GREEK POLIS STUDY

GUIDE

R E V I E W

WHAT TYPES OF GOVERNMENT EXISTED IN ANCIENT GREECE?

Monarchies, Oligarchies,

Democracies

• Sparta = Oligarchy

• Athens = Democracy

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE LIVES OF

PEOPLE IN BOTH ATHENS AND SPARTA.

BoysSparta

• Unhealthy babies were left to die.

• Sent to military camps at the age of 7

• Learned how to use weapons

• Trained in groups

• Treated like animals; given small amounts of food

• Went barefoot

Athens

• All babies lived

• Studied writing, math, and music at the age of 7

• Learned Greek poetry and plays

• Trained by a tutor

• Treated like ordinary people

• Protected with more clothing

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE LIVES OF

PEOPLE IN BOTH ATHENS AND SPARTA.

MenSparta

• Served in the military for

40 years

• Expected to live in military

barracks with other

soldiers

• Expected to marry at the

age of 20

• Military Strong

• Killed a helot to become

a man

Athens

• Focused on education,

art, music, and

philosophy

• Lived with their family

• Could marry at any

age (after citizenship)

• Strong religious beliefs

• Took an oath of

citizenship to become

men

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE LIVES OF

PEOPLE IN BOTH ATHENS AND SPARTA.

WomenSparta

• More freedom

• Mixed freely with men

• Worked and practiced

sports

• Women who died during

childbirth were highly

respected.

• Told their men to fight with

honor and return home

with their shields

Athens

• Did not go out without a chaperone

• Never spoke to other men in public.

• Performed household duties

• Never spoke to men on the street or entertained their husbands’ friends

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS OF BOTH ATHENS AND

SPARTA.

Sparta

Oligarchy

• Ruled by two kings

• Assembly made decisions

• Council of Elders

suggested laws and

served as the high court.

• Resisted change

Democracy

• Ruled by a king at first

• Had a constitution that

favored the equality of all

people

• Generals were elected to

serve as judges and

military leaders.

• Council of 500 members

were chosen by lot.

• Welcomed change

Athens

OLIGARCHY (A FEW PEOPLE RULE)

Advantages

• Less people are

involved in decision-

making

• Fewer people can get

laws passed or tasks

done quicker.

• The wealthy usually

become wealthier

• The middle and lower

class do most of the

work.

Disadvantages

• The few individuals

tend to look out for

their own interests.

• The few in charge may

force others to obey

unjust laws.

• The middle and lower

class do most of the

work.

• The rich get richer and

the poor get poorer.

DEMOCRACY (ALL CITIZENS RULE)

Advantages

• The government is run

by the people.

• Everyone gets a say in

how the country should

be run.

• The people get to vote

on what laws they

want or who they want

to represent them.

Disadvantages

• Too many people are

involved in decision

making, which can be

time consuming.

• Rich or powerful

speakers could

persuade citizens to

vote unwisely.

• Elected officials could

reverse decisions made

by the people.

WHAT AREAS MADE UP A POLIS?

• Agora: An open-air marketplace where

people buy, sell, or trade goods

• Acropolis: A fortified hill that offered

protection and included a temple

• Temples: Places where Greeks could

honor their local god

• Farmlands/Orchards: Provided food and

resources for the people of the polis.

HOW DID THE GEOGRAPHY OF SPARTA INFLUENCE ITS MILITARY?

• Located on the Peloponnesus peninsula

• Surrounded by mountains

• Did not have walls

• Needed help with farming the land

=

Military Strength

HOW DID THE GEOGRAPHY OF ATHENS INFLUENCE ITS DEVELOPMENT?

• Located along the coast of the

Aegean Sea

• The sea provided:

• Transportation

• Trading routes

• Protection (a strong navy)

HOW WERE THE SOCIAL CLASSES IN SPARTA DIVIDED? WHAT WAS THE ROLE

OF EACH GROUP?

Upper Class

• Aristocrats: Government and military

leaders (citizens)

Working Class

• Perioeci: Merchants and artisans (not

citizens)

• Helots: Slaves, owned by Sparta, who

farmed the land (not citizens)

CITIZENSHIP

SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES

Similarities

• Citizens are born within the

country/polis

• Only citizens can:

• Vote

• Own property

• Hold public office

• Speak for themselves in

court

• Take part in government

• Defend their

polis/country in times of

war

Differences

• Only free men in Greece were citizens.

• Boys in Greece became citizens at the age of 18.

• Women in the U.S. can:• Vote

• Own property

• Speak for themselves in court

• Take part in government

• Defend their country

• Individuals born in another country can obtain U.S. citizenship.