The Greek Roots of Democracy

500’s & 400’s B.C.

Sparta

• Militaristic State

• Led by Two Hereditary Kings– Each could veto the other– Spiritual, Judicial, and Militaristic Leaders

• Baby bathed in wine shortly after birth– Survived, Brought before panel – Gerousia– Puny and weak, thrown into chasm at Mt.

Taygetus

Sparta, cont…

• Entered Military Training at age 7

• Learned physical and weapons training, reading, writing, music, and dancing

• Purposefully underfed, learned to steal food

• Chose a mentor at age 12, practiced sexual relations with mentor

Sparta, cont…

• Entered reserves at age 18• Remained active in army until 30• Left reserves at age 60• Women to husband when leaving for war -

"With this, or upon this" • Return from war w/out shield, punishable

by death or banishment• Shield key to Phalanx, protect soldier to

left

Spartan Phalanx

• You Tube Clip from “300”

Sparta, cont…

• Girls also active to be strong and produce strong children

• Enjoyed equality with men

• Encouraged to bear other’s children, if unable to do so themselves?– Signifies importance of future children

Athens

Athens

• Monarchy to 683 B.C.• Became Aristocracy – Ruled by wealthy

landowners• Bronze weapons and Chariots expensive• Defended the King and became more powerful

over time• Trade in olives and grapes brought new class of

rich merchants, farmers, and artisans• Nouveau Riche competed for power

Old Rich

Located in Camp Parks, in Dublin

New Rich

Athens, cont…

• New Rich extended rights to poorest to gain power

• Over time Athens developed into a limited democracy

• Only males were citizens, women and slaves, and foreigners were not

• Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles all instituted democratic reforms

Athens, cont…

• Solon, outlawed debt slavery, reduced restrictions on citizenship

• Cleisthenes, created Council of 500, all citizens over 30 eligible to be chosen by lot

• Pericles– Instituted Direct Democracy– Instituted pay for public office– 30+ citizens chosen by lot to be jurors for 1 year, paid

jurors, hundreds to thousands of people on jury, US today – 12 jurors

Athenian Philosophers• “Lovers of Wisdom”• Leaned toward logic & reason away from ‘Whims of the Gods’• Plato, Aristotle, Socrates

– Plato – Philosopher King• Worried about mob rule

• Plato’s teacher Socrates– Roamed the marketplace questioning people until they contradicted

themselves– Annoyed people a lot– Put on trial at 70 for corrupting the city’s youth and ignoring the Gods– Condemned to death, Refused to fight punishment– Believed all should be subject to the law– Drank poison hemlock and died

Athenian Philosophers

• Aristotle– Strong believer in the rule of law– Nobody is above the law– Distrusted democracy, feared mob rule– Desired constitutional monarchy led by middle class– Thought women less than men– Men brought life to women’s ability to produce kids– Did value women’s happiness

Important Points of Athens