Chapter 4 Section 3   Sparta and Athens

 

Sparta

  • Descendants of the Dorian invaders of the dark age located in the Peloponnesus, a peninsula of southern Greece. 
  • Based economy on agriculture
  • Invaded neighboring city-states and enslaved the local people
  • Slaves revolts and in 650 BC, Spartans regain power and decided that only a military society could ensure now more revolts.
  • Lagged behind other Greek city-states in economic developed due to militarism.
  • Believed in being self-reliant.  Shunned philosophy, science, and the arts. 

A Military Society

·        All life in Sparta revolved around the army.

·        Despised other Greeks living behind walls because a city defended by Spartan soldiers did not need walls.

·        Officials reviewed male infants for healthy babies.  If not healthy baby left on hillside.  Male children taken from families at age 7. 

·        Male worked in army until retirement at age 60.

        Role of Women

·        Brought up strong and healthy like the men unlike much of Greece.

·        Gave more personal freedoms then other Greek woman. 

·        Could not participate in the government.

        Sparta’s Government

·        Traditionally, set up by lawmaker name Lycurgus.  2 kings, who ruled jointly, officially, governed Sparta.  Except for leading the army and conducting religious services.  KING HAD LITTLE POWER

·        The Assembly, male citizens over the age of 30, passed laws on war and peace.  5 overseers (ephors) elected each year, to administer public affairs. 

·        Council of Elders, 28 men over the age of 60, proposed laws and served as Supreme Court.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Athens

  • Northeast of the Peloponnesus-on a peninsula of central Greece named Attica- people descended from the Mycenaeans.
  • Named after goddess Athena
  • Small farmers, merchants, and artisans demanded for economic and political reforms.
  • Expanded definition of citizenship from only a man whose father or grandfather had been citizens could be a citizen and only land-owing man could be a part of the Assembly; Evolved to include all-free Athenian-born men were citizens regardless of what class they belonged to, and that they could participate in the Assembly regardless of whether they owned land. 

3 Transitional Leaders:

Draco

·        Issued an improved code of laws in 621 B.C.  Extremely harsh penalties. 

·        Aristocrats were no longer able to dictate what was legal and what was not.

      Solon

·        Poet-lawmaker became leader in 594 B.C.

·        To improve economic conditions, canceled all land debts and freed debtors from slavery.  Limited on the amount of land any one individual could own.  Promoted trade by urging farmers to grow cash crop instead of grain. Made fathers teach sons a skill/trade. 

·        Move Athens towards democracy by allowing citizens of all classes to participate in the Assembly and public law courts.  Established aristocratic Council of 400 (drafted measures before they went to the Assembly)

       Peisistratus

·        546 B.C. Divided large estates among landless farmers and extended citizenship to men who did not own land.  Provided the poor with loans and put many of them to work building temples and other public works.

Athenian Democracy

·        Not included in government were women, foreign-born males, and slaves.

            Cleisthenes

·        Came of power in 508 B.C.  Sought to end local rivalries, break the power of the aristocracy, and reorganize the structure of Athenian government.

·        Increased Assembly’s powers and emerged as major political power.  All citizens could take part.  Passed laws, was Supreme Court, and appointed generals in the military. 

·        Council of 500 carried out daily government business.

·        Used lottery to choose officials.

·        Jury system to reach a verdict.  Jury had 201 to 1001 members.

·        Ostracism:  method to remove a public officer. 

Athenian Education:  Boys received formal education and learned from the Iliad and Odyssey.  Girls learned household duties (baking and weaving)