Ancient History 10 December 1 st, 2014. Ancient Athens.
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Transcript of Ancient History 10 December 1 st, 2014. Ancient Athens.
Ancient History 10
December 1st, 2014
Ancient Athens
Athens
• City States- A City state can be defined as an interdependent, self governing city such as Sparta, Athens and in today’s world Vatican City
• Polis was what Greeks referred to City-States as
How many?
• There were hundreds of City States within Ancient Greece
• Approximately 300 or so
• However two rose above the rest and became the principal City-States, though they rose to importance by vastly different methods
AthensDemocracy
Plato
Olympics
Colonies
Philosophy
School, tradition, future
SpartaWar
Warriors
Love of Country
• City States began to become prevalent around 750 BCE
• Aspects of City States: independence, customs, politics, citizen treatment
• Population ranged between 10-15 thousand
History of Athens
• Artifacts found on the Acropolis and below in region called Agora that date to as far back as 5000 BCE
• Legend of how Athens gained its name
• Athenian King Cecrops named city after himself but the Gods thought it so beautiful that it deserved immortal name
Athena
Poseidon
Athena
• Goddess of reason, activity, arts and literature• Daughter of Zeus who was born from his
forehead fully grown and in armour• Favourite child• Embodiment of wisdom, reason & purity
Poseidon
• God of Sea and Protector of Aquatic life• Zeus older brother• 2nd most powerful God• Creator of Horses• Standoffish demeanour
History of Athens
• 8th- 6th century a prosperous community economically, but no more then any other City State
• The marble and clay was useful for skilled potters which made money
• Politcal power lay in the hands of large aristocratic families
• Social prestige and political power = property and military prowess
• Not all people had political power• Aristotle- “...supreme offices went by birth and
wealth”• Wealthy economy and harmony• Wealth = dedications made at sanctuaries
Social Unrest
• By 6th century tensions were high between the rich and poor
• Sharecroppers
• Sell self into slavery to pay off debt
Solon’s reforms
• Solon is elected by the people as magistrate and lawgiver
• Wants to be just, goes into exile to not be pressured
• Cancelled debts, freed enslaved Athenians but left power with aristocracy
Class Divisions
• Solon divided the people into 4 different class divisions based on the ownership of properity
• The more you have the higher up you are
• 1) Pentekosiomedimnoi- the highest level• Could produce 500+ measures of grain a yr• Gained highest offices
• 2) Hippeis (knights)- owned horses• Could produce 300+ measures of grain a year
• 3) zeugitai (teamsters) – had 2 oxen for plowing
• Could produce 200+ measures of grain a year
• 4) Thetes (labourer)- the lowest of the citizens, they were just above slaves
• Worked the land and did not own much of their own
• However could never actually be enslaved by fellow citizens
• Could sit in assembly and vote
The road to Democracy
• Political participation was duty of citizen not privilege
• Reforms did not establish democracy but on the way
• Gave important rights to the middle class• Not all good things last... New form of gov’t
comes in a generation
Tyranny
• Tyrant- this was a single individual who took power illegally, instead of in a manner approved by the State, usually through force
• This government was in a way two faced• Arose in the 6th century within Athens and
many other Greek City States
Reign of Peisistratos
• Seized power in 546 BC and ruled until death in 527 BC
• Succeeded by two sons; Hippias & Hipparchos
• He was head of aristocratic family, used force for seizure
Tyranny is good and bad
• Aristotle described him as a good and just man who worked for the peace within all situations
• Generally a very well liked man
• His reign created the 1st public works that Athens had seen in centuries
Temple of Zeus in Athens
• Created Temples to honour the gods but his most important building project was that of a new aqueduct system
• This system brought fresh clean water into the city and helped the people greatly, like our water system
The leadership of his Sons
• Hippias was the elder of the two and he was considered wise, he controlled the political matters
• Hipparchos is younger and has much more literary tastes as well as enjoying the fruits of life
Death of Tyrant
• 514 BC Hipparchos is stabbed to death
• The killers are applauded and honoured with statues
• Interesting way to treat people after they killed your leader
Tyranny becomes what we know today
• Hippias becomes a ruthless tyrannical leader
• He has citizens executed and exiled
• Seeks to avenge the death of his brother
• No longer trusts the people who put his family in power
Destruction of Tyranny
• The Alkmaeonidai family decides to take power (ironic that they would destroy Tyranny by becoming tyrants themselves)
• Bribe oracle at Delphi to make Sparta help them
• By 510 BC the tyrants are pushed out of Athens
Two Leaders emerge
• Kleisthenes vs Isagoras
• Kleisthenes has the support of the common people through his idea of new constitution
• Isagoras uses Spartan muscle
Exile
• 700 Athenian families exiled including Kleisthenes
• Exile does not work• When constitution is questioned the
commoners rise up in arms and throw out Sparta and Isagoras
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8iHcJwiJys
The beginning of Democracy
• 508-507 BC the footprints of Democracy begin to form
• King Kleomenes of Sparta not happy about being thrown out, plans to invade with massive Army
• Convinced last minute to back out...viewed as the first huge win for Democratic people
Kleisthenes
10 new tribes
• Creation of new administration units called phylai, and the abolishment of the old aristocratic power
• All citizens were assigned to one of the tribes• Tribe was community, common place where
new bonds were formed with ppl from different regions like a dorm, essential for democracy