Aim Would I rather be Athenian or Spartan

Aim: Would I rather be Athenian or Spartan? Do Now: Imagine that you are the ruler of a great civilization. If you could only choose one, would you rather that your civilization focus on war or on making great achievements in the arts and sciences? NY State Standards 2, 3 Common Core Standards RS 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, WS 1, LSS 1, 2, 3

I Rise of the Greek City-States A) Beginning about 1100 BCE, the Dorians invaded Greece from the north and settled in the Peloponnesus. The Dorians swept away the last of the declining Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations of southern Greece and plunged the region into a dark age. B)By the 8 th century BCE, Greek city-states (poli) began to emerge, often by a large hill (acropolis) for protection. They remained mostly isolated due to Greece’s rugged mountains. C) Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet. Greek Alphabet

II Athens A) Athens, a Greek polis, was located in Attica, north of the Peloponnesus. B) The highest part of Athens was the acropolis with marble temples for the Gods. C) On flatter ground was the walled city with the agora (marketplace), theatre, public buildings and homes. Athens Acropolis and Agora

Athens Acropolis Reconstruction

Athens Agora Reconstruction

Athens Continued… D) Athenian Government: Athens was NOT always a democracy! Athens went through 4 stages of government. 1. Monarchy 2. Aristocracy: Ruled by land owned nobility 3. Tyranny: 4. Direct Democracy The word democracy derives from demos (the entire citizen body) and kratos (rule). Any male citizen could participate in the main democratic body of Athens, the assembly. The assembly met at least once a month on the Pnyx hill in a space which could accommodate around 6000. Any citizen could speak to the assembly and vote on decisions by simply holding up their hands. The majority won (this was a direct democracy). Nine presidents, elected by lot and holding the office one time only, organized and controlled the voting. Specific issues discussed in the assembly included military and financial matters, organizing and maintaining food supplies, laws and trials, voting to raise or spend funds, issues of diplomacy. The assembly could also vote to ostracize from Athens any citizen who had become too powerful or dangerous for the polis. In a secret ballot voters wrote a name on a piece of broken pottery (ostrakon).

A Greek Phalanx of Hoplites Hoplite Armor from Rhodes, date unknown The Hellenic (Greek) phalanx was used all around the Mediterranean – until the Romans invented something better. The phalanx was composed of 256 hoplite soldiers, and could theoretically move in any direction. But changing direction once in motion was nearly impossible.

Athens Continued… Solon Cleisthenes Pericles Thucydides: "We alone consider a citizen who does not partake in politics not only one who minds his own business but useless".

Athens Continued… The Council of 500 citizens (1 -2 years) supervised any administrative committees and officials on behalf of the assembly. A committee of 50 citizens safe-guarded the treasuries. Law courts of 6, 000 jurors, and a body of chief magistrates (archons) could challenge decisions regarding ostracism, naturalization, and remission of debt. This complex system was to ensure a degree of checks and balances to any potential abuse of power, and to ensure each traditional region was equally represented and given equal powers. ostrakon Controversial Decisions of the Athenian demos: They democratically decided to execute six generals after they had actually won the battle of Arginousai in 406 BCE and sentenced philosopher Socrates to death in 399 BCE.

Primary Source on Athenian Democracy: Pericles' Funeral Oration This famous speech was given by the Athenian leader Pericles after the first battles of the Peloponnesian war. “…Our constitution… favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if no social standing, advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity, class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition…” Source: Thucydides (c. 460/455 -c. 399 BCE): Peloponnesian War, Book 2. 34 -46

Athens Continued… J) Early in the 5 th century BCE, the Athenian military effort is diverted into building up a navy. Triremes, the fast warships of the time, need men to row them, giving the poorer citizens a role in the city-state.

Athens Continued… K) Athenian boys studied the arts, science, philosophy, music and rhetoric (the art of public speaking). Because books were rare, students had to memorize and be able to recite almost everything that they learned. L) Athenian women were mostly kept indoors, and had a similar status to slaves. Most were not educated, and needed permission from a male guardian to do almost anything. “We keep hetaerae for the sake of pleasure, females slaves for our daily care and wives to give us legitimate children and to be the guardians of our households. ” Demosthenes “A woman’s reputation is highest when men say little about her, whether it be good or evil. ” - Pericles

III This is Sparta! A) By the 8 th century BCE, the Spartans (descended from the Dorians) conquered the Peloponnesus. They turned the conquered people into helots (state owned slaves), who often outnumbered the Spartans soldiers 7 to 1! The helots did all of the farming and manual work. B) Spartan government was led by 2 kings, a council of elders and a general assembly. However, the real power was held by an oligarchy, and most political decisions were done in secret. C) Unlike Athens, Sparta was a warrior culture. Spartan boys started their military training at age 7, when they left home and entered the Agoge. They were given meager rations and expected to become skilled at stealing food. Select older trainees were selected for the Crypteia; a secret police force who terrorized the Helots. At age 20, Spartan males became full-time soldiers, and remained on active duty until age 60.

Primary Source: Xenophon “On the Polity of the Spartans” 428 – 354 BCE) Instead of softening their feet with shoe or sandal, [the military trainer’s] rule was to make [the boys]…hardy through going barefoot…his rule was to habituate them to a single garment the whole year through, thinking that so they would be better prepared to withstand the variations of heat and cold. Again, as regards food… the …head of the flock, must see that his messmates gather to the club meal with such moderate food as to … not remain unacquainted with the pains of starvation… On the other hand, to guard against a too great pinch of starvation, he did give them permission to steal this thing or that in the effort to alleviate their hunger.

Sparta Continued… D) Spartan women enjoyed more freedoms and power than women in Athens. While they played no role in the military, female Spartans often received a formal education, although separate from boys. They engaged in athletic competitions, including javelin-throwing and wrestling. As adults, Spartan women were allowed to own and manage property. Additionally, helots took over most “domestic” duties such as cooking, allowing Spartan women more time for other activities. Married men under 30 were required to continue residing in communal barracks, and so had to sneak away at night to see their wives. Artemis, the Patron Goddess of Sparta

Sparta Continued… “Spartans are willing to die for their city because they have no reason to live. ” A rare example of Spartan art

Focus Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. Fill in your Period 2 Civilization chart for Athens and Sparta. Explain the evolution of Athenian democracy. How did the role of women differ between Athens and Sparta? Would you rather live in Athens or Sparta at this time? Why? Other Sources: Cartwright, Mark. http: //www. ancient. eu/Athenian_Democracy/ 2014

Key Vocabulary ü ü ü ü Acropolis Agora Archons Athenian Assembly Athens Attica Cleisthenes Council of 500 Dark Age Democracy Direct Democracy Dorians Draco Helots ü ü ü Hoplites Oligarchy Ostracism Peloponnesus Phalanx Phoenician alphabet Polis Solon Sparta Trireme Tyrants