Bellwork

• Please pick one of the following and write at least three things you know about that concept:– Athens– Sparta– Democracy–Monarchy– Persia

World History

Ancient Greece p. 2Developing Greek Society

Objectives• Identify how Greek city-states formed• Compare-contrast Athens and Sparta culture and

government– Compare the role of women in both societies

• Identify the effects of the Persians on Greece after the war

• Describe three major battles of the Persian War:– Battle of Marathon– Battle of Thermopylae – Battle of Salamis

• List out the characteristics of Greek government systems– Democracy– Aristocracy– Oligarchy

Question

• What happened to Mycenaean culture when they were conquered by the Dorians?

Dorians

• When the Mycenaean's were conquered by the Dorians, both the Dorians and Mycenaean's began to identify less with their past cultures and more with their local culture.

• This would lead to the creation of the powerful Greek city-states.

City-State

• By 750 B.C., the city-states or polis, became a fundamental political unit in Greece.– A polis is a city and

it’s surrounding countryside, which can include many villages.

City-States

• They were often home to over 20,000 residents and at the public center (agora) was an acropolis (the place where male citizens gathered to conduct business)

Political Structures• There were many different types of

political structures in these city-states which included:–Monarchy- rulership by a single

individual who is born into power– Aristocracy (government ruled by a

small group of noble, land-owning families)• The powerful were often quite rich and

worked directly for the king or ruler

– Oligarchy• Government ruled by a few powerful people

Political Structure

• However, overtime the idea of a representative government almost began to take root in many city-states. However, regardless of government structure, many city-states were highly close-knit and Greeks would look upon foreigners as “barbarians”.– The term “barbarian” came from the Greeks

who said that all non-Greek languages sounded like babbling (i.e. “bar bar bar bar”).

Iron• During the Dorian Age, and in other

ancient societies, bronze was the common metal to use in battle. Bronze was very expensive and difficult to find, only allowing the rich to have it.

• However, iron would later replace bronze and- because it was more common to find and harder than bronze- it became an inexpensive commodity.

Question: What affect could cheap iron have on the Greek culture and military?

Iron (cont.)

1. The shift to iron would allow farmers to be able to use it to better produce foods2. Iron, because it is so inexpensive, could make it so that ordinary citizens could arm themselves. 3. It allowed the Greeks to create a better military formation. – (see next slide)

Phalanx• This new formation,

called the phalanx (faylanks), in which soldiers would stand side-by-side, with the spear pointing out and shields defending from all angles. This new formation would allow the Greeks to become one of the most powerful fighting forces.

Evolution of the City-States

• Originally, there were many tyrants that took control of various city-states.

• However, armed with iron, ordinary citizens began to overturn the old system of rule by tyrants (powerful individuals). Overtime, these city-states would find a new way of governing.

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

Sparta

• Located near the southern part of Greece called Peloponnesus, Sparta was a famous military Greek city-state.

• The Spartans were descendants of the Dorian invaders.

History• While other city-states

founded colonies abroad, Sparta conquered neighboring Messenia (where Sparta is located) and took over the land.

• The people they conquered were called the helots, who were peasants forced to work on their lands.

Leonidas

History (cont.)

• Yearly, Spartans demanded half of the helots crop.

• By 600 B.C., however, the helots outnumbered the Spartans 8:1 and revolted.

• The Spartans narrowly ended the revolt and began to dedicate themselves to forming a powerful city-state.

Spartan Government

• Two groups governed Sparta:– An assembly, composed of all free adult males

and elected officials who voted on major issues. – Council of Elders who proposed laws for the

assembly to vote.

• As well, there was also the ephors who carried out laws passed by the council and two kings who would rule over Sparta’s military.

• Sparta was an oligarchy for most of its’ history.

Spartan Society

• Sparta’s population was quite diverse and consisted of several social groups:– First were citizens descended from the

original inhabitants of the region (the Dorians)– this included ruling families

– Second, noncitizens but free, who worked in commerce and industry.

– The helots who were at the bottom, were basically slaves. Some also served as laborers or household servants.

Education

• When male Spartans began military training at the age of 7, they would enter the agoge (ago-ga) system. – The system was designed to encourage

discipline and physical toughness and to emphasize the importance of Sparta

– Boys lived in communal messes (army barracks), and would train day and night. Food was scarce to train them on how it feels to not have enough food.

Education (cont.)

• Other than physical training, boys were also trained to study reading, writing, music, and dancing.

• There were very harsh punishments for boys who failed to answer the question “laconincally” (briefly and wittily).

Military Life• At age 20, the male citizen

began his membership as part of the syssitia (club), composed of about 15 members.

• In this, the soldiers would learn how to bond and rely on one another.– Spartans were trained to put

their service to Sparta- and their comrades- above all else.

• Spartans were not allowed to hold public office until they were 30.

(Post)Military Life• Spartan men were

required to stay in active reserve military duty until age 60, but were able to hold public office by age 30.

• Men were also encouraged to marry by age 20, but could not live with their families until they left active military service at age 30. – Families came second to

service to Sparta.

Women and Spartan Society• Much like the boys,

Spartan women were trained to be very active. – They were not

trained to be soldiers, but ran, wrestled, and played sports.

– They were also expected to put service to Sparta over everything else.

Women and Spartan Society

• As adults, Spartan women managed the family estates while their husbands served. • However, women in Sparta

did not have the right to vote.

Spartan Women

• Classical Sparta was very unique amongst Greek society.

• No other Greek city-state (and in few cultures outside of Greece) did women receive the level of education and training they did in Sparta.

Question

• What effect (positive and negative) do you think all this training would have on Spartan citizens?– Consider the amount of time they train

and the effects of valuing service to Sparta.

Effects of Training

Positive• On one hand, Sparta

was able to claim that it had the powerful army in Greece.

Negative• However, because of

Sparta’s focus on training and loyalty to Sparta, individual expression was discouraged.

• Spartans did not value the arts and instead focused entirely on duty, strength, and discipline over individuality, beauty, and freedom.

Athens

•Located on a rocky hill in Eastern Greece, Athens is north of Sparta.•Athens existed in sharp contrast to Sparta.

Athens (cont.)

• The ancient population of Athens, at any given time, was generally higher than that of Sparta and Athens were considered a cultural center of Greece.

• As well, Athenians were described as more educated, artistic, and curious, unlike the Spartans, who valued strength and valor.

Birthplace of Democracy• Like other city-states, Athens

struggled with a power-struggle between the wealthy and poor. However, Athenians avoided civil war by reforming their government.

• Athenians attempted to form a democracy, in which the citizens would directly vote in political decision making.

Birthplace of Democracy

• Athenian Democracy existed in stark contrast to the modern system used:– In the American system of representative

democracy, citizens vote for representatives to make decisions for them, rather than directly voting on issues.

– Only free adult males counted as citizens and were the only ones who could vote. Women, slaves, and foreigners could not vote and had few rights.

Athenian women• In general, Athenian

women were expected to rear children, weave cloth, prepare meals, and manage the household.

• As a whole, unlike their Spartan counterparts, women had very little to do in the city’s intellectual life.

Formation of Democracy

• Repeated clashes occurred between the aristocrats (wealthy) who governed Athens and the common people. – In 621 B.C., peasants demanded that Greek law be

written. – In the same year, a Greek lawmaker named Draco

wrote the first legal code, dealing mostly with contracts and property ownership.

– However, part of his laws included debt slavery, in which a person in debt would work as slaves to repay the debt. This only led to more conflicts between the rich and poor.

Formation of Democracy (cont.)• To prevent civil

war, in 594 B.C., a statesman named Solon became the head of government.

• Solon outlawed debt slavery and allowed all citizens to participate and debate policies.

Formation of Democracy (cont.)

• He also created many economic reforms that benefited many.

• However, he neglected many land reforms, which would lead to fighting between the wealthy and the poor by the end of his reign.

Pisistratus

• In around 546 B.C., a nobleman and military leader named Pisistratus came to power and became one of Athens first tyrants. –He came to power by claiming a woman

with him was Athena and that he has the God’s support to rule.

Pisistratus

• He created many reforms supporting the poor, including providing funds to farmers to get new equipment and paid for these reforms through both agricultural taxes at the expense of nobles.– In doing so, he earned the support of

the poor and gave them jobs.

Hippias

• However, when Pisistratus died, his son Hippias took power.

• While initially a good ruler, Hippias changed when his brother was murdered.– After this, Hippias’s attitude changed.

He began to cruelly punish people and began to target the aristocrats of Greece (to prevent them to taking power).

Cleisthenes

• However, a young aristocrat, Cleisthenes, took power into his own hands and overthrew the tyranny of Hippias. – Cleisthenes would lose power for a time

to his rival, Isagoras, who gained support of the Spartans.

• However, he would be recalled to power in 508 B.C. after a revolt against Isagoras by the Athenian people.

Cleisthenes • In 508 B.C., Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced further reforms. He worked to make Athens a full democracy by reorganizing the existing assembly to break up the aristocracy (rulership of the wealthy).

• He also allowed all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage.

Cleisthenes

• As well, Cleisthenes created the Council of Five Hundred which proposed laws and counseled the assembly.– The council was chosen at random.

• Despite his reforms, only about 1/5 of Athenians were considered citizens and could participate.

Beginnings of the Persian Wars

• Danger of helot revolt lead to Sparta becoming a powerful military state. Danger of revolution among the poor lead to Athens becoming a democracy.

• However, it would be an outside force, the Persians, who would force Sparta and Athens to come together in glory.

Persian Wars (cont.)• The Persian Wars began

in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia. Greeks had long been settled there, but around 520 B.C., Persians conquered the area.

• When Ionian Greeks revolted, Athens sent ships to their aid.

• Persian king Darius defeated the rebels and then vowed to destroy Athens in revenge.

Battle of MarathonIn 490 B.C., the Persian fleet carried 25,000 men across the Aegean Sea and landed northeast of Athens in a plain called Marathon. There, about 10,000 Athenians in phalanxes battle formation waiting. The Persians, who were lightly armored and unprepared, lost and fled the battlefield within a few hours. About 6,400 Persians died to Athens’ loss of 192 soldiers.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rmU1fOuc8o4/UDTWAL0SRpI/AAAAAAAABgc/72-W35X_S64/s1600/p134+persian+wars.jpg

Defending Athens• After the Battle of Marathon,

Greek tradition holds that the Greeks sent a young man- Pheidippides (fy-dip-i-dees)- to run to Athens (a 25 mile distance) and inform them of victory and defend the city from Persian invaders.

• The Persians, who expected Athens to be defenseless, met with a large Athenian army who was waiting for them.– The Persians would quickly

sail away in retreat. His run inspired the creation of the Marathon- 26 mile run

Xerxes• Ten years later, in 480

B.C., Xerxes took control of Persia and invaded Greece.

• By this time, Greece was divided, with some city-states pledging allegiance to Persia or believing it best to allow the Persians to destroy Athens.

• Consequently, Xerxes armies were met with no resistance from the Greeks as they marched down the eastern coast of Greece.

Battle of Thermopylae

• When Xerxes came down a narrow path at Thermopylae- with about 70,000 soldiers- he was met with 7,000 Greeks, including 300 Spartans, led by Leonidas, Demophilus, and Themistocles, who were blocking his way.– The path was narrow due to high

mountains and a sea on the other side of the route.

Battle of Thermopylae

• The Greeks had built a small wall along the narrow path to prevent the Persians from moving forward.

• The Persian king underestimated the power of the Greeks and they fought for three days before the Persians were informed about a path around the cliffs by a Greek traitor.

Battle of Thermopylae

• When the Spartans learned of this, they went to the pass while the Greeks retreated.

• Despite their efforts, all 300 Spartans died, leaving a great impression on all of Greece.

Fun fact: Leonidas’ bones were discovered 40 years later and buried in Sparta

Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae is symbolic of a people defending their homeland and shows the benefits of better training and armor for the Greeks.

Casualties: Persians lost 20,000 to the Greeks 2,000

Athens

• In Athens, the citizens were deciding how to best protect their city.

• Themistocles, an Athenian statesman, convinced the Athenians to evacuate and fight at sea. – It was not an easy

suggestion to make, as they would be abandoning the city on a risky bet.

Battle of Salamis

• Themistocles positioned the Greek fleet in a narrow channel called Salamis, near Athens. –He then sent a messenger to Xerxes to

give him wrong information: that the Greeks were retreating to the channel. • It was meant to trick the Persians into going

into the narrow channel.

Battle of Salamis

• Xerxes– who was excited to end the Greeks (Athenians) swiftly- sent his warships to block both ends of the channel, but it proved too narrow for the Persian fleet to maneuver.

• The Greeks drove their battering rams into Persian ships, destroying more than 1/3 of the fleet.

End of the Persian War

• As Athens was defending their city, the Spartans engaged in the final battle of the war- Battle of Plataea.

• In this battle, the Spartans defeated the rest of the Persian army in 479 B.C.

Consequences of the War

• With the Persian threat gone, the city-states felt a sense of confidence and freedom.

• Athens basked in the glory of Persian defeat and became an leader of a 140 city-state alliance called the Delian League. – The league would drive the rest of the Persians

from Greek territory.

• As well, Athens would soon become the hub of Greek society, art, and culture and use it’s powerful navy to control the other city-states.

Review the Objectives• Identify how Greek city-states formed• Compare-contrast Athens and Sparta culture and

government– Compare the role of women in both societies

• Identify the effects of the Persians on Greece after the war• Describe three major battles of the Persian War:

– Battle of Marathon– Battle of Thermopylae – Battle of Salamis

• List out the characteristics of Greek government systems– Democracy– Aristocracy– Oligarchy

Questions?

• If you have any questions, please ask now.

Next Lesson

• In the next lesson, we are going to cover the Golden Age of Athens, which includes their culture and government style.

• We will also discuss the Peloponnesian War, what lead up to it, and the consequences of the war.

Homework Assignment

• Athens v. Sparta– In this assignment, you’re going to be comparing

Athens to Sparta.– Please write at least one difference or similarity

between the two concerning each of the following:• Belief or culture• Government• Lifestyle• Climate• Women• Economy• Military

Review1. Choose one major difference between Athenian

democracy and American democracy and explain it.2. How did Spartans train their citizens to be good

soldiers? What adverse affect did this have on their culture (what did they value in their lives)?

3. What were some of the outcomes of the Persian War in Greece?

4. Why did Athens form a democracy and why did Sparta become a military power?

5. Opinion: Consider your gender. If you had to choose between living in Athens or Sparta, which one would you choose? Why? Consider what each city-state would have required of you depending on your gender.