Athens

CHW3M

The Acropolis

Inhabited as of around 4000 BCE Natural elevation provides security,

defence

Pre-Classical Greece

Attica (the region in which Athens is located) ruled by four tribes

Worked relatively cooperatively People had the ability to elect and

depose chiefs

Pre-Classical Greece Athenian kings elected by a council of

elders King is chief priest, judge, and general But still just a person like any other – not a

god During the age of colonization and the

rise of the city-state in the wake of the dark ages, kings gradually lose power to the land-owning aristocrats

Pre-Classical Greece

A new position is created: archon A land-holding aristocrat responsible for

supervising gov’t administration Initially elected to serve for life Eventually increased to 3 archons, and

elected (by council of landowners) to serve for 1 year terms

Pre-Classical Greece

Merchants and artisans are getting richer from trade and start to demand a greater say in gov’t Backed by the lower classes

Political power comes to be based on military power The wealthy could afford weapons and hoplites

The Age of Tyrants

Anyone who used their military muscle to seize power unconstitutionally was called a tyrant

Between 650-550 BCE some rulers are legitimate, some are tyrants

Tyrants are not necessarily bad – many were very effective administrators, and in some cases got a lot more done than more democratically elected rulers

From Tyranny to Democracy

Even the “elected” rulers are still representative of the elite moreso than the common person

Key rulers in the transition to a more democratic Athens: Draco Solon Pisistratus Cleisthenes

Draco

Athenian law is administered by the land-owning aristocracy

As such, law is often biased in favour of landowners and against commoners

In 621 BCE an archon (Draco) writes down a comprehensive list of laws that would apply to all citizens Still favours the elite, but provides greater legal

protection to commoners than they had before

Draco

However, many punishments under Draconian law are quite harsh

Death penalty for many crimes, even ones that seem less serious

Solon

Elected archon in 594 BCE Freed farmers who had been enslaved

because of debt Made so any wealthy man could hold

political office Previously only those from aristocratic

families can hold office Opens things up to landless merchants

Solon

Archons increased to nine

Creates “Council of 400” 100 citizens from

each of the traditional four tribes of Athens

Pisistratus

A tyrant who seizes power by military force in 546 BCE

Drove out wealthy landowners and divided their lands among the landless

Instituted state loans for farmers Created circuit judges whose authority

superseded local aristocracy

Hippias and Hipparchus

Sons of Pisistratus Not popular – Hipparchus is murdered

and Hippias is exiled Hippias joins the Persians and may have

instigated the Battle of Marathon

Cleisthenes

Takes over from there (508 BCE) Replaces the 4-tribe division with a 10-

tribe division based on each precinct of Attica Each tribe contains a mix of social

classes All citizens get membership in the

assembly

Cleisthenes

Council of 400 increased to 500 50 members from each tribe Not elected but chosen randomly by lot

Assembly passes laws, acts as court, elects generals

Council of 500 proposes laws and controls day-to-day administration of gov’t

Cleisthenes

Assembly can vote any man into exile if they are considered a threat to city’s democracy

If at least 6000 people scratched your name onto a shard of pottery (ostraka) then you were exiled for 10 years

Classical Greece

After the Persian Wars (550-480 BCE - Hippias/Hipparchus and Cleisthenes all rule during this period) things get better

Increase in trade, contact with Egypt and Persia

Developments in crafts, art, architecture, science, etc.

Pericles

Athenian General Charismatic, strong orator Instituted pay for military service Patron of the arts and beautification of

Athens (see Parthenon) Encouraged foreign merchants to

settle in Athens

Pericles

The Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War

Remember it was Pericles’ strategy to hide behind the walls of Athens and survive the Spartan siege with supplies from Athens’ naval fleet

Also remember how that turned out: 1/3 of Athens died from a plague (including Pericles himself)

The Peloponnesian War

See Pericles’ funeral oration (p. 118)

Questions

Page 120 #1-4 Page 128 #2-3