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Classical Foundations and Colonial Education William S. Morison Associate Professor, History Department Grand Valley State University William S. Morison.

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Presentation on theme: "Classical Foundations and Colonial Education William S. Morison Associate Professor, History Department Grand Valley State University William S. Morison."— Presentation transcript:

1 Classical Foundations and Colonial Education William S. Morison Associate Professor, History Department Grand Valley State University William S. Morison Associate Professor, History Department Grand Valley State University

2 Democracy in Athens and the Roman Republic Ideals Institutions Thucydides, Aristotle, and Polybius Ideals Institutions Thucydides, Aristotle, and Polybius

3

4 Washington and Zeus

5 Washington and Cincinnatus

6 Democracy in Athens The Demos Discussion of Sources Athenian Political Institutions The Demos Discussion of Sources Athenian Political Institutions

7 The Demos  Demos= citizens (male, free born, property owners, military service)  Demokrateia= “citizen power”  citizenship provides equal treatment under the law  Participation in government  Demos= citizens (male, free born, property owners, military service)  Demokrateia= “citizen power”  citizenship provides equal treatment under the law  Participation in government

8 Thucydides: Ideals of the Demos  Athenian general and historian  Context: Pericles, “Funeral Oration”  What are the specific things that Pericles praises Athens for?  Why does he believe that these things make Athens great?  Athenian general and historian  Context: Pericles, “Funeral Oration”  What are the specific things that Pericles praises Athens for?  Why does he believe that these things make Athens great?

9 Aristotle (384-322 BC): Democratic Practice  Philosopher, biologist, political scientist  Identify the political institutions of the demokrateia as outlined by Aristotle.  Philosopher, biologist, political scientist  Identify the political institutions of the demokrateia as outlined by Aristotle.

10 The Assembly (Ekklesia)  Met at the Pnyx  Est. quorum of 6000 citizens  Sovereign authority:  Passes laws, may act as judge, approve treaties, declare war  The state provides a stipend for attendance  Met at the Pnyx  Est. quorum of 6000 citizens  Sovereign authority:  Passes laws, may act as judge, approve treaties, declare war  The state provides a stipend for attendance

11 Council of 500 (Boulê)  Steering committee:  Set agenda for the Assembly  Chosen by annual lottery, paid  Oversaw day-to- day government, boards, courts, magistrates  Steering committee:  Set agenda for the Assembly  Chosen by annual lottery, paid  Oversaw day-to- day government, boards, courts, magistrates

12 The Jury system  Membership from a pool of 6000 chosen by lot annually  Numbers varied (201—2001)  Paid for attendance  Membership from a pool of 6000 chosen by lot annually  Numbers varied (201—2001)  Paid for attendance

13 Kleroterion

14 Magistrates  9 chief magistrates (chosen by lot, limited powers); e.g., eponymous archon, archon basileus  10 Generals (elected; influential off the battlefield)  Committees, boards, etc.  Dokimasia  Euthynai

15 How do we pay for this?  The ‘Liturgical’ Class  Required to pay for expensive public services  Examples: man and fit out a naval ship, pay for a chorus for a tragic play, etc.

16 Ideals vs. Practice Do these Athenian institutions/practices support the ideals outlined by Thucydides? How might they fail? How are different social/economic groups affected? Do these Athenian institutions/practices support the ideals outlined by Thucydides? How might they fail? How are different social/economic groups affected?

17  Food for thought:  What was the attitude of the Founding Fathers regarding Athenian democracy as a model for government? Why?  Food for thought:  What was the attitude of the Founding Fathers regarding Athenian democracy as a model for government? Why?

18 The Roman Republic Sources Ideals and Institutions Sources Ideals and Institutions

19 Polybius (204-122 BC)  Greek historian trying to explain Rome’s success to other Greeks:  What were the basic elements of the Roman Republic?  According to Polybius, what made this system effective?  Greek historian trying to explain Rome’s success to other Greeks:  What were the basic elements of the Roman Republic?  According to Polybius, what made this system effective?

20  SPQR = Senatus populusque Romanus  System of managed competition (patricians)  Citizen interest groups:  Based by law on property qualifications  Wealthy, landed elite (Senatorial class)  Merchants, landowners (Equestrian class)  Farmers, artisans (The populus)  SPQR = Senatus populusque Romanus  System of managed competition (patricians)  Citizen interest groups:  Based by law on property qualifications  Wealthy, landed elite (Senatorial class)  Merchants, landowners (Equestrian class)  Farmers, artisans (The populus) The Roman Res publica

21 Republican Magistrates:  Consuls and Praetors (S)  Imperium, summon comitia, wear purple  Lictors, curule chair  Aediles (S)  Quaestors (S)  Special offices: dictator, censor (S)  Consuls and Praetors (S)  Imperium, summon comitia, wear purple  Lictors, curule chair  Aediles (S)  Quaestors (S)  Special offices: dictator, censor (S)

22 Symbols of power

23  Wealthy, landed elite  Former magistrates  Life tenure  Approves candidates for election  Auctoritas patrum  Wealthy, landed elite  Former magistrates  Life tenure  Approves candidates for election  Auctoritas patrum The Senate

24 Assemblies  Comitia Curiata  Comitia Centuriata  193 centuries, 98 controlled by wealthiest classes  Comitia Tributa  35 tribes, but only 4 are urban  All assemblies are called by magistrates; yes or no vote  Comitia Curiata  Comitia Centuriata  193 centuries, 98 controlled by wealthiest classes  Comitia Tributa  35 tribes, but only 4 are urban  All assemblies are called by magistrates; yes or no vote

25 Plebeian Assembly  Ten annually elected Tribunes  Veto power  Plebeians only  Laws passed affect all Romans  Ten annually elected Tribunes  Veto power  Plebeians only  Laws passed affect all Romans

26 Patrons and Clients  Patrons = men of higher status  Provide monetary, legal, political assistance to clients  Clients = men of lower status  Assist patrons in elections or any way they deem necessary  Bond of amicitia  Quid pro quo  Permanent bond  Patrons = men of higher status  Provide monetary, legal, political assistance to clients  Clients = men of lower status  Assist patrons in elections or any way they deem necessary  Bond of amicitia  Quid pro quo  Permanent bond

27 Questions  How do the values of the Athenian democracy differ from those of Rome’s republic?  If an Athenian democrat went to Rome, what do you think his criticisms of their republic would be?  How do the values of the Athenian democracy differ from those of Rome’s republic?  If an Athenian democrat went to Rome, what do you think his criticisms of their republic would be?


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