Post on 11-Apr-2017
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Land of Democracy and War: Ancient Greece
Greece: Land of Philosophy, Democracy, and War
Sparta
Social organization
Boys were surrendered to Sparta at age 7Organized into small groups then unitsTrained to fightAs older teens they were organized into units and given military trainingA law driven society
The laws were not written but were inscribed on the heart.
Focus was on social good, strength, and sacrifice
Meals eaten together in common messes-to prevent sloth and self-indulgence
A culture of toughness, masculinity (laconic)
Political organization
Lykourgos-Gave them the laws
Power of king limited
Council of Five-Ephors (overseers)
Selected from Council of Elders
Assembly
Social Organization
King
Old ruling families
Free citizens
Peroikoi
Helots
Slaves
A society with no culture
SlaveryMilitarismHardness
Athens: The Birthplace of Democracy and Philosophy
Athens in economic crisis
Solon the Reformer-638-558 BCE, elected Chief Executive in 594 BCEDik-social justicePaucity of landOne-sixth farmers (sharecropping)-contemporary examples?
Reasonable Laws-revisions of Draconian Laws
Economic Reforms:
The forgiving of debt (Debt owed by U.S. consumers in 2016-12.5 trillion)
Found slaves and bought their freedom
Redistribution of land
Olive oil and wine
banned export of cereals
**A usable past?
Government organization
ArchonsThe Four HundredRemoved aristocratic requirement (social mobility)The Assembly
Class conflict ensues
Solons solutions too centristThe Men of the Coast, the Men of the Plains, the Men of the Hills
The Democratic Tyrant-Pisistratus (605-527)-in power from 546-528 BCE
Third time is the charm
Land redistributionLower taxes on the poor
Better water systems
The Rule of Hippias-527-510 BCE
Removing the Tyrant
King Kleomenes of Sparta leads a force to Athens to drive out Hippias
Kleisthenes and Isagoras in fierce debate about immigrant workers
Spartans back Isagoras as chief archon
Athenians rise up and drive out the Spartans and Isagoras
Defense of their political institutions
Reforms of Kleisthenes-507 BCE
Attempting to minimize strength of old families
Organizes the city into 30 districts
All regions included in each district-plains, hills, coastOstracism (ostracon)-6,000 votes
Council expanded to 500
Additional duties
Continuing Democratization through 460 BCE
462-council stripped of its power
Government by Assembly
Laws originate directly from the citizens
Government run by the citizens (Assembly)
The Greco-Persian War
King Darius commanded a massive Persian EmpireInherited by his son Xerxes
Athens supports an unsuccessful revolt by Ionian Greeks in 499 BCE
Battle of Marathon-490 BCE
Armies of Darius marching on Athens
Sparta refuses assistance (religious festival)
Tactical success (hoplites)
Persians defeated
**what role of a Homeric culture here?
Greeks built their strength
Constructed a fleet of triremes
Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis-480 BCE
Xerxes sweeps south-laying waste
Thermopylae defeat (victory)
Trickery and Salamis
The Delian League-478 BCE
Created for protection against Persia
150 Greek city-states
Athens lead this league
Cities contributed troops and armaments or payment
Athens ruthlessly controlled the league
***What is the historical lesson?
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The Peloponnesian War431-404 BCEDevelops as Athens reaches its cultural, political, and economic peak
Delian League vs. the Peloponnesian League (Sparta)
Athens-naval powerSparta-land force
The Sicily Expedition
Colonial discontentRise of oligarchy