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Athens

Athens. CHW3M. The Acropolis. Inhabited as of around 4000 BCE Natural elevation provides security, defence. Pre-Classical Greece. Attica (the region in which Athens is located) ruled by four tribes Worked relatively cooperatively People had the ability to elect and depose chiefs.

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Athens

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  1. Athens CHW3M

  2. The Acropolis • Inhabited as of around 4000 BCE • Natural elevation provides security, defence

  3. Pre-Classical Greece • Attica (the region in which Athens is located) ruled by four tribes • Worked relatively cooperatively • People had the ability to elect and depose chiefs

  4. Pre-Classical Greece • Athenian kings elected by a council of elders • King is chief priest, judge, and general • But still just a person like any other – not a god • During the age of colonization and the rise of the city-state in the wake of the dark ages, kings gradually lose power to the land-owning aristocrats

  5. Pre-Classical Greece • A new position is created: archon • A land-holding aristocrat responsible for supervising gov’t administration • Initially elected to serve for life • Eventually increased to 3 archons, and elected (by council of landowners) to serve for 1 year terms

  6. Pre-Classical Greece • Merchants and artisans are getting richer from trade and start to demand a greater say in gov’t • Backed by the lower classes • Political power comes to be based on military power • The wealthy could afford weapons and hoplites

  7. The Age of Tyrants • Anyone who used their military muscle to seize power unconstitutionally was called a tyrant • Between 650-550 BCE some rulers are legitimate, some are tyrants • Tyrants are not necessarily bad – many were very effective administrators, and in some cases got a lot more done than more democratically elected rulers

  8. From Tyranny to Democracy • Even the “elected” rulers are still representative of the elite moreso than the common person • Key rulers in the transition to a more democratic Athens: • Draco • Solon • Pisistratus • Cleisthenes

  9. Draco • Athenian law is administered by the land-owning aristocracy • As such, law is often biased in favour of landowners and against commoners • In 621 BCE an archon (Draco) writes down a comprehensive list of laws that would apply to all citizens • Still favours the elite, but provides greater legal protection to commoners than they had before

  10. Draco • However, many punishments under Draconian law are quite harsh • Death penalty for many crimes, even ones that seem less serious

  11. Solon • Elected archon in 594 BCE • Freed farmers who had been enslaved because of debt • Made so any wealthy man could hold political office • Previously only those from aristocratic families can hold office • Opens things up to landless merchants

  12. Solon • Archons increased to nine • Creates “Council of 400” • 100 citizens from each of the traditional four tribes of Athens

  13. Pisistratus • A tyrant who seizes power by military force in 546 BCE • Drove out wealthy landowners and divided their lands among the landless • Instituted state loans for farmers • Created circuit judges whose authority superseded local aristocracy

  14. Hippias and Hipparchus • Sons of Pisistratus • Not popular – Hipparchus is murdered and Hippias is exiled • Hippias joins the Persians and may have instigated the Battle of Marathon

  15. Cleisthenes • Takes over from there (508 BCE) • Replaces the 4-tribe division with a 10-tribe division based on each precinct of Attica • Each tribe contains a mix of social classes • All citizens get membership in the assembly

  16. Cleisthenes • Council of 400 increased to 500 • 50 members from each tribe • Not elected but chosen randomly by lot • Assembly passes laws, acts as court, elects generals • Council of 500 proposes laws and controls day-to-day administration of gov’t

  17. Cleisthenes • Assembly can vote any man into exile if they are considered a threat to city’s democracy • If at least 6000 people scratched your name onto a shard of pottery (ostraka) then you were exiled for 10 years

  18. Classical Greece • After the Persian Wars (550-480 BCE - Hippias/Hipparchus and Cleisthenes all rule during this period) things get better • Increase in trade, contact with Egypt and Persia • Developments in crafts, art, architecture, science, etc.

  19. Pericles • Athenian General • Charismatic, strong orator • Instituted pay for military service • Patron of the arts and beautification of Athens (see Parthenon) • Encouraged foreign merchants to settle in Athens

  20. Pericles

  21. The Peloponnesian War

  22. The Peloponnesian War • Remember it was Pericles’ strategy to hide behind the walls of Athens and survive the Spartan siege with supplies from Athens’ naval fleet • Also remember how that turned out: 1/3 of Athens died from a plague (including Pericles himself)

  23. The Peloponnesian War • See Pericles’ funeral oration (p. 118)

  24. Questions • Page 120 #1-4 • Page 128 #2-3

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