Greek City States

1. Polis Expansion Sparta Athens Greek City States

2. Polis • Citizens who have Rights (most males) - ~10% • asty + chora = polis. • Astyis the Greek word for the city proper, the core of the polis. • Chorameans region or district; in our formula, it refers to the agricultural hinterland around a polis.

3. City-State Organization • Acropolis – formal politics • Agora – market; informal politics • Pop. Range from few thousand to 300,000 Athens by 5th century BCE • Polis (plu. Poleis) = urban core + a rural zone • Athens + Attica = Athenian polis; • Sparta + Laconia = Spartan polis

4. Polis • Rights with responsibilities • Loyalty • City-states = rivals

5. New War Style • Old = cavalry aristocrats • Hoplite warrior • Phalanx formation • Discipline • Resistant to cavalry, so aristocrats no longer dominant

6. Expansion - Colonization Dardanelles Or “Hellespont” Bosporus

7. Colonization Causes Effects Spread of Greek culture to peoples in colonized areas Economic advantage of control of waterways Hellespont Bosporus Created wealthy elite in cities Frustrated by lack of access to political power that was reserved for landowners • Farmland • Trade opportunities

8. Colonization… • Trade for food • (+) = increase population • (-) = rely on foreigners

9. Tyranny • Seize power by force from aristocrats • Not necessarily bad • Cause: wealthy elite who made $$ from trade & industry joined with poor peasants in debt • Hired soldiers • Tyrant not always bad… • In some places led to development of democracy

10. Sparta • Conquered Laconians & Messenians • “helots” • Military! • Government • Ephors • 5 men • Council of Elders • 2 kings • 28 citizens over 60 • Assembly of all male citizens vote

11. Spartans • Isolationists • Conservatives extreme • Xenophobic • Anti-education • Simple, disciplined life • Look down on merchants and trade

12. Athens • Monarchy, then oligarchy, then democracy • Problems by 600s BCE • Farmers sold into slavery for debt • Smaller number of aristocrats own larger amount of the land

13. Draco • Circa 621 B.C., Draco codified the laws of Athens and posted them in the Athenian agora. This code was harsh • “Draconian” • Athens was, in principle, now ruled by laws, not by men.

14. Athens: Solon • 594 BCE • Reformer • How can we avoid civil war or a tyranny? • Aristocrat • Cancelled debts • Freed ppl enslaved for debt • Refused to redistribute land • Tyranny came anyway • Right to vote = wealth • “timocracy” • Council of 400 sets agenda • “initiative”

15. Peisistratus • 560 BCE • Tyrant, though of aristocrat class • Help trade to appease merchant classes • Redistribute land • Rebellion against his son

16. Cleisthenes • 512 BCE seizes power • Participation based on residence, not birth or wealth • Council of 500 • Foreign affairs • Treasury • Propose laws • Assembly • All male citizens • Pass laws • Debate

17. Factors in the Development of Democracy • Economic • Military • Philosophical

18. Interesting Ideas from Athens • Ostracism • “Hellenes” • Individualism • Oligarchy • Tyranny • Democracy • Monarchy • Aristocracy • Rhetoric

19. Discussion Topics for Athens • Tendency of wealth (i.e., land) to become accumulated into the hands of fewer and fewer over time • Compare to Rome’s latifundia • The phalanx as a contributor to democracy • Compare to long bow in Hundred Years’ War • Trade as alternative path to wealth but tendency of aristocracy to hang on • Compare to commercial revolution in Europe 15th century