Ancient Greece

Warring City-States

Key Terms

• Polis• Acropolis• Monarchy• Aristocracy• Oligarchy• Democracy• Helots

• Phalanx

Greek City-States

• Polis, political unit in Ancient Greece made up of city and surrounding villages

• Acropolis, fortified hilltop, or the agora, a marketplace, was where citizens gathered

Greek Governments

Monarchy• Ruled by a king• Rule is hereditary• Some rulers claim

divine right

Aristocracy• State ruled by nobility• Rule is hereditary and

based on family, social rank, and wealth

• Social status and wealth support rulers’ authority

Greek Governments

Oligarchy• State ruled by small

group of citizens• Rule based on wealth

and ability• Ruling groups control

military

Democracy• State ruled by citizens• Rule is based on

citizenship• Majority rule decides

vote

Athens

• Initially an aristocracy• Power struggles

between rich and poor• Reformed government

to democracy• Citizens participated

directly in politics

Building DemocracyDraco

• 621 B.C.• Developed legal code

that all Athenians were equal, rich or poor

• Dealt harshly with criminals

• Death punishment for almost every crime

• Allowed debt slavery

Building DemocracySolon

• 594 B.C.• Outlawed debt slavery• Created social classes,

but all could still participate in gov’t

• Any citizen could charge wrongdoer with a crime

Building DemocracyCleisthenes

• Organized citizens by region, not wealth

• Created representative government

Life in Athens• Sons of wealthy families

received education• Began school around age of 7• Reading, grammar, poetry,

history, math, and music• Lessons in logic and public

speaking• Spent time each day on fitness• When older, military school to

prepare for defending Athens

Women in Athens

• Educated at home by mothers

• Child-rearing, weaving, cooking, managing the household, and other skills for good wives and mothers

• Very little to do with Athens society outside of the home

Sparta

• Located part of southern Greece known as Peloponnesus

• Separated from other Greek city-states

• Military state instead of democracy

Sparta

• Several branches of government

• Democratic assembly• Council of Elders proposed

laws• 2 kings ruled military forces• 3 social classes: citizens,

non-citizens, and helots, or peasants forced to stay on the land they worked

Sparta• Most powerful army in

Greece from 600 to 371 B.C.• Individual expression was

discouraged• Did not value the arts,

literature, or other artistic and intellectual pursuits

• Valued duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, individuality, beauty, and learning

What’s your profession?

Life of a Spartan

• Inspected at birth• Boys taken from home

at age of 7, living in army barracks

• Trained and stayed in barracks until age of 30

• Expected to serve in army until age of 60

Life in Spartan Barracks• Spent days marching,

exercising, and fighting• Trained outside no matter

weather• Only light tunics and no shoes• Slept on hard benches without

blankets• Served little food, and

encouraged to steal• Produce tough, resourceful

soldiers

Reflection

• Predict which city-state, Athens or Sparta, would last longer. Explain your reasoning for this choice.