Social Review 6 Part 2. Ancient Athens How was the government of Ancient Athens structured? In ancient times, Greece was not a unified country. Rather

Social Review 6

Part 2

Ancient Athens

How was the government of Ancient Athens structured?

• In ancient times, Greece was not a unified country. Rather it was broken into city-states

• Athens was the strongest city-state, it was a democracy, the government was run by the people

The Assembly

• Most important government body• Took place at the Pnyx (on top of a hill)• Thousands would attend, 6000 needed for a

vote to be legal• Slave with a red-painted rope was sent out to

mark those who were not at Assembly as a warning. Those who did not attend were fined money

The Assembly

• Met every 10 days or so• All citizens could attend• Small to large matters were discussed (from

market prices to warfare)• Decision making process: Discussion, debate

and vote. Vote was often done by hand. If not it was done by stone (pale stone meant yes, dark stone meant no)

The Council of 500

• Also called the boule• Day to day operations, the Assembly Agenda• Any council decisions, laws changes or proposal

had to be presented to and approved by the Assembly

• Made up of the 10 tribes of Attica (area that Athens ruled, 50 members from each tribe)

• Chairman = chosen by lottery (new everyday)• New Council was chosen every year


• What is the difference between a city-state and a unified country?

• What was the most important body of government in Ancient Athens? How many attended and where did it take place?

• What matters did this body of government deal with and how did the decision making process run?


• What did the Council of 500 deal with? • Fill in the blanks: The Council was made up of

the __ tribes of _________, with _____ members from each tribe.

• How was the Chairman chosen? How often was a new Council chosen?

How were citizens able to participate in Athenian government?

• Power was shared equally between all citizens• Assembly allowed all people to be heard (direct

democracy)• Debated and voted on laws themselves• It did not matter how wealthy you were, you

always had the same amount of power, as long as you were a citizen

• Pericles was the best-known leader who helped promote Athenian democracy

How were citizens able to participate in Athenian government?

• What type of democracy was the assembly?• If you were a poor citizen, did you have less

power than a rich citizen?

How did identity, status and class structure impact citizenship in Athens?

• Slaves, metics and women were not citizen. It was almost impossible for these people move social classes and become citizens

• Since Athens had money, many foreigners came to live there. They could live, work or fight in war as they liked, but could not take part in government

• Slaves- Seen as the lowest class, even poor families had slaves. There were to do most physical labour or boring and dangerous jobs

• Women – no say in government. Had to take care of home and family.

How did identity, status and class structure impact citizenship in Athens?

• If you were a slave or metic (immigrant), could you become a citizen?

• What were the roles of slaves in Athenian society?

• What were the roles of women in Athenian Society?

How did Athenian social structure impact government?

• Citizen participation was very important• Slaves did most of the work, allowing male

citizens the time to participate in government• Athenian citizens did not believe that Metics

had the best interest of Athens at heart• Women could only stay at home, they did not

go to school so were not educated

How did Athenian social structure impact government?

• What did the use of slaves allow the citizens of Athens to do?

• Why did Athenian citizens not want Metics (immigrants) to be a part of their government?

To what extent were fairness and equity apart of Athens?

• Not all people could participate• Always majority rule: no minority rights (like our language

and aboriginal rights)• No guaranteed rights = ostracism (a person could be voted

to exile)• Unfair court hearings (rich often won and evidence was

rarely needed)• By ancient standards, Athens were fair and equal since

citizens had power, not a tyrant• All citizens had there role in law making, unlike today due

to our representative government

To what extent were fairness and equity apart of Athens?

• Give three reasons why in our society, we would say that Ancient Athens did not demonstrate fairness and equity.

• Give the main reason why in Ancient times, Athens demonstrated fairness and equity.

Iroquois Confederacy

What motivation might the Mohawk have in joining the Iroquois Confederacy?

How was the Iroquois Confederacy structured?

• There were 5 tribes constantly at war• Huron man (Deganwidah), was determined to

create peace. He was known as the peacekeeper. He wanted the Iroquois tribe to agree to the Great Law of Peace

• He met Hiwatha, who was very sad because Tadodaho (Onondaga chief) had killed Hiwatha’s family)

• The Peacekeeper helped console Hiwatha, and Hiwatha became his follower.


• The Peacekeeper and Hiwatha convinced all nations to agree, except for one, the Onondaga. After a while, the Onondaga joined

• All chiefs gathered and buried their weapons under the Great Tree of Peace as a sign of Peace.

• Great Law of Peace = Gayanekshagowa• Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca

were united• This all happened before Europeans settled in North

America

• Tuscarora were the sixth and last nation. The were brought in by the Oneida

• In each nations there were clans. Clans were named after animals. Clans were lead by clan mothers

• The role of clan mother was passed down from mother to daughter (hereditary)

• Clan mothers selected and removed chiefs. They chose men who would uphold hold the Great Law of Peace.


• Who was determined to create peace for the Nations and why?

• What is the story of Hiwatha?• Who did not want to join the Confederation at

first?• What symbolic act did the chiefs take to show

their commitment to Peace?• Each nation had ___________, in each

_____________ their was a _______ ________

The Chiefs

• There were 50 chiefs in the Iroquois Confederacy, there men made up the Grand Council were decision were made by consensus

• # of chiefs = # of clans in a tribe• The Grand Council had to follow the Great Law

and consider the Seventh Generation• Types of chiefs (war chiefs and pine tree chiefs)

• War chiefs dealt with issues of war • Pine tree chiefs dealt with issues of trade,

politics and organization• Both were appointed by the Grand Council

Chiefs

• Mohawk = 9 chiefs• Oneida = 9 chiefs• Onondaga = 14 chiefs• Cayuga = 10 chiefs• Seneca = 8 chiefs

• Since Tuscarora was not apart of the original 5 nations, they were represented by the Oneida

What was the role and status of men and women?

• Men: hunting, fishing, cutting trees down for canoes and longhouses. They worked in groups

• Women had more freedom and social status than women of other societies

• Women tended to crops and longhouses• When couples married, they moved in with the

women’s clan• Men and women worked together to build their

communities

What was the role and status of men and women?

• What were the roles of men?• What were the roles of women?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of consensus?

• Consensus = everyone agrees on a decision• Most democracies are majority rule• Consensus works for small groups. All

participants must listen to everyone’s opinions, even the minorities. This put the entire groups needs ahead of the majorities needs

• If someone will not compromise, consensus is impossible

What are the advantages and disadvantages of consensus?

• What was good about consensus?• What was bad about consensus?

How did the Six Nations use the Consensus-building process?

• Women and faithkeepers were often consulted in decision making

• When there was a threat, all people were consulted in decision making, even children. All people had to come to consensus

• Take a few minutes to read page 91

How did the Six Nations use the Consensus-building process?

• When an issue arose, who were the first two Nations to discuss and make a decision by consensus?

• Which nation was not involved in consensus, but rather opening the Grand Council?

• If consensus was not reached, what is one of the two things that would happen?

How did the Wampum belt address collective identity?

• Made of beaded white and purple shell• Used to tell stories or treaties• Used symbols to tell a story

• Represents that all groups are respected, as well as united

How did social structure of the Iroquois Nation impact government

• Men and women had different, yet equal roles in society, unlike Ancient Athens

• All power was balanced (clan mothers could reject failing chiefs and Grand Council could revoke failing clan mothers)

• Each nation had an equal voice because of consensus

• All had to follow the Great Law of Peace

How did social structure of the Iroquois Nation impact government

• How was power balanced in the Iroquois Confederacy?

To what extent did the decision-making process within the Iroquois Confederacy reflect equity

and fairness?+ High level of women’s participation in politics+ Foreigners could join the nation if they swore by the Great Law of Peace (like the Tuscarora)+ Compromise and co-operation were needed to make decision by way of consensus+ The minority always had to be considered since the vote was not majority rule+ All people were included in decision making


and fairness?- People did not have a choice over the leaders

that represented them. The Chiefs were appointed by the clan mothers. Clan mothers received clan mother titles from their mothers. There were no elections.

- Men still had more opportunity (they could become pine tree or war chiefs, or faithkeeper.


and fairness?- Name 2 ways Iroquois confederacy

demonstrated equity and fairness- Name 2 ways the Iroquois confederacy did not

demonstrate equity and fairness

What types of freedoms and rights are in the Charter?

What types of freedoms and rights are in the Charter?

• Fundamental Freedoms, Democratic Rights, Mobility Rights, Equality Rights, Legal Rights, Official Language Rights

• Name the 2 main jobs of a MLA• Name the 3 main jobs of a Cabinet Minister

Name the 2 main jobs of a MLAName the 3 main jobs of a Cabinet Minister

MLAs have 2 main responsibilities:1) Representing their constituents (maintaining open

office, community functions, informing constituents about what is happening)

2) Participate in Government (introducing and passing bills, committees, interests groups)

Cabinet Ministers:3) Make decisions4) Develop government policies5) Review government spending

• Who is elected in the Prov. Gov? Who is appointed? Who is from the same political party?

• What services does Provincal Government provide?

• What is the main difference between rural and urban?

• How are local government services paid for?

• What is the main difference between rural and urban?• How are local government services paid for?In order for the local government to gain revenue (money/ income) they collect taxes

These taxes are mostly in the form of property taxes

Also gained by user fees (Ex: bus ticket), community rentals (ex: picnic spots at Henderson)

Documents

Social Review 6 Part 2. Ancient Athens How was the government of Ancient Athens structured? In ancient times, Greece was not a unified country. Rather