Land of Democracy and War: Ancient Greece

Greece: Land of Philosophy, Democracy, and War

Sparta

Social organization

Boys were surrendered to Sparta at age 7Organized into small groups then unitsTrained to fightAs older teens they were organized into units and given military trainingA law driven society

The laws were not written but were inscribed on the heart.

Focus was on social good, strength, and sacrifice

Meals eaten together in common messes-to prevent sloth and self-indulgence

A culture of toughness, masculinity (laconic)

Political organization

Lykourgos-Gave them the laws

Power of king limited

Council of Five-Ephors (overseers)

Selected from Council of Elders

Assembly

Social Organization

King

Old ruling families

Free citizens

Peroikoi

Helots

Slaves

A society with no culture

SlaveryMilitarismHardness

Athens: The Birthplace of Democracy and Philosophy

Athens in economic crisis

Solon the Reformer-638-558 BCE, elected Chief Executive in 594 BCEDik-social justicePaucity of landOne-sixth farmers (sharecropping)-contemporary examples?

Reasonable Laws-revisions of Draconian Laws

Economic Reforms:

The forgiving of debt (Debt owed by U.S. consumers in 2016-12.5 trillion)

Found slaves and bought their freedom

Redistribution of land

Olive oil and wine

banned export of cereals

**A usable past?

Government organization

ArchonsThe Four HundredRemoved aristocratic requirement (social mobility)The Assembly

Class conflict ensues

Solons solutions too centristThe Men of the Coast, the Men of the Plains, the Men of the Hills

The Democratic Tyrant-Pisistratus (605-527)-in power from 546-528 BCE

Third time is the charm

Land redistributionLower taxes on the poor

Better water systems

The Rule of Hippias-527-510 BCE

Removing the Tyrant

King Kleomenes of Sparta leads a force to Athens to drive out Hippias

Kleisthenes and Isagoras in fierce debate about immigrant workers

Spartans back Isagoras as chief archon

Athenians rise up and drive out the Spartans and Isagoras

Defense of their political institutions

Reforms of Kleisthenes-507 BCE

Attempting to minimize strength of old families

Organizes the city into 30 districts

All regions included in each district-plains, hills, coastOstracism (ostracon)-6,000 votes

Council expanded to 500

Additional duties

Continuing Democratization through 460 BCE

462-council stripped of its power

Government by Assembly

Laws originate directly from the citizens

Government run by the citizens (Assembly)

The Greco-Persian War

King Darius commanded a massive Persian EmpireInherited by his son Xerxes

Athens supports an unsuccessful revolt by Ionian Greeks in 499 BCE

Battle of Marathon-490 BCE

Armies of Darius marching on Athens

Sparta refuses assistance (religious festival)

Tactical success (hoplites)

Persians defeated

**what role of a Homeric culture here?

Greeks built their strength

Constructed a fleet of triremes

Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis-480 BCE

Xerxes sweeps south-laying waste

Thermopylae defeat (victory)

Trickery and Salamis

The Delian League-478 BCE

Created for protection against Persia

150 Greek city-states

Athens lead this league

Cities contributed troops and armaments or payment

Athens ruthlessly controlled the league

***What is the historical lesson?

11

The Peloponnesian War431-404 BCEDevelops as Athens reaches its cultural, political, and economic peak

Delian League vs. the Peloponnesian League (Sparta)

Athens-naval powerSparta-land force

The Sicily Expedition

Colonial discontentRise of oligarchy