Government in Greece

1. Government in Greece The Greek City-State

2. The Polis • The city-state was the fundamental unit in ancient Greece • Made up of a city and the surrounding countryside • Typically covered between 50 and 500 miles. • Population was usually under 10,000 people

3. Government • Citizens would typically meet at the agora or the acropolis to discuss politics • There were many different forms of government in the city states of Greece • Monarchy • Aristocracy • Oligarchy • Direct Democracy

4. Government • Aristocracy • A government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families. • Gained power by serving in the kings military cavalry • Oligarchy • When wealthy merchants and artisans emerged and took power or shared it with nobility. • Government with a few powerful people.

5. Government • Tyrants • When powerful people rise and seize control over the government • Not like tyrants today, not harsh and cruel. • Looked at as leaders who worked as leaders for the people • Often worked to create jobs and building projects for the people

6. Democracy • The idea of representative government started to grow in some city-states, particularly Athens • Athens moved to reform and moved towards government by the people • Athenians participated directly in political decision making.

7. Building Democracy • Nobleman named Draco took power in 621 and created a new legal code. • Based on the idea that all Athenians were equal under the law • Rich or poor • Dealt harshly with criminals • The death penalty was the punishment for almost every crime

8. Solon • Introduced more changes in 594 BC • No citizen should own another citizen • Outlawed debt slavery • Divided the citizens into four social classes according to wealth. • Only members of the top three classes could hold public office • Any citizen can bring charges against wrongdoers

9. Cleisthenes • Around 500 BC he introduced more reforms • Organized citizens into ten groups based on where they lived rather than on their wealth • All citizens can submit laws for debate and passage • Created the Council of 500 • Body that proposed laws and counseled the assembly • Council member chosen at random • This became a limited democracy

10. Citizenship • This government was restricted to a relatively small number of Athenians • Only free adult males were considered citizens • Women, children, slaves, and foreigners were not citizens • Had very few rights • Including a lack of education • Only wealthy males received a formal education • Studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, math, and music. • Boys also received training in logic and public speaking • Athletics was also heavily emphasized • When they got older they went to military school.

11. Role of women • Didn’t attend school • At home by their mothers and other female members of their household. • Learned child rearing, weaving cloth, preparing meals, managing the household, and other mother skills. • Some even learned to read or write • Didn’t do much outside the home.

12. SPARTA • Located in southern Greece known as Peloponnesus • Nearly cut off from the rest of Greece • Pretty much the opposite of Athens • Not a democracy, but a military state • Sparta Dominated military conflicts • Conquered the Messeniaians