Athenians decided to flee Athens and fight Persians at sea.
Battle at Sea Xerxes burned Athens - sends warships to block channel Greek ships are more maneuverable than Persians - 1/3 of Xerxes fleet was destroyed
Delian League Alliance of Greek city-states Eventually drove Persians from Greece
Consequences Athens became head of Delian league Began to control other league members using military power. City-states became provinces of Athens