Greek GovernmentGreek Government

Sparta vs. AthensSparta vs. Athens

Essential LearningEssential Learning

Politics / Bureaucracy - students will Politics / Bureaucracy - students will understand the various systems of understand the various systems of government, the types of leadership, government, the types of leadership, the evolution of government and the the evolution of government and the influence of specific individuals (i.e. influence of specific individuals (i.e. oligarchy, democracy, republic).oligarchy, democracy, republic).

DemocracyDemocracy Athens began as an Oligarchy that was run by the Athens began as an Oligarchy that was run by the

Aristocrats.Aristocrats. Oligarchy Oligarchy tyranny tyranny direct democracy (all citizens made direct democracy (all citizens made

the decisions.)the decisions.) Democracy - from Democracy - from dēmosdēmos (people)(people) + + -kratia-kratia (rule) (rule) -- a a

government in which the supreme power is vested in the government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections held free elections

People suggest that Athens was not a true democracy why?People suggest that Athens was not a true democracy why? It really only meant that 1 in 7 people could vote.It really only meant that 1 in 7 people could vote.

They were originally ruled by They were originally ruled by “archons” , but the archons “archons” , but the archons were replaced by the 10 generalswere replaced by the 10 generals

In Athens all laws were written down in a constitution.In Athens all laws were written down in a constitution.

Colonization and Expansion of trade led to the Colonization and Expansion of trade led to the rise of a new middle class. They were ticked that rise of a new middle class. They were ticked that the wealthy had the power in government.the wealthy had the power in government.

The lower class backed the middle class because The lower class backed the middle class because they were tired of the ruling aristocrats.they were tired of the ruling aristocrats.

The middle class started to buy weapons and The middle class started to buy weapons and armour.armour.

The The hoplitehoplite emerged from the middle class to emerged from the middle class to fight the stronghold of the wealthy aristocrats. fight the stronghold of the wealthy aristocrats.

What caused the change in What caused the change in government?government?

DefinitionsDefinitions Hoplite – A Greek soldier wearing bronze body Hoplite – A Greek soldier wearing bronze body

armour, a shield, a helmet and spear.armour, a shield, a helmet and spear.

Definitions Definitions TyrantsTyrants

2 definitions2 definitions (original def.) in ancient Greece, a ruler who had (original def.) in ancient Greece, a ruler who had

seized power without legal right to it. seized power without legal right to it. There were several tyrants in ancient Greece who There were several tyrants in ancient Greece who

were very good rulers and had the support of the were very good rulers and had the support of the majority.majority.

A sovereign or other ruler who uses power A sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively or unjustly. A ruler who exercises oppressively or unjustly. A ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner. power in a harsh, cruel manner.

Tyrants who believed in the cause of the Tyrants who believed in the cause of the middle class were able to gain power middle class were able to gain power and were able to get the hoplites to and were able to get the hoplites to fight for them.fight for them.

AthensAthens

10 Generals

Magistrates

Council of 500 (Boule)

Ecclesia (Assembly)

10 Generals – Elected year to year. Were 10 Generals – Elected year to year. Were responsible for promoting domestic policy and responsible for promoting domestic policy and directing military operations.directing military operations.

Archon – a land-holding aristocrat initially Archon – a land-holding aristocrat initially appointed to office for life and was responsible appointed to office for life and was responsible for supervising the government administration. for supervising the government administration. Later it became a 1 year elected position.Later it became a 1 year elected position.

Council of 500 – people had to be over 30 to Council of 500 – people had to be over 30 to serve and could only serve on the council once in serve and could only serve on the council once in their lifetime.their lifetime.

Citizens Assembly – Most important government Citizens Assembly – Most important government institution because they elected the 10 generals.institution because they elected the 10 generals.

Four Men Responsible for Athenian Four Men Responsible for Athenian

DemocracyDemocracy The 4 men who helped Athens The 4 men who helped Athens

become a democracy were:become a democracy were: Draco (Draconian)Draco (Draconian) SolonSolon PisistratusPisistratus CleisthenesCleisthenes

DracoDraco Brought in a new Brought in a new

system of Athenian system of Athenian Law. (It was very Law. (It was very harsh – Draconian)harsh – Draconian)

This new law applied This new law applied to all citizens.to all citizens.

His laws offered His laws offered common people more common people more protection and protection and painted the way to painted the way to universal legal rights.universal legal rights.

SolonSolon He was concerned He was concerned

about the farmers and about the farmers and common people.common people.

He cancelled debts and He cancelled debts and freed all who had gone freed all who had gone into slavery because of into slavery because of debts.debts. Declared that no one Declared that no one

could be enslaved for could be enslaved for debt again.debt again.

SolonSolon He set up the council He set up the council

of 500 of 500 Gave more power to Gave more power to

the citizens assembly.the citizens assembly.

PisistratusPisistratus Wanted to help the poor so Wanted to help the poor so

he drove wealthy he drove wealthy landowners from their land landowners from their land and divided it up among and divided it up among the landless.the landless.

Placed income tax on the Placed income tax on the wealthy.wealthy.

Set up employment Set up employment opportunities for the opportunities for the unemployed.unemployed.

CleisthenesCleisthenes The first constitution was The first constitution was

created by Cleisthenes in 508 created by Cleisthenes in 508 BC. BC.

All citizens would at some All citizens would at some point be able to part in the point be able to part in the gov’t. (People served once as gov’t. (People served once as 1 yr terms.)1 yr terms.)

He introduced the system of He introduced the system of ostracism.ostracism.

OstracismOstracism Put out of a city-state. (forced into exile)Put out of a city-state. (forced into exile)

People voted in order to decide whether to People voted in order to decide whether to ostracize.ostracize.

The votes were recorded on broken pieces of The votes were recorded on broken pieces of pottery called “ostraka”. If 6000 were in favour pottery called “ostraka”. If 6000 were in favour of banishing then the person was out for 10 yrs.of banishing then the person was out for 10 yrs.

SpartaSparta

2Kings

Ephors

Council of Elders (Gerousia)

Assembly of Citizens (Apella)(little power)

SpartaSparta

Showed three different types of Showed three different types of governments. governments.

Monarchy Monarchy kingskings

Oligarcy Oligarcy EphorsEphors GerousiaGerousia

DemocracyDemocracy Assembly of CitizensAssembly of Citizens

Spartan GovernmentSpartan Government Kings – There were 2 hereditary kings, one responsible Kings – There were 2 hereditary kings, one responsible

for military and other the government. Elected for 9 year for military and other the government. Elected for 9 year terms.terms.

Ephors – Ephors – 5 of them, Held most power, elected each year by citizens. 5 of them, Held most power, elected each year by citizens.

Directed the affairs of the city-state. They could attend meetings Directed the affairs of the city-state. They could attend meetings of the council, summon the assembly. They could arrest and of the council, summon the assembly. They could arrest and prosecute kings and hand out punishment to citizens. prosecute kings and hand out punishment to citizens.

Would determine if rulers would return for another term by Would determine if rulers would return for another term by searching for omens from the gods.searching for omens from the gods.

Gerousia – This council of elders who advised the kings. Gerousia – This council of elders who advised the kings. Consisted of 28 aristocrats who prepared business for Consisted of 28 aristocrats who prepared business for presentation to the Spartan Assembly and acted as a law presentation to the Spartan Assembly and acted as a law court.court.

Assembly of Citizens (Apella)– Included all males over Assembly of Citizens (Apella)– Included all males over the age of 30. They met each month on the full moon. the age of 30. They met each month on the full moon. Would vote by shouting loudest on policies brought them Would vote by shouting loudest on policies brought them by the Gerousia. Really had no power, could not by the Gerousia. Really had no power, could not proposed laws, could not debate and decisions could be proposed laws, could not debate and decisions could be ignored.ignored.

Who had no political rights?Who had no political rights?

Women, Women, children, children, slaves, slaves, foreigners.foreigners.