Section Two The Greek CityStates Section 2 Objectives

Section Two: The Greek City-States

Section 2 Objectives • Define city-state & tell how the city-state of Sparta & Athens differed

I. The Polis: Center of Greek Life • By 750 B. C. , the polis (city-state) became the central focus of Greek life • It was a town, city or village serving as a center where people met for political, economic, social & religious activities

The Polis: Center of Greek Life • The main gathering place was usually on a hill, topped with a fortified area called the *acropolis • Below was the agora, an open area for people to assemble & for a market

Acropolis http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Ac. acropolis 3. JPG

Acropolis Agora

The Polis: Center of Greek Life • Athens was the largest citystate • Polis was a community of people who shared an identity & goals

The Polis: Center of Greek Life • Three classes: 1. citizens with political rights (adult males) 2. citizens without political rights (women & children) 3. noncitizens (slaves & resident aliens)

The Polis: Center of Greek Life • Responsibilities accompanied rights • Loyalty made the city-states fiercely patriotic & distrustful of one another • Helped bring Greece to ruin

The Polis: Center of Greek Life • Military system based on hoplites • Infantry who carried shield, sword & spear • The fought shoulder to shoulder in a *phalanx formation

phalanx formation

Spartan Hoplite Phalanx

II. Greek Colonies • 750 & 550 B. C. many Greeks settled distant lands • Trade & good farmland • Cities of Hellespont, Bosporus & Byzantium

Greek Colonies • Exports: Pottery, wine & olive oil • Imports: lumber, grain & slaves • New wealthy class of merchants

III. Tyranny in the City-states • New wealth led to the rise of tyrants • Greek tyrants were rulers who seized power by force from the aristocrats • Oppressive rules • Aristocrats oppressed them, peasants supported them

Tyranny in the City-states • Seized & kept power by using hired soldiers • Built new walls & temples • Fall out of favor by the 6 th century B. C.

Government in the City-states • *Democracy – ruled by the many • Other city-states remained committed to government by an *oligarchy, rule by the few • Athens & Sparta

IV. Sparta • Greek city-state • Gained land through conquest of neighbors • Captured people were known as helots • These serfs worked for the Spartans

A. A military State • 800 & 600 B. C. • Rigidly controlled & disciplined • Entered the military at 20 & lived in the barracks until 30

A military State • Stayed in the army until 60 • Women & men lived apart • Women expected to remain fit to bear & raise healthy children • Men expected to be brave in battle, to win or be killed

B. Government of Sparta • The Spartan government was an oligarchy • Ephors – were elected each year & were responsible for the education of youth & the conduct of all citizens • 2 kings & 28 men made up the government • Did not debate, but only voted

Government of Sparta • Closed itself off from the outside world • Travelers & travel discouraged • Frowned upon new ideas & the arts

V. Athens • A king ruled early Athens • By 7 th century B. C. , oligarchy of aristocrats • Economic & political troubles

Athens • Reformist Solon appointed leader in 594 B. C. • Canceled debts, but did not give land to the poor • Led to tyranny

Athens • Appointed the reformer Cleisthenes in 508 B. C. • Created a new council of five hundred • Proposed new laws & supervise the treasury & foreign affairs

Athens • Assembly had final authority to pass laws after free & open debate • *Reforms of Cleisthenes created the foundation for Athenian democracy

Acropolis

Early Acropolis

Chapter Objectives • Describe the roles of the Persian & Peloponnesian wars in Greek history • List the cultural contributions of the Greeks to Western civilization • Explain how Alexander the Great created his empire