City States of Greece

1. City States of Greece

2. Geography of Greece • Peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea • Made up of over 4000 islands • Surrounded by three seas • Mediterranean Sea • Ionian Sea • Aegean Sea • The Greeks became great sailors and colonized many lands

3. The Land of Greece • Rugged mountains, deep valleys • Terrain shaped politics of Grecians • Mountains divided cities from each other = ISOLATION! • Led to many different forms of government • Made communication & overland trade difficult • Only about 20% of land was good for farming • Trade was lifeline Central Greece – very rugged terrain, not good for agriculture

4. Rise of City States • Polis = “City” • Center of polis = Acropolis • Acropolis = fortified hill • City states = independent cities (like who?) Acropolis of Athens

5. Greek Politics: Different strokes for different folks • Because of physical isolation, many different government forms were invented • Tyranny: one person w/ absolute power to rule • Monarchy / Aristocracy: king w/ advisor nobles • Oligarchy: small group rules • Democracy: people rule • Citizen soldiers protected polis

6. Armies of the City States • Iron weapons were cheap & very common; owned by virtually all Greeks • Bronze armor though (lighter, better metallurgy) • Led to the rise of the citizen-soldier • Called “hoplite” • Armed with long (6-8’) spear & a short sword (used only in emergency) • Armored with bronze breast plate, helmet, shield • Fought together with friends from young age (lower chance to run away)

7. Phalanx: Fact . . . • Group of hoplites fighting in formation • Formation a solid block of spears, men • Each man protected the man to his left with his shield (tended to drift right) • Relatively few casualties (too tired to pursue)

8. Phalanx: . . . and Fiction The historical phalanx The 300 phalanx

9. The City State of Sparta • Located in Southern Peloponnese peninsula, made up of five villages • Spartans conquered neighboring Messenians, enslaving them • Around 600 BC, Messenians revolted • Spartans almost defeated • Changed government to make state supreme: Purpose? • Purpose: survival of Sparta Original territory of Sparta; by 500 BC, they controlled up to Red line across middle of pic

10. Education (“Agoge”) Male education dedicated to developing physical, mental, moral, social Spartan Brutal training lasted 11 years, from age 7 years Taught how to fight, steal, live off land, endure terrible hardship They were simply the best in Greece Spartiates = full citizens Women were treated = to men, but could not be citizens The City State Sparta

11. The City State Sparta • Class structure: three classes • Helots = Messenians • Conquered people were essentially slaves • Subject to cruel, brutal treatment by all • Spartans (“Spartiates”) • Any resident of original five villages who completed agoge • Their life was dedicated to protecting the state • Perioikoi (Honors!) • Non citizen resident of Sparta • Farmers, merchants who were not citizens

12. The City State Sparta • Government • Monarchy: Two kings (hereditary rulers; agoge; military, political, religious leaders) • Oligarchy: Council of Elders (Senate) • 28 spartiates, 60+ years • Day to day decisions • Democracy: Assembly • All spartiates, 18+ • Vote yes or no only • Five Ephors • Any spartiate • Responsible for best interests of state • Indep. of king, senate, assembly (beat king) 2 Spartan Kings Ephors (Overseers) Council of Elders (Senate) Assembly of Spartiates Non Spartans (Periokoi, Helots) – no political rights

13. Perspective: Spartan Military Success • The Spartan army was defeated only 6 times in battle, in almost 250 years • Athenians (2x) • Thebans (2x) • Argives (1x) • Persians (1x) • Simply the finest Greek land force, ever – but at what cost?

14. The City State Athens • Located on European mainland, near coast • Oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe (3000+ years) • City was a port, only 8 km from sea Artist’s rendition of Athens, ca. 400 BC

15. The City State Athens • Law code first written around 621 BC • Unfair law written by Draco (“Draconian”) • Most punishments = death • Can’t pay debt = slavery to creditor • People rejected & threatened civil war • New code written in 594 BC, by Solon • Allowed more land to poor farmers • No more debt slavery • Encouraged trade, commerce (middle class) Draco - Lawgiver Solon – lawgiver

16. Athenian Democracy • Athenian democracy (“demos” = people; “cratia” = rule) arose about 510 BC • All citizens split into ten artificial “tribes”; citizens attended assembly to hear debate and vote • Assembly was both a legislature and a supreme court • Offices filled by lot (random chance) • Ten Strategos (generals) elected for 1 year term • Assembly had power to ostracize, or banish, citizens for 10 years

17. Athenian Democracy • Who were citizens? • Males who completed their military training • Disallowed majority of Athenians • Slaves, women, debtors • Direct democracy • Citizens heard debate and voted directly on issues • Citizens expected to serve as government officials, if chosen • Absolute majority rule (50% +1)

18. Legacy of Athenian Democracy • Most stable democracy in Greece • Gave people voice in government • Rule of law (all subject to rules of society) • Democracy spread throughout Mediterranean world, including Rome • Huge influence on USA, too

19. Other City States • Thebes • Often fought with Athens • “Sacred Band” = core of army • 150 homosexual couples (bravest soldiers on battlefield) • Professional soldiers • Beat Spartans twice! • Corinth • Strategic location astride isthmus • Often allied with Sparta