Sparta: A Nation of Soldiers
Uncle Mike
SPARTA Dorians conquered Messenians moved into Peloponnesus Spartans outnumbered impose a system of strict control 730 BCE First Messenian War 640 630 BCE Second Messenian War 465 BCE Helot revolt and earthquake
A. Government 1. Two Kings with a council of elders 2. Assembly of citizens approved all major decisions Citizens native-born Spartan men (30 years) 3. Ephors 5 officials elected to run the day-today operations of the city
B. Lycurgin Reforms 1. At 7, children are taken from their parents and placed into a barrack and endure a brutal existence: Hard exercise Bland and sparse diet Rigid discipline Principle of stealing Men can marry at 20, but must remain living in the barracks until 30, where he shall also take meals until the age of 40
C. Spartan Women would physically train in order to increase their chances at producing healthy offspring were allowed to own property and even run a family estate (w/ men at war) Though men were the head of the household,
Spartans isolated themselves from other Greeks Shunned wealth and trade Prohibited excessive travel outside Laconia Little use in arts and new inventions Spartans are willing to die for their polis because they have no reason to live!
Athens: A Limited Democracy
Ancient Agora with Acropolis
No other city has contributed more to the civilization of mankind than Athens. It is the place where Socrates was born, Plato, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and many others. It is the place that humanism and democracy were born. The intellectual light that Athens created will always be alive.
1. As in most other city-states, Athens evolved from a into an 2. Government controlled by a landowning elite Held power by choosing the chief officials Nobles were the judges in important court cases Dominated the public 3. Athenian power during Aristocratic rule 4. But unrest began to grow
1. Merchants and Soldiers (hoplites) power of the nobles the 2. Foreign Artisans, who made most of the goods that Athens made money on, were angry they could not become 3. Farmers had to sell their land, and sometimes themselves, to the wealthy nobles to pay off their debts (debt slavery)
1. Appointed to, chief official, 594 BCE 2. outlawed slavery for debt and slaves Opened some high offices to everyday citizens Granted to some foreigners Gave the Athenian Assembly more power 3. Encouraged the export of and
týrannos
1. Individual people who often of the merchant class and the poor by proposing to help these people 2. Though the term itself has a negative connotation, Greek tyrants generally governed Pisistratus & Cleisthenes are two examples
Seized power in 546 BCE Gave poor farmers loans and land from nobles Public building projects for the poor Gave poor citizens a louder vote further aristocracy Seized power in 507 BCE Established Members chosen by from among all citizens Prepared laws and supervised day-to-day government tasks Turned into a, or lawmaking body, that before ruling on a decision all male citizens 30 years and older
Limited Rights Not quite there yet
G. Restrictions of Athenian Gov t. Only could participate in government Despite successive changes, citizenship was still no where close to universal Thousands living and working in the city were slaves with no rights Ordinary Athenians would not have been able to participate in government if it were not for However, it is the system that offers the most control of government to the most people
H. Rights of Women Like most other city-states, women had no share in public life Rich Athenians lived a Managed entire household Spun and wove cloth Cared for children Prepared food existence Poor Athenians worked outside the home Tending sheep or as spinners, weavers, and potters
I. Education for Democracy Unlike girls, who received little to no formal education, boys were sent to school if their parents could afford such a luxury! They learned to read and write, studied music and read and memorized poetry Studied to become skilled Military training and Olympic physical edu. Explored many areas of
Persia