Scribd
Upload
63 views6 pages

City-States Compete For Power: - Police - Politics - Politician

The document summarizes the emergence of city-states in ancient Greece following the Dark Ages. It describes the rise of citizen armies equipped with new iron weapons that enabled ordinary citizens to challenge aristocratic rule. Tyrants then took power and helped redistribute land, allowing cities like Athens and Sparta to develop differing forms of government - Athens becoming a direct democracy through the reforms of Solon and Clisthenes. The document also outlines the Persian Wars in which the city-states resisted invasion, consolidating Athens' role within the Delian League and ushering in its Golden Age.

Uploaded by

Χάρης Φραντζικινάκης
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
63 views6 pages

City-States Compete For Power: - Police - Politics - Politician

The document summarizes the emergence of city-states in ancient Greece following the Dark Ages. It describes the rise of citizen armies equipped with new iron weapons that enabled ordinary citizens to challenge aristocratic rule. Tyrants then took power and helped redistribute land, allowing cities like Athens and Sparta to develop differing forms of government - Athens becoming a direct democracy through the reforms of Solon and Clisthenes. The document also outlines the Persian Wars in which the city-states resisted invasion, consolidating Athens' role within the Delian League and ushering in its Golden Age.

Uploaded by

Χάρης Φραντζικινάκης
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

9/8/2011

City-states Compete for


Power
5.2

The Polis
• Derived words:
– Police
– Politics
– Politician

• At the end of the dark ages the city-state


emerged

1
9/8/2011

Role of the Citizen


• Only Free Male adults were citizens
• Polis was CENTRAL in Greek life
• Humans were believed to be free and
rational individuals
– Open Debate– No emperors
– Freedom to express ideas was acceptable
AND expected
• Civic discussions were held at Agora

Aristocracy
• Due to the Dark Ages, noble families
began ruling, but were oppressive
• Iron was discovered and it was CHEAP!
• Ordinary citizens could afford weapons
and became soldiers to fight the nobles

Hoplites
• As a result of iron, a new type of army
arose and every citizen was expected to
fight for their polis
• Carried a sword in one
hand and shield in the
other

2
9/8/2011

Phalanx

Tyrants
• Tyrants led the ordinary citizens against the
nobles and helped the farmers and artisans
• Land was gained from the tyrant led rebellions
and given to poorer citizens
• Cities were then built by the tyrants
• Then, colonies were built and became a good
source of trade and wealth
• City-states passed from tyrant to tyrant, but
some began NEW forms of government: Athens
& Sparta

Athens
• Almost complete opposite of Sparta
• Athenians focused on education and
freedom of the mind
• Athens became a democracy because of
Solon and Clisthenes reforms

3
9/8/2011

Sparta
• Located in Southern part of Greece
(Peloponnesus)
• Took over Messenia in 725 B.C. and took
Messenians as slaves (Helots)
• Helots revolted and almost over-threw Sparta
• Sparta was Militaristic
• Had best army for over 300 years, but at cost of
architecture, literature, or art
• Valued DUTY, STRENGTH, DISCIPLINE, over
beauty or freedom of thought
• Women had every right but the VOTE

Solon’s Reform for Athens


• To prevent civil war due to Aristocratic rule and
farmers unhappiness, Greeks gave full power to
Solon to reform laws
• He made Economic & Political reforms
– Political
• All male citizens attend assembly and matters decided by
vote
• Any citizen could bring a charge against another citizen, even
if crime had been committed against a slave– Revolutionary!
– Economic
• Cancelled debt and freed slaves of debt
• Made farming profitable through trade

Clisthenes Continues
• 508 B.C., he continued reforms to make
Athens a full democracy
• Created Council of Five Hundred
• Close to complete democracy EXCEPT
only 20% were actually citizens.
• (Women played LITTLE role in Athens)

4
9/8/2011

Persian Wars

First Invasions

• Led by Darius
– Athenians beat Persians and 26 mile
Marathon (to Athens) run occurred

Second Invasion
• Led by Xerxes (Darius’ son)

5
9/8/2011

Results of Persian War


• Delian League
– Athenian power

• Athens Golden Age

You might also like