Transcript Greek Government 2010

Greek Government
Sparta vs. Athens
Essential Learning

Politics / Bureaucracy - students will
understand the various systems of
government, the types of leadership, the
evolution of government and the influence
of specific individuals (i.e. oligarchy,
democracy, republic).
Democracy




Athens began as an Oligarchy that was run by the Aristocrats.
Oligarchy  tyranny  direct democracy (all citizens made the
decisions.)
Democracy - from dēmos (people) + -kratia (rule) - a government
in which the supreme power is vested in the people and
exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of
representation usually involving periodically held free elections
People suggest that Athens was not a true democracy why?

It really only meant that 1 in 7 people could vote.

They were originally ruled by “archons” , but the archons were

In Athens all laws were written down in a constitution.
replaced by the 10 generals
What caused the change in
government?




Colonization and Expansion of trade led to the rise
of a new middle class. They were ticked that the
wealthy had the power in government.
The lower class backed the middle class because
they were tired of the ruling aristocrats.
The middle class started to buy weapons and
armour.
The hoplite emerged from the middle class to
fight the stronghold of the wealthy aristocrats.
Definitions

Hoplite – A Greek soldier wearing bronze body
armour, a shield, a helmet and spear.
Definitions

Tyrants

2 definitions

(original def.) in ancient Greece, a ruler who had seized
power without legal right to it.



There were several tyrants in ancient Greece who were very
good rulers and had the support of the majority.
A sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively
or unjustly. A ruler who exercises power in a harsh,
cruel manner.
Tyrants who believed in the cause of the
middle class were able to gain power and
were able to get the hoplites to fight for
them.
Athens
10
Generals
Magistrates
Council of 500 (Boule)
Ecclesia (Assembly)




10 Generals – Elected year to year. Were responsible
for promoting domestic policy and directing military
operations.
Archon – a land-holding aristocrat initially appointed to
office for life and was responsible for supervising the
government administration. Later it became a 1 year
elected position.
Council of 500 – people had to be over 30 to serve and
could only serve on the council once in their lifetime.
Citizens Assembly – Most important government
institution because they elected the 10 generals.
Four Men Responsible for Athenian
Democracy

The 4 men who helped Athens become a
democracy were:




Draco (Draconian)
Solon
Pisistratus
Cleisthenes
Draco



Brought in a new system
of Athenian Law. (It was
very harsh – Draconian)
This new law applied to
all citizens.
His laws offered common
people more protection
and painted the way to
universal legal rights.
Solon


He was concerned about
the farmers and common
people.
He cancelled debts and
freed all who had gone
into slavery because of
debts.

Declared that no one could
be enslaved for debt again.
Solon


He set up the council of
500
Gave more power to the
citizens assembly.
Pisistratus



Wanted to help the poor so he
drove wealthy landowners
from their land and divided it
up among the landless.
Placed income tax on the
wealthy.
Set up employment opportunities
for the unemployed.
Cleisthenes



The first constitution was created
by Cleisthenes in 508 BC.
All citizens would at some point
be able to part in the gov’t.
(People served once as 1 yr
terms.)
He introduced the system of
ostracism.
Ostracism

Put out of a city-state. (forced into exile)

People voted in order to decide whether to ostracize.

The votes were recorded on broken pieces of pottery
called “ostraka”. If 6000 were in favour of banishing
then the person was out for 10 yrs.
Sparta
2
Kings
Ephors
Council of Elders (Gerousia)
Assembly of Citizens (Apella)
(little power)
Sparta

Showed three different types of
governments.

Monarchy


Oligarcy



kings
Ephors
Gerousia
Democracy

Assembly of Citizens
Spartan Government

Kings – There were 2 hereditary kings, one responsible for
military and other the government. Elected for 9 year terms.

Ephors –




5 of them, Held most power, elected each year by citizens. Directed
the affairs of the city-state. They could attend meetings of the
council, summon the assembly. They could arrest and prosecute
kings and hand out punishment to citizens.
Would determine if rulers would return for another term by searching
for omens from the gods.
Gerousia – This council of elders who advised the kings.
Consisted of 28 aristocrats who prepared business for
presentation to the Spartan Assembly and acted as a law
court.
Assembly of Citizens (Apella)– Included all males over the
age of 30. They met each month on the full moon. Would
vote by shouting loudest on policies brought them by the
Gerousia. Really had no power, could not proposed laws,
could not debate and decisions could be ignored.
Who had no political rights?




Women,
children,
slaves,
foreigners.