Transcript The Polis – Athenians – and Spartans!

The Polis – Athenians – and
Spartans!
The Rise of the Polis – The City State!
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During the Dark Age groups of
Greeks lived in small bands or
communities under leaders typically
called Basileus (Mycenaean for
King)
The structure of the Polis typically
had an Agora (Meeting place and
marketplace), Gymnasion, a place
of song and dance (Greek theater),
fields, pastures, and vineyards.
Difference between a modern city:
The Polis was self governing and
the possession / control of territory
(Agricultural based economy)
Agora – Theatre – Gymnasion –
Fields
Ruling a Polis
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The Greeks themselves identified the Polis
with its citizens – It was not Athens that
acted but the “Athenians” or “Spartans” or
“Corinthians”
The early Polis was ruled by the “best”
families or aristocracy – They had the
resources for adequate diet and education –
Their lives were spent in the pursuits of
warefare, games, philiosphy, and feasting.
Officials were elected by the families – This
form of government is known as a Oligarchy
(elders)
Some scholars believe that the Polis had its
foundations in Phoenician culture
Athenian Democracy – An
interesting turn of events
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A large navy, a case for
Democracy???
In the 6th century BC Athens relied
heavily upon the Tireme (Greek
Warship) – This detail would lead to a
change of government
Over 20,000 rowers were kept on the
ready for orders in Athens. These
rowers were from the lower class (not
Slaves – rowing is too important for
slaves)
The growing lower class meant a
move towards more rights, less the
lower class gets disgruntled
To create stability Athens
ADAPETED its government to cope
Who can we credit for Reform?
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Draco (Lawgiver) 621BC
A law code was created in writing and
enshrined in public (The first Constitution
of Athens). Prior law consisted of oral law /
blood feuds
The law distinguished between murder
and man slaughter (something we still
distinguish today)
Furthermore, the laws applied to
everyone.
Solon - 7th BC
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He canceled all small debts for farmers
and and outlawed debt slavery
Limited the land one person could own
Gave the assembly the power to veto
laws passed by the council of nobles
He made it difficult for one person to
control allot of land or another person.
Other Reforms: Foreign tradesmen could
gained citizenship (if a family was
brought), fathers encouraged to find
trades for their sons, and higher exports
of olives
Pisistratus - 6th BC
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Share the wealth!
Struck down the laws which only
allowed land owners the right of
citizenship. (Remember all the lower
class Athenian rowers)
He broke up large estates and divided
it among the people
Also built the first aqueduct in Athens
allowing for a much larger populations
Cleisthenes - 6th BC
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He would add the final reforms that
would create Athens into a true
democracy
His reforms brought about free
speech and true equality before the
law
All citizens could become members in
the Assembly
The Assembly powers were vastly
improved: They could pass laws
(rather then approving them), to elect
10 general for the armed forces, and
serve as a supreme court
What the heck is the Assembly?
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Not to be confused with the council of 500
(dealt with city finances)
Every male citizen over the age of
eighteen could vote in the assembly which
made all important decision in the 5th
century BC – declarations of war, military
strategy, election of generals, and officials
The Assembly met once every month
(sunrise to midday)
Aristocrats typically laid out the order of
the day and brought motions forth – they
could afford learning the art of rhetoric (the
crowd could heckle during this time)
Votes were done by a show of hands
Members of the Assembly were given a
days pay
Athenian Education
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The purpose of Athenian education was to
produce “well learned” citizens – The focus of
education was not on a particular trade but bits
of everything. Healthy body / Healthy Mind
The first years of a child were devoted to health
and playing
Most Athenian boys went to school between the
ages of 7-14 – schools were private and
relatively cheap
Girls would be schooled at home in the ways of
motherhood and housekeeping. Though, some
families would hire private tutors
School typically went from dawn to noon –
teachers were usually retired military men
Schools were extremely strict in terms of
discipline and mistakes
What did they learn?
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Reading / Writing studies – Literacy was very
important to the Athenians
Math and calculations done on a board of wax
Memorization of the “classics” - some could
recite the Iliad or Odyssey word for word
Music: Taught to sing and play the lyre (7
string harp)
Exposure to “good” music – concerts
Physical education: In the afternoon students
were brought to the Palaestra (smaller form of
the Gymnasium)
Students would douse themselves in Olive oil
and participate in various sports.
The aim was to create fit, coordinated, and
healthy citizens
*After completion of school (18-20 years) – An
able bodied citizen would complete 2 years of
military service.
Who were the Spartans?
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They were considered the
ultimate military power in
Greece
The Spartans spoke a form of
Dorian Greek while the
Athenians spoke Ionic Greek
Unlike Athens who sat on the
coast – The Spartans sat
isolated 46KM in land
Lets think about geography....
Spartan social order
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Helots were considered in a
perpetual state of war with the
Spartans. A Spartan could kill a
Helot without penalty. They did
this to control the numbers (they
were afraid of rebellion)
Women shared a special place in
Spartan society. They could own
land, inherit wealth, equal rights
in divorce, girls educated like
boys, and had a focus on physical
education / literacy
Government system
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Sparta was ruled by two co-kings from
certain hereditary lines. The head of the
army was chosen by the people.
The council of 30 (Gerontes): These were
people of noble blood voted to the council.
They would hold this position for the rest of
their lives. They influenced political affairs
and acted as a Pseudo court
The Ephors: A council of 5 elected each
year. They had SIGNIFIGANT Power.
Anyone could try to join the Ephors. They
acted as a supreme court and could
charge the king! Two always went on
campaign with the king.
Demos: Assembly of the people held once
a month. They also voted people into office
Reformers
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Lycurgus was a legendary Spartan reformer who
lived around the 8th century BCE
His reforms focused on creating the three Spartan
virtues: equality, austerity, and military fitness.
His changes focused on limiting lavish lifestyles
(ownership of gold / silver) and creating of the
Agoge
Agoge – Spartan education
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The Agoge began with the pregnancy of the
mother – during her pregnancy she was
subject to intense physical exercise.
Both males and females were subject to the
same education – except for one key
difference. The boy would leave for the
barracks around age 7.
Once arriving to the barracks the boy would
be owned by the state – not by his family
Education consisted of hardships, drill,
discipline, loyalty, ad bravery
The Paidonomos or teacher would keep a
watchful eye over the children. Punishments
would be extremely severe
Children were deprived of food and
expected to “sneak” and use cunning to eat
Extreme education cont.
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The first stage of education lasted 6 years –
they learned how to wear and move in armor.
They memorized patriotic poems and songs.
Children were placed into groups for
competitions and to create camaraderie
No hygiene was allowed in the Agoge – except
for special circumstances
The second stage of training consisted of
exclusive military training/ education. There
were mock battles, ambushes, and weapon
training on the daily
At age 18 the youths were allowed to join the
Spartan reserve or Crpteia (secret police)
At age 20 the student could apply to join a
public Spartan mess. If they failed to join a
public mess they would never be citizens