Greek Government
Feb 25, 2016
Greek Government
End of the Dark AgeCommunities that survived the
Dark Ages were very small and simpleRuled by local nobles and wealthier
citizens who owned most of the land:Virtually impossible to change your
status in lifeCommoners were forced to pay tribute
to these rulers
During the Archaic AgeEvolve into city-states
Remember: Greece is not one unified nation, but rather a collection of federations
The Greeks called their city-state the polis.Each polis was an independent
governing unit with varying forms of government.
City-States and Ethnic Groups
Classifications of Government
Aristotle:Rule by the one Rule by the fewRule by the many
Aristotle on Government
“Now it is evident that the form of government
is best in which every man, whoever he is, can
act best and live happily.”
Aristotle on Government
• Expands upon Plato’s initial political philosophies and identifies 6 forms of government.–What were Plato’s categories of government?
1. Aristocracy2. Timocracy3. Oligarchy4. Democracy5. Tyranny
Aristotle on Government
• Expands upon Plato’s initial political philosophies and identifies 6 forms of government.
1. Monarchy2. Dictatorship3. Aristocracy4. Oligarchy5. Polity6. Democracy
Do you notice anything about
these groupings?
The few
Monarchy Aristocracy Polity
Government of one for the common good of the
people; based on heredity.
Government of the (few) best according
to virtue alone.
Government of many in the best interests of the country –
combines aristocracy with democracy.
Tyranny (Dictator)
Oligarchy Democracy
Government of one for personal advantage.
Government of the few based on wealthy
and property.
Government where poor masses have control and
use it to serve themselves.
The one
The many
Aristotle’s View on Government
• Monarchy vs. Tyranny– A monarchy can be successful if the king is moral, but can
easily degrade into tyranny if he is not.
• Aristocracy vs. Oligarchy– An aristocracy becomes an oligarchy when it caters only for
the interests of the rich.
• Polity vs. Democracy– The fairest constitution is a mixed “ polity” of rich and poor.– Aristotle’s “fear that the rule of the “Many” would typically
lead to the tyranny of the poor and property-less majority over the middle classes.
Athenian GovernmentMost notably Athens was a
democracy; however, it was not the only form of government in the city state…
Lineage of Athenian Government
Monarchy: Rule by king or queen
Aristocracy : Rule by a small group of land owning elite
Tyranny: Rule by one person, the Tyrant, who takes power, sometimes
by forceDemocracy: Rule in which the people are the source of power
Athenian GovernmentOn its way from a Monarchy to
Democracy Athens had several people who made important reforms to develop their government:
Early Athens was ruled by a king after it became a unified polis about 700 B.C.
Later aristocrats took power as they controlled most of the land
Increased trade led to the development of a merchant class, these merchants become Tyrants
The Reformers: Draco First Athenian lawmaker (7th century
BC) The first to codify & write down laws of
Athens—previously interpreted & administered arbitrarily by aristocratic magistrates Code famous for its Death was the penalty for almost all crimes One advance was in the laws of homicide,
which recognized the responsibility of the state, not the victim's family, in punishing a murderer; thus blood feuds were to be avoided
Draconian - unusually severe or cruel
harshness
The Reformers: Solon Laid foundation for democracy
in Athens Drew up clear, simple plan that
balanced rights of citizens Built-in safeguards to keep one
group from oppressing others Passed law that canceled all debt
owed by poor to rich landowners ; forbade anyone be enslaved for debt
Wrote code of laws, simpler and less brutal than existing Draconian laws
Divided citizens into 4 classes according to property ownership (each with a different share in the government)
Draco needed to chillax…
Pentacosiomedimnoi - property or estate could produce 500 bushels of goods per year; eligible for all top positions of government in
Athens.
Hippeis - second highest; could produce 300 bushels per year; could afford to maintain a
war horse in the service of the state
Zeugitai - whose whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels per year; men who could afford armor or a yoke of oxen
Thetes - manual workers or sharecroppers, they served voluntarily as auxiliaries with a
sling or naval row men
Solon’s Political Classes
Drafted into army
based on what you
could provide:
Bushel:8 gallons (wet)4 pecks (dry)
The Reformers: Peisistratus
Aristocrat who seized power in 560 B.C. and becomes a “tyrant”Took land from the rich
and gave it to the poorGreek Robin Hood?
Popular with the poor in AthensFirst form of “socialism”?
The Reformers: Cleisthenes
Came from one of the most powerful families in Athens
Created a new council of 500 that oversaw foreign affairs, and made laws that were voted on by male citizensThe basis for The Boule
(council of 500); came into prominence after his rule helping to shape Athenian Democracy.
The Reformers: PericlesOrganized a vote in the
popular assembly that deprived the Areopagus (old aristocratic courts & judges) of its remaining powerPower to the People! Believed to have been
the defining moment of Athenian democracy
What did Athenian Democracy Look Like?
Athenian democracy was a participatory democracy. Government was carried out directly by
the citizens who voted on all major issues
Two Governing Groups:Ekklesia- general assembly, the main
body, open to all male citizens over the age of 18
Boule - a council of 500 elected officials
The Ekklesia
• Adult male Athenian citizens (age 18+) who had completed their military training (2 year service)– About 20% of the population
• Excluded a majority of the population:– slaves, freed slaves, children,
women and metics.
The Boule Set the agenda for the ekklesiaCarried out all laws & administered
decisions of ekklesiaDid not receive recompense Requirements: >30 and an Athenian
citizenServed for one year at a time and could
not serve for more than two years in a lifetime
50 men were elected from each of the 10 tribes of AthensChosen by lot (lottery)Each section of Attica was equally
represented
Spartan Government A highly unusual system of government
Primarily an oligarchy, but it included democratic elements.
Two kings from two different families ruled the city-state,
But a 28-member 'council of elders' limited their powers. Council of Elders (known as the Gerousia)
male citizens over the age of sixty elected and served for life.
Apella all male citizens over the age of thirty voted on proposals that originated in the gerousia also elected the elders who served on the gerousia.
Athens vs. Sparta: Culture
Seaports on the
Aegean
Eurotas River
Pindus Mountains
Athens vs. Sparta• Compare and Contrast Athens &
Sparta–How would geography impact the
economy and culture of Athens?–Look at your Venn Diagram…
Similarities? Differences?–Pros/Cons of Athens? Sparta?
The Archaic PeriodAthens• Located near the coast of
Aegean Sea with good port• Many rivers nearby• Acropolis—high hill;
center of religious life• Agora—center of public
life; public market and meeting place
Sparta• Located in central,
southeastern section of Peloponnesus
• Eurotas River Valley• Protected by Mountains
The Acropolis
1. Parthenon2. Old Temple of Athena3. Erechtheum (temple to Poseidon) 4. Statue of Athena Promachos5. Propylaea (entrance way)6. Temple of Athena Nike7. Eleusinion (sacred storehouse)8. Sanctuary of Artemis9. Chalkotheke (treasury)10. Pandroseion (sanctuary to daughter of
first king of Athens)11. Arrephorion (lodging for servants)12. Altar of Athena13. Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus14. Sanctuary of Pandion (king)15. Odeon of Herodes Atticus (ampitheater)16. Stoa of Eumenes (walkway)17. Sanctuary of Asclepius (god of medicine)18. Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus19. Odeon of Pericles (ampitheater)20. Temenos of Dionysus Eleuthereus (sacred
land)21. Aglaureion (shrine to daughter of King
Actaeus )
The Acropolis
Athenian Culture & Education
• Center of trade and culture– Wealthy– Exposure to finest art, literature, & products the
world over– Developed an appreciation for beauty & skill
• Education exceedingly important– Why would this be the case in a democracy?– Education included reading, writing, rhetoric,
philosophy, etc… but also physical training– Only available for sons’ of citizens
Daily Life in Athens• Greeks ate simple foods
– Meat was reserved for special occasions even amongst rich
• Limited army but developed a navy of triremes for sea supremacy
• Men ran public sphere• Women were restricted to domestic sphere
– Raised children & kept home running – Some poor women worked - only in menial
tasks– Could not vote or take part in politics– Had to live in a special section of the house
called the gynaeceum
Sparta• Military primary focus after 600 BC• Citizens taught to put needs of the city
above their own, ALWAYS!• No longer worked to conquer
surrounding areas and instead focused on protecting city-state– Landlocked geography kept them isolated– Fertile plains allowed their helots to
supply the city’s agricultural needs– They lived in fear of helot revolt (citizens
were greatly out-numbered by the helots)
Helots• Slaves that formed the main
population of Sparta• Ritually mistreated, humiliated
and even slaughtered• During the crypteia, in autumn,
any helot could be killed by a Spartan citizen without fear of repercussion or fear of guilt– Crypteia = the final test of a
Spartan warrior in training
Daily Life in Sparta: Men• Children lived with their mothers in the women's quarter
until they were 7 years old• Training for boys started at 7; went to live in barracks• Training continued until 20 and it was harsh:
– Only owned weapons, one cloak, no shoes, thin mat– Given starvation rations to encourage resourcefulness– Rigid discipline, painful and demanding training, all to be borne
silently
• Served in army from 20-60 years• At 30:
– Could marry – Join Assembly (government)
Daily Life in Sparta: Women
• Girls also trained and competed in wrestling, gymnastics, and combat training.
• At 18 the Spartan girl had to pass fitness test– Pass = allowed to marry– Fail = lose citizenship (Perioikos)
• Not training as soldier but their health ensured health of their children—bearing children was #1 goal
• Men were frequently away, women:– Could own property– Run farms, businesses & households
• Women were second-class citizens
Spartan WomenWho
wears short
shorts?
We wear short
shorts!
The Spartan Mentality• No mingling with other city-states (travel or trade)• Only interaction through alliances to ensure safety
of city-state• No interest in trade, wealth, or culture• Lived such simple lives Spartan has come to mean
simple and harsh• Community above the individual:
– Children did not belong to parents but to polis – Sickly or deformed babies were left to the elements or
thrown off a cliff to die or trained to become slaves– Only soldiers who died in battle and mothers who died
in childbirth were allowed gravestones
Spartan Mentality
Either come back with your shield or on it!