Sparta and Athens Tyranny in the City States

Sparta and Athens

Tyranny in the City- States • Rule by the nobles was short lived • First challenge to their rule was from farmers • Farmers borrowed money from the nobles to keep their farms going

Tyranny in the City- States • The farmers in debt lost their land had to work for the nobles • 650 BC farmers began demanding changes in power structure p. 5

Tyranny in the City- States • Merchants and artisans also wanted a say in government, but were considered noncitizens because they did not own property p 3

Tyranny in the City- States • The growth in unhappiness led to the rise in tyrants • Tyrants- someone who takes power by force and rules with total authority

Tyranny in the City- States • 600 BC tyrants overthrew the nobles • Tyrants made themselves popular by building new marketplaces, temples, and walls.

Tyranny in the City- States • Majority of people did not want rule by one person • Wanted rule by law with all citizens participating • 500 BC most tyrants fell out of power

Tyranny in the City- States • Most City- States became either oligarchies or democracies • Oligarchy- A few people hold power • Democracy- all citizens share in the running of government

Sparta • Importance of the Military • Conquered and enslaved neighbors • Helots- Captive workers • Sparta feared that the Helots would rebel • Age 7 boys left their families and trained for war and Were harshly treated

Sparta • Age 20 entered the regimental army • Men remained in the army for 10 years • Men returned home at age 30 but stayed in the army until age 60 • Surrender not an option

Sparta • Girls trained in sports • Running, wrestling, and javelin • Wives lived at home while the men lived in barracks • Women could own property and go where they wanted

Sparta • Spartan Government • Government was an oligarchy • 2 kings headed a council of elders • The council, 28 men over age 60 proposed laws to an assembly

Sparta • All Spartans over age 30 belonged to the assembly • Voted on laws and chose 5 people to be ephors • Ephors-enforced laws and collected taxes

Sparta • To keep anyone from questioning system foreign visitors were discouraged • Travel abroad not allowed • Frowned upon citizens who studied literature or the arts

Sparta • Spartans succeeded in controlling the Helots for 250 years • By focusing on military matters Spartans fell behind other Greeks in Trade • Knew less about Science and other subjects • 4 -2 A

Athens • Athens more interested in building a democracy rather than military force

Athens • Education was very different • Boys taught to read and write and do math • Another teacher taught sports • A third teacher taught them to sing and do instruments • Age 18 boys finished school and became citizens

Athens • Girls stayed at home • Mothers taught spinning and weaving • Only in wealthy families did girls learn to read • When they married they stayed at home to teach their daughters

Athens • Early Athens ruled by land owning nobles around 600 BC • Athens Had an assembly of citizens, but had few powers • Farmers owed the nobles money and many sold themselves into slavery to pay their debts

Athens • To solve problem farmers went to Solon • Solon- Noble trusted by farmers and nobles; canceled the farmers debt and freed those in slavery • Allowed all male citizens to participate in the assembly and law courts

Athens • Council of 400 wealthy citizens wrote the laws but the assembly had to pass them

Athens • Farmers pressured Solon to give away the nobles’ land but he refused. • After Solon’s rule, there would be 30 years of chaos.

Athens • Peisistratus a tyrant seized power in 560 BC • Won support by dividing up large estates among the poor farmers • Loaned money to poor people and gave them jobs building temples and other public works.

Athens • Cleisthenes came to power in 506 BC • Reorganized the assembly to play an important part in government

Athens • • Cleisthenes Allowed for open debate Hear court cases Appoint army generals Appointed an assembly of 500 people to carry out daily business

Athens • Council was chosen once a year in a lottery; thought this system was much more fair • Women, foreign born men, and slaves were not allowed in the process. • Cleisthenes credited for making Athens a democracy 4 -2 B

review • Who were the Helots? • Why did the tyrants fall out of favor with the Greeks? • Why did the Athenians Choose the lottery system for choosing public officials? • Why was Solon popular among some farmers? • How did Athenian democracy keep any one person from gaining too much power?