Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

The Start of DemocracyThe Start of Democracy

OverviewOverviewAncient Greece has left Ancient Greece has left the world an amazing the world an amazing legacy of art, architecture, legacy of art, architecture, poetry, drama, athletics, poetry, drama, athletics, philosophy, and science.philosophy, and science.Most importantly, they Most importantly, they gave us gave us democracy, democracy, a a form of government born form of government born in Athens that believed in in Athens that believed in the rights of individual the rights of individual people.people.

GeographyGeography

The location, The location, sea, landscape, sea, landscape, climate, and soil climate, and soil played a critical played a critical role in the role in the development of development of Ancient Greece.Ancient Greece.

Surrounding countries were Italy, Illyria, Thrace Asia Minor (Turkey), and Persia (Iran)

The landscape in The landscape in Greece was rocky Greece was rocky and mountainous, and mountainous, which made it difficult which made it difficult to cultivate land. to cultivate land.

They exported wine, oil and They exported wine, oil and pottery.pottery.

They imported wheat, wood, They imported wheat, wood, etc.etc.

The Greeks depended on the sea for trade and war. The Greeks depended on the sea for trade and war. Colonies were set up close by to have good access to Colonies were set up close by to have good access to the Aegean Sea. They also used the sea to get salt and the Aegean Sea. They also used the sea to get salt and fish.fish.

From Tyranny to DemocracyFrom Tyranny to DemocracyThe Minoans built the first The Minoans built the first great Greek civilization on great Greek civilization on the island of Crete in the island of Crete in 2200 B.C.E.2200 B.C.E.In 1580 B.C.E., the In 1580 B.C.E., the Myceneans settled in Myceneans settled in Pelopennese and ruled Pelopennese and ruled Greece for 400 years.Greece for 400 years.At the end of the reign, At the end of the reign, their civilization their civilization collapsed. This period is collapsed. This period is known as the Dark Ages.known as the Dark Ages.

With no organization, With no organization, the Greeks decided to the Greeks decided to set up small city-set up small city-states (states (PolisPolis).).Each one had their Each one had their own laws, own laws, government and government and money. They money. They controlled their own controlled their own villages and farms.villages and farms.

At first, kings ruled the At first, kings ruled the city-states.city-states.King= monarchy for life King= monarchy for life and then it’s passed and then it’s passed down to their heirsdown to their heirsOligarchies started to Oligarchies started to overthrow the kings overthrow the kings Oligarchy= a few Oligarchy= a few wealthy and powerful wealthy and powerful people rulepeople ruleTyrants came in to Tyrants came in to overthrow kings and overthrow kings and oligarchies oligarchies Tyrants= people who Tyrants= people who take control using take control using military force and fearmilitary force and fear

Over time, the citizens of Ancient Over time, the citizens of Ancient Greece grew tired of the tyrants Greece grew tired of the tyrants and oligarchies trying to take and oligarchies trying to take control of their land. Changes control of their land. Changes needed to be made by each city-needed to be made by each city-state.state.

Two of the most powerful city-Two of the most powerful city-states were Athens and Sparta.states were Athens and Sparta.

Athens decided to make a new Athens decided to make a new system of government that gave system of government that gave every citizen a right to vote for every citizen a right to vote for anything that would affect their anything that would affect their lives.lives.

Sparta focused on making the Sparta focused on making the strongest army they could to fight strongest army they could to fight against anyone who threatened against anyone who threatened their land.their land.

The city-states were often allies, fighting together against The city-states were often allies, fighting together against other nations. Even so, the wars in Ancient Greece other nations. Even so, the wars in Ancient Greece

happened between the city-states very often. A lot of happened between the city-states very often. A lot of emphasis was placed on the military throughout the country.emphasis was placed on the military throughout the country.

Sparta Vs AthensSparta Vs Athens

SpartaSparta

Founded in 950 B.C.E.Founded in 950 B.C.E. Organized as a military camp. Ruled by Organized as a military camp. Ruled by

military generals.military generals. Heavily outnumbered by slaves so they Heavily outnumbered by slaves so they

decided to rule by fear.decided to rule by fear. Slaves did all the heavy work so the Slaves did all the heavy work so the

men could focus on training for war.men could focus on training for war. Men could marry at 20 but could only Men could marry at 20 but could only

live with their families at 30, when they live with their families at 30, when they left the barracks.left the barracks.

Ordinary citizens had no power.Ordinary citizens had no power. Education started at age 7 in military Education started at age 7 in military

training until the age of 30. Reading training until the age of 30. Reading and writing was only taught a little bit.and writing was only taught a little bit.

Girls focused on staying healthy and Girls focused on staying healthy and strong.strong.

In Athens, things were running differently. In the 6In Athens, things were running differently. In the 6 thth century, a rich politician named Solon reformed the century, a rich politician named Solon reformed the system. He made laws that favoured the poor to make it system. He made laws that favoured the poor to make it more equal to everyone. In 507 B.C.E., a politician named more equal to everyone. In 507 B.C.E., a politician named Cleisthenes ended tyranny and introduced democracy Cleisthenes ended tyranny and introduced democracy using Solon’s laws. This gave “power to the people”. using Solon’s laws. This gave “power to the people”.

People in Greece had always People in Greece had always thought that everything thought that everything happened as a result of what happened as a result of what the Gods wanted. the Gods wanted.

In Asia Minor, they started In Asia Minor, they started using logic and reasoning using logic and reasoning instead. These people were instead. These people were called philosophers and they called philosophers and they were interested in Astronomy, were interested in Astronomy, Geography, Science and Geography, Science and Math. Math.

When this spread to Athens, When this spread to Athens, the philosophers had a huge the philosophers had a huge influence on the citizens and influence on the citizens and encouraged many to encouraged many to participate in politics.participate in politics.

Socrates taught people good vs evil. Socrates taught people good vs evil. He influenced many youth with his He influenced many youth with his “know yourself” motto.“know yourself” motto.

Plato thought the city-state should be Plato thought the city-state should be run with three groups; The run with three groups; The philosophers to rule fairly, the warriors philosophers to rule fairly, the warriors to defend the city, and the suppliers to to defend the city, and the suppliers to provide for others.provide for others.

AthensAthens Athens had a democratic system of Athens had a democratic system of

government where the government where the ecclesia ecclesia (all citizens (all citizens voting) would meet together to make voting) would meet together to make decisions.decisions.

The The boule ( a smaller group) boule ( a smaller group) met daily to met daily to decide business matters.decide business matters.

A jury was made up of 200-2500 people to A jury was made up of 200-2500 people to decide if a person was guilty or innocent of a decide if a person was guilty or innocent of a crime.crime.

Athenians were taught to express their Athenians were taught to express their thoughts freely.thoughts freely.

Men took care of public affairs and women Men took care of public affairs and women took care of the kids and homes.took care of the kids and homes.

Athens was known for its strong army but Athens was known for its strong army but believed in spending time doing other things believed in spending time doing other things besides training.besides training.

Boys attended school to learn to read, write, Boys attended school to learn to read, write, do math and learn the arts. Girls stayed home do math and learn the arts. Girls stayed home to help prepare meals and run the house.to help prepare meals and run the house.

Unfortunately, this system of democracy was not perfect.Unfortunately, this system of democracy was not perfect. Only citizens could play a part in politics. They were men, 20 years old Only citizens could play a part in politics. They were men, 20 years old

and over who were born to a citizen father and citizen mother. The and over who were born to a citizen father and citizen mother. The majority of people in Athens were not citizens.majority of people in Athens were not citizens.

Many citizens couldn’t leave their farms to come to meetings.Many citizens couldn’t leave their farms to come to meetings. People were dependent on slaves to do more work so they could People were dependent on slaves to do more work so they could

participate in council. This gave rise to even harsher conditions for them.participate in council. This gave rise to even harsher conditions for them. Many times, influential and popular people held more power, which could Many times, influential and popular people held more power, which could

be a disadvantage.be a disadvantage. Athens and its allies paid a tax to pay for the military that protected Athens and its allies paid a tax to pay for the military that protected

against Persia and Sparta. Athens used a lot of this money to better their against Persia and Sparta. Athens used a lot of this money to better their land instead.land instead.

It might not have been It might not have been perfect but democracy in perfect but democracy in Ancient Greece worked in Ancient Greece worked in many ways. Over time, many ways. Over time, their system of their system of government has government has influenced many nations influenced many nations worldwide to adopt the worldwide to adopt the same idea. It is because same idea. It is because of Ancient Greece that we of Ancient Greece that we in Canada have in Canada have democracy .democracy .