What’s Happening Here?

Greece and DemocracyDr. East 12/02/2013

Greek City Structure• 750 B.C. the city-

state, polis, was formed– City and surrounding

countryside – hinterland

– Controlled between 50 – 500 square miles of territory

• Most polis had a central marketplace – an agora

• Most also had an acropolis (place where people gathered to talk politics and civic affairs)

Acropolis - today

Forms of Government in the Various Polis

• Monarchy – Mycenae city-state in 2000 B.C.– Rule by a single king, hereditary

• Aristocracy – Athens until 594 B.C.– State ruled by nobility, hereditary

• Oligarchy – Sparta 500 B.C.– State ruled by a small group of citizens, rule based upon wealth

and/or ability … small group called Tyrants– Ruling group controls military

• Direct Democracy – Athens by 500 B.C.– State ruled by citizens– Rule based upon citizenship– Majority rule

• What modern day countries would be examples of these?

Politics• pol·i·tics - noun plural but singular or

plural in construction \ˈpä-lə-ˌtiks\• activities that relate to influencing the

actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government

• the work or job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government

• the opinions that someone has about what should be done by governments : a person's political thoughts and opinions

Questions for you (Use separate sheet of paper)

• 1) Use pg. 128 to outline steps in the development of Athenian Democracy from Draco to Solon to Cleisthenes. – Give dates, describe reforms and leaders

intentions in detail• 2) Use pg. 128 – 129 to describe Athenian

Education– A. What did boys learn and why?– B. What did girls learn and why?