Greek City-States

Greek City-States Miss LaFerriere Pre-AP World History I

Types of Government • Monarchy • Ruled by kings or monarchs • Rule is hereditary • Some rulers came divine right • Practiced in Mycenae (1450 B.C.E)

Aristocracy • Ruled by nobility • Rule is hereditary and based on land ownership • Social status and wealth support authority • Practiced in Athens (c.594 B.C.E)

Oligarchy • Ruled by a small group of citizens • Rule is based on wealth • Ruling group controls military • Practiced in Sparta (800-600 B.C.E)

Direct Democracy • Ruled by the citizens • Rule is based on citizenship • Majority rule decides vote • Practiced in Athens (c. 461 B.C.E)

Greek City-State • Greece was made up of city-states, or polis • A polis was made up of a city and its countryside which included numerous villages • Most were between 50-500 square miles • Usually had no more than 20,000 residents

Sparta • 3 social groups • Equals: descended from the invaders, controlled Sparta • Half-citizens: free, paid taxes and served in the army but had no political power, some farmed but others worked in the city as traders or artisans • Helots: slaves, greatly outnumbered the other groups so Spartans used force to control them, in large part this is why Sparta became a military city-state

Spartan Government • Two kings led Sparta • 1 king handled military • 1 king took care of domestic matters • A council of Elders • Made up of 28 male citizens over the age of 60 • Proposed laws and served as a criminal court • An assembly • Included all male citizens over 30 • Elected 5 ephors • Made sure the kings stayed within the law • Elected for a 1 year term • Controlled the education of Spartans

Spartan Military Society • Goal was to make every male citizen a part of the military machine • Military worked to expand Sparta and control the helots • A group of officials examined new born babies and those deemed unhealthy were left to die • At 7 boys left home to join the barracks • Mainly military training but they also learned how to read and write • From age 18-20 they learned specifically about warfare • At 20 they could marry but could not live at home until age 30 • Were available for military service until the age of 60

Spartan Military Society (cont.) • Spartan women • Received strict physical training • Taught to be devoted to the city-state • Their best value was seen as producing Spartan soldiers • Results of military society: • Strong government • Almost unbeatable army • No individual freedom • Created almost no art or literature and made almost no advances in science

Athens • Went through stages of evolution in government • Monarchy • Aristocracy • Tyranny • Democracy

Early Athenian government • After the monarchy ended, an aristocracy took its place • All adult male citizens met in an assembly • Elected generals in time of war • Elected nine archons (rulers with a 1 year term) • First written code created around 621 • Solon (archon in 594 B.C.) - tyrant • Outlawed selling people into slavery to pay their debt • Divided citizens into 4 groups based on wealth: wealthiest 2 could hold office

Athens' Direct Democracy • Origins of democratic principles • Public debate • Duties of the citizens • Only free adult male citizens could participate • Women and slaves were left out

Greek City-States