Transcript The Greek Roots of Democracy

The Greek Roots of
Democracy
500’s & 400’s B.C.
Sparta
• Militaristic State
• Led by Two Hereditary Kings
– Each could veto the other
– Spiritual, Judicial, and Militaristic Leaders
• Baby bathed in wine shortly after birth
– Survived, Brought before panel – Gerousia
– Puny and weak, thrown into chasm at Mt.
Taygetus
Sparta, cont…
• Entered Military Training at age 7
• Learned physical and weapons training,
reading, writing, music, and dancing
• Purposefully underfed, learned to steal
food
• Chose a mentor at age 12, practiced
sexual relations with mentor
Sparta, cont…
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Entered reserves at age 18
Remained active in army until 30
Left reserves at age 60
Women to husband when leaving for war "With this, or upon this"
• Return from war w/out shield, punishable
by death or banishment
• Shield key to Phalanx, protect soldier to
left
Spartan Phalanx
• You Tube Clip from “300”
Sparta, cont…
• Girls also active to be strong and produce
strong children
• Enjoyed equality with men
• Encouraged to bear other’s children, if
unable to do so themselves?
– Signifies importance of future children
Athens
Athens
• Monarchy to 683 B.C.
• Became Aristocracy – Ruled by wealthy
landowners
• Bronze weapons and Chariots expensive
• Defended the King and became more powerful
over time
• Trade in olives and grapes brought new class of
rich merchants, farmers, and artisans
• Nouveau Riche competed for power
Old Rich
Located in Camp Parks, in Dublin
New Rich
Athens, cont…
• New Rich extended rights to poorest to
gain power
• Over time Athens developed into a limited
democracy
• Only males were citizens, women and
slaves, and foreigners were not
• Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles all
instituted democratic reforms
Athens, cont…
• Solon, outlawed debt slavery, reduced
restrictions on citizenship
• Cleisthenes, created Council of 500, all citizens
over 30 eligible to be chosen by lot
• Pericles
– Instituted Direct Democracy
– Instituted pay for public office
– 30+ citizens chosen by lot to be jurors for 1 year, paid
jurors, hundreds to thousands of people on jury, US
today – 12 jurors
Athenian Philosophers
• “Lovers of Wisdom”
• Leaned toward logic & reason away from ‘Whims of the Gods’
• Plato, Aristotle, Socrates
– Plato – Philosopher King
• Worried about mob rule
• Plato’s teacher Socrates
– Roamed the marketplace questioning people until they contradicted
themselves
– Annoyed people a lot
– Put on trial at 70 for corrupting the city’s youth and ignoring the Gods
– Condemned to death, Refused to fight punishment
– Believed all should be subject to the law
– Drank poison hemlock and died
Athenian Philosophers
• Aristotle
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Strong believer in the rule of law
Nobody is above the law
Distrusted democracy, feared mob rule
Desired constitutional monarchy led by middle class
Thought women less than men
Men brought life to women’s ability to produce kids
Did value women’s happiness
Important Points of Athens