Ancient Greece: The Development of Athenian Democracy

L12 & R12

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The City-State• By 750 B.C. the Greek city-state, or polis, is the

formal government • A polis is a city and its surrounding villages; 50 to

500 square miles• Population of a city-state is often less than 10,000• Citizens gather in the marketplace and acropolis—a

fortified hilltop

Continued . . .

athens_greece.jpgImage

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Greek Political Structures• City-states have different forms of government• Monarchy—rule by a king; aristocracy—rule by

nobility • Oligarchy—rule by small group of powerful

merchants and artisans

Tyrants Seize Power• Rulers and common people clash in many

city-states• Tyrants—nobles and wealthy citizens win

support of common people • They seize control and rule in the interests of

ordinary people

Rise of Athenian Democracy

Draco: 621 BC, instituted a strict code of laws that could not be misinterpreted by aristocrats.

After Draco the Areopagus (council of elite) became the dominate fixture in Greek politics. The Areopagus elected nine officials: Archons

Solon: became leader of Athens in 594 BC. Cancelled all land debts and freed debtors from slavery to improve economic conditions.

Allowed all citizens of all classes to participate in the Assembly and public law courts, while an aristocratic Council of 400 proposed laws to the Assembly.

Cleisthenes: Came to power in 508 BC. In 507 BC Cleisthenes introduced a new constitution that made the Assembly the major political body.

All citizens could belong to the Assembly, where they were considered equal before the law and guaranteed the freedom of speech.

Athenian Democracy

A council of 500 open to any citizen, carried out daily government business.

Members of the Council were chosen by lottery rather than election.

Jury System

Athenian juries ranged from 201 to 1001 members with a majority vote needed to reach a verdict.

Ostracism

A system in which any politician would be exiled if his name was submitted on 6,000 clay tablets called ostraca.

Cleisthenes’ democracy only affected the 20 percent of Athenians who were citizens.

Non-citizens-women, foreign-born males, and slaves- were excluded from political life.

The Persian Wars

A New Kind of Army Emerges• Cheaper iron replaces bronze, making arms and

armor cheaper• Leads to new kind of army; includes soldiers from

all classes• Phalanx—feared by all, formation of soldiers with

spears, shields Battle at Marathon• Persian Wars—between Greece and Persian

Empire—begin in Ionia• Persian army led by Xerxes attacks Athens, is defeated at

Marathon in 490 B.C.

The Persian Wars

Thermopylae and Salamis• In 480 B.C., Persians launch new invasion of Greece• Greeks are divided; many stay neutral or side with

Persians• Greek forces hold Thermopylae for three days before

retreating• Athenians defeat Persians at sea, near island of

Salamis• Victories at Salamis and Plataea force Persian retreat• Many city-states form Delian League and continue to

fight Persians

Phidippides Brings News• Runner Phidippides races to Athens to

announce Greek victory

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The Persian Wars

Consequences of the Persian Wars

• New self-confidence in Greece due to victory

• Athens emerges as leader of Delian League

• Athens controls the league by using force against

opponents

• League members essentially become provinces of

Athenian empire

• Stage is set for a dazzling burst of creativity in

Athens

The Golden Age of Athens

461 to 429 BC Athens

experiences great achievements in the arts and sciences

Pericles in Charge

In the 450s BC, Pericles leads Athens through its Golden Age.

The Parthenon was built on the Acropolis during his rule.

A week after birth, a male child was given a name and enrolled as a citizen. Males received formal education because they were expected to participate in

government, while Athenian girls did not receive a formal education.

Athenian Education The training or education an Athenian received

depended on social and economic status.

Athenian males entered school at age 7 and graduated at age 18.

Athenian Education An Athenian girl learned household duties, such as

weaving and baking, from her mother.

When young Athenian men reached 18, they left for two years of military service.

Athenian Education Males studied Homer’s epics, arithmetic, geometry, drawing,

music, and gymnastics. When they entered their teens, they also studied rhetoric – or the art of public speaking.

L12

Create a flow chart that shows the development of democracy in Athens.

Use either words, symbols, or pictures to depict the importance of each person in developing Athenian Democracy.

Draco 621BC -> Solon 594BC ->

Cleisthenes 507BC ->Pericles 461BC