GREEK POLITICS:ATHENS

CHANGES DURING THE ARCHAIC AGE (800 TO 600 B.C.)

Outside influences: Egyptians: Architecture

Babylonians: Math

Phoenicians: Alphabet

Migration Driven by population growth

Western Mediterranean, the Black Sea

City life City-states (poleis) gained prosperity

POWER TO COMMONERS

In the Archaic Age, noble families governed Athens

An oligarchy or aristocracy

Due to military changes, commoners slowly gained power and rights Importance of hoplites (foot soldiers)

Reduced the power of aristocrats, who were horse warriors

Solon: an aristocrat who reformed the laws of Athens and extended rights to commoners

TYRANNY TO DEMOCRACY

In ancient Greece, the word “tyrant” did not necessarily mean a bad ruler Tyrants did gain power by force—often

appealed to the common people and weakened aristocrats

The Athenian tyrant Peisistratus appealed to the poor

Peisistratus’ sons were harsh, but not effective—lost power by 510 B.C.

DEMOKRATIA

“Rule by the common people”

After end of tyranny, nobles contended for power

An aristocrat named Cleisthenesgained the power of the people by promising radical reforms

Instead of taking power for himself, gave power to the Assembly (all citizens)

Poor commoners suddenly had the same rights as nobles

CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS

Citizens: All free men whose parents had been born in Athens

Excluded: Women, slaves, foreigners (metics)

Slaves made up one-third of the population of Athens The democracy depended on slavery—

work in mines

10-15% of city’s inhabitants participated in politics

LAWMAKING

All citizens could vote on political decisions directly in the Assembly

The Assembly’s power was total (no separation of powers) Leaders like the strategos (general)

elected for a limited term

Most offices were filled by citizens who were chosen randomly—the Council of 500

Voting took place on the Pnyx hill—used pieces of stone (ostraka)

Power of persuasion (Pericles, Demosthenes)

PELOPONNESIAN WARS

First Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE): Athenian Empire goes to war against Sparta. Sparta repeatedly invades Attica

Athens raids the coast of Peloponnese

Treaty: Peace of Nicias (421)

Athens attacks Syracuse

Sparta responds by enlisting Persia to help; foment rebellion in Athenian subject states.

Forces Athens to surrender.

By the end of the Wars, Golden Age of Greece is over.

ANALYSIS OF THE WARS

Athens, at one time representative of Greek democracy, art, and progress, reduced to subjugation by Sparta.

Sparta represents oligarchy, or rule by few over many.

The Wars mark the beginning of all-out conflict between city-states. The beginning of modern warfare?

Used as a model of international conflict – states build up alliances, lack communication, and ultimately go to war over perceived transgressions.

PERICLES’ FUNERAL ORATION

Following the Peloponnesian Wars, Pericles, a famous Athenian politician, gives a speech as part of the annual public funeral for the war dead.

Modern parallel? The Gettysburg Address, from Abraham Lincoln, draws heavily on the devices used by Pericles.

HERODOTUS