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World History I Unit 5: Ancient Greece. Athens vs. Sparta. Five Minute Writing Assignment.
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World History IUnit 5: Ancient Greece Athens vs. Sparta
Five Minute Writing Assignment • Last class, we learned about different types of governing methods used by the Ancient Greeks in their city-states. Please identify and define all types discussed. Also, provide a response to the following question: Which form or type of government do you believe to be the most effective, and why? • Please keep the following question in mind: Is America more or less democratic than Ancient Athens?
“This is Sparta!” • Located in the southern part of Greece known as the Peloponnesus, and disconnected from other city states due to the Gulf of Corinth • Established in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains • A natural defense; Sparta also had no walls around its city, instead trusting its defense to the citizen-soldiers • Created by the Dorians • Reminder: Who were the Dorians?
What made Sparta a military state? • Sparta conquered its neighbor Messenia in 725 B.C. and took their land • The Messenians became peasants forced to farm the land and pay the Spartans half of the yearly crop • These peasants were known as “helots.” • Messenians, although essentially slaves, outnumbered the Spartans 8:1. • Messenians rebelled around 600 B.C. Sparta barely put the revolt down
Spartan Government • Sparta’s structure = diverse! • Had two hereditary kings • Titular roles; they were viewed as leaders in battle and religion • Two groups essentially governed Sparta • Assembly: all free adult males. They elected officials and voted on major items • Council of Elders: proposed laws on which the assembly voted; composed of 60 year old Spartan males • Five Ephors: elected officials; carried out the laws the council passed. These men controlled education and court cases
Spartan Society • Tiered social structure • First: citizens descended from original inhabitants (Who again?) • This group included the ruling landowning families (what would we call them?) • Second: free noncitizens • Worked in commerce and industry (what would we call this group?) • Third: helots • Pretty much slaves to the Spartans; some worked in households
Spartan Men and Women • Men: life was all about military training! • Boys left home at 7 and went to the barracks • Given tunics, no shoes, and hard benches to sleep on • Given meals of black porridge • Children identified as “weak” at birth were left to die on top of a mountain • Women: no military training, but equally tough! • Athletics: Women ran, wrestled, and played other sports • Managed family estates • Enjoyed a greater amount of education • Did not have the right to vote • Remember!: Service to Sparta was considered highest duty. Did not value arts, individual expression, or other forms of culture. Instead, they stressed strength, valor, and discipline
Athens • North of Sparta; located on a rocky hill • Considered the intellectual center of Ancient Greece • Citizens educated to think and act as free people • Athenians gravitated to philosophy, drama, and the arts
Athenian Government • Class struggle in Athens: Rich vs. Poor • Rather than fight, leaders instituted reforms • Tried to create a democracy • Citizens participate directly • Who could vote? • Only free adult males counted as citizens • No slaves, women and foreigners • Not just “no voting”; they had few rights at all • Role of Athenian women: managing the household, child rearing, etc. Had no part in government or intellectual discussions
More Tyrants! • Athenian commoners often fought with rich aristocrats (note: Athens was an aristocracy at this time) • One tyrant, Cylon, was stopped, and as a result the people demanded a written set of laws • Draco: Greek lawmaker who wrote the first legal code • Code had some flaws, including debt slavery • Fighting continued • Aristocrats chose a statesman, Solon, to head the government and prevent civil war. Solon was given full power
Solon, continued. • Credited with laying the foundations of Athenian democracy • Outlawed debt slavery • Made political, economic and legal changes • Citizens could now participate and debate in the Athenian assembly • Citizens could bring charges against others • Encouraged export and trade of grapes and olives = profitable for Athens! • Like Draco, though, he couldn’t do it all. Fighting continued between landowners and farmers • Fighting gives rise to more tyrants, Pisistratus and Cleisthenes being two.