Greek Archaic Age: The Age of the Polis

1. 750 BC- 500 BC Greek Archaic Age:The Age of the Polis

2. Dark Age 1200-750 BC • Loss of writing and art • Colonization vs. migration • Future population layout • Ethos: kinship relations • Villages and Demos • State vs Urbanization • Basileus • Heroic reflection of the past • Homer • Mix of Mycenaean and Dark Age

4. End of the Dark Ages: “Greek Renaissance” • Set foundation for the Archaic Age 750-700 BC • Rapid population growth • Trade • Colonization • Art • Writing • Panhellenic Festivals • Polis

5. End of the Greek Dark Age • Rapid Population Growth • Trade • Writing • Panhellenic Festivals

6. Colonization • Increase in amount • Reasons: • Land shortage • Trade • Rules: • Loyalty to metropolis • Results: • Art • Writing

8. Archaic Age: Art • 750-500 BC and precedes Classical Age • Sources: • Herodotus, Aristotle, Plutarch • “Old Art”

11. The Evolution of the Polis: • Wanax and Pa-si-re-u • Mycenaean Leaders • Basileus • Dark Age and Archaic administration official • Dark Age villages • Demos • Dark Age concept of a polis with surrounding territory • Polis • City-state. A city with a couple out-lying villages. • Members called politai

12. Archaic Age: Characteristics of the Polis • City-State: Urban area with political authority which includes surrounding territory • Origins • Physical Characteristics • Political Characteristics • Men, Women, Metics, Slaves • Origins of equality

13. Development of Early Greek Government • Major sources: Aristotle, Herodotus, Thucydides, Pausanias, Plutarch • Oligarchy • Rule by the few • Archon: chief officer • Polemarch: lesser officials (military commander) • Boule: • Council of Elders (Athens called Areopagus) • Popular Assembly

14. Impetus for Democracy Reforms:Social Conflict • Aristocrats: 20% of population controlled most land • Middle Class 50% • Poor famers: 33% • Thetes Status: those working for another man • The people in Greece wanted more equality • Redistribution of land • More government participation • Hoplites, the Phalanx and light-armed troops

15. Hoplites and Phalanx

17. Tyranny:Steps to democracy • 650-510 BC • Tyrant: Greek dictator • Aristocrat who champions the poor • Charismatic leaders who championed the causes of the poor • Major cultural and economic reforms • Never lasted long • The freedom the poor gained under tyranny took power away from the Oligarchy

18. Sparta