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Ancient Greeks 600 BCE-300 BCE

Ancient Greeks 600 BCE-300 BCE. Political and philosophical contributions to modern democracy. Political Contributions— direct democracy. Direct Democracy…what is this?. Political Contributions— direct democracy. Why does direct democracy NOT work in our modern society?

amela-shelton
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Ancient Greeks 600 BCE-300 BCE

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  1. Ancient Greeks600 BCE-300 BCE Political and philosophical contributions to modern democracy.

  2. Political Contributions—direct democracy • Direct Democracy…what is this?

  3. Political Contributions—direct democracy • Why does direct democracy NOT work in our modern society? • Why would elections be UNnecessary in a direct democracy? • What are the benefits to a direct democracy? • What are the negative aspects?

  4. Political Contributions • Greeks had “city-states” due to geographic boundaries • Each “polis” had its own government, usually: • Tyranny of one or a few rules • Aristocratic councils • Direct democracy • Sparta had a military aristocracy • Athens - more diverse commercial state that was proud of its artistic and intellectual leadership • Can you name any other Greek polis’? • Can you name any modern city-states? • Concept of “citizenship” • “demos” means the people • Each citizen had rights AND obligations • Definition of citizen was quite different than we are used to • Property owning, “free” males, over 21 • Only 1/1oth of population qualified

  5. Greek City-states or polis’

  6. Political Contributions • Solon (594 BCE) Reforms • Outlawed slavery based on debt & cancelled farmers’ debts. What was the reason and effect of this? • Established classes of citizens based on wealth instead of heredity. What is the difference? • Citizens could bring charges against wrongdoers. • Council of Four Hundred • All resulted in increased participation in government • Cleisthenes (508 BCE) Reforms • Reorganized assemble to balance power w/ rich & poor • Allow all citizens submit laws for debate • Established Council of Five Hundred • Chosen at random among citizens to set assembly agenda • Result was 1/5th of population now citizens

  7. Political Contributions • Persian Wars of (490-479 BCE) brought all polis’ together to defend against Persian Empire & Xerxes. • Pericles (461-429 BCE) Reforms • Increased paid public officials & began paying jurors. • What was the intended effect of this? • Increased participation in gov’t more than any other polis, ushering in “direct democracy”. • Decline of Athenian Democracy • Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) • Sparta & Athens basically cripple each others power and culture leaving a void to be filled by Alexander the Great and ultimately the Romans

  8. Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)

  9. Political Contributions • Make a list of the Greek political contributions to our modern democracy. • Make a list of 5 vocab words from this discussion. • Turn to your partner and define orally each of the words on their list…then have them do the same for yours.

  10. Philosophical Contributions • Major philosophers • Socrates (469-399 BCE)—question conventional ideas of gov’t & religion by using “reason” & “logic” • Developed Socratic method of Q & A • Plato (427-347 BCE)—student of Socrates • Wrote The Republic that outlined a vision for a perfectly governed society run by philosopher kings • Governed by the wise, not the rich • Aristotle (384-322 BCE)—student of Plato • Wrote Politics & Ethics that examined the nature of the world and human beliefs, thought, and knowledge. • “Man is by nature a political animal; it is his nature to live in a state” • What does that mean? • Moderation and balance in human behavior, similar to Confucious • Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)—student of Aristotle • “Hellenism”—spread of Greek ideas, gov’t, language, culture, architecture throughout AfroEuroAsia

  11. Greek Philosophers

  12. Philosophical Contributions • Major Philosophies • Used logic & reason to examine the nature of the universe • Does the sun rise/set because of gods or laws of nature? • Applied “laws of nature” to man • Humans behave in an understandable and predictable way • Stressed the importance and capability of the individual • Examined issues of morality to apply to gov’t and society • Ways that people should act, not because of the gods, but because that would benefit Greece & Greeks • How are these ideas present in our modern democracy? Why are they so fundamentally important?

  13. Other Greek contributions • Architecture—columns • Literature—Illiad, Oddysey • Plays: tragedies & comedies—Sophocles • Geometry & anatomy—Hypocrates, Euclid

  14. Greek Legacy on Modern Democracy • With your partner, work out a list of all the contributions the Greek provided to a modern democracy. These can be concrete or abstract!!! • Once complete, turn to page 8. Examine the Venn Diagram at the bottom and add these ideas to both of your lists

  15. Greek Legacy • No single Greek political style, but democracy is the most famous. • Classical Mediterranean political theory involved: • Ethics • 3 branches of government • duties of citizens • skills, such as oratory. • an intense loyalty to the state, a preference for aristocratic rule, and the development of a uniform set of legal principles. • Governments supported an official religion, but tolerance of other faiths was the norm

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