GREEK LIFE SECTION 2

POLIS By 750 BC, the polis(city-state) became the central focus of Greek life. (our word politics comes from the word polis.) It was a town, city, or village serving as a center where people met for political, economical, social, and religious activities. The main gathering place was usually on a hill, topped with a fortified area called the acropolis.

City-States City states varied in size. Most were between a few hundred and several thousand people by contrast, Athens’ population exceeded three hundred thousand by the 5 th century B.C.

3 Social Classes 1.Citizens with political rights (adult males 2.Citizens without political rights (women and children) 3.Non-citizens (slaves and resident aliens)

New Military Systems A new military system based on hoplites developed by 700 BC. Hoplites were infantry who carried a shield, sword, and spear. They fought shoulder to shoulder in a formation called a phalanx. This close formation made the hoplites a power force.

Greek Colonies Between 750 and 550 BC, many Greeks settled distant lands. The growth of trade and wanting good farmlands were two motives. Each colony became a new polis and spread Greek culture and ideas. Colonies were founded in Italy, France, Spain, and northern Africa. The Greeks also settled along the shores of the Black Sea.

Trade in Greek Colonies Increased trade and industry in such exports as pottery, wine, and olive oil and such imports as lumber, grain, and slaves created a new wealthy class of merchants who wanted political power.

Tyranny in the City-States The creation of this new wealthy class led to the rise of tyrants in the Greek city-states. They were not necessarily oppressive rulers. In this sense, the word tyrant simply refers to a leader who seized power by force from the ruling aristocrats. Because the aristocrats oppressed them, the peasants supported the tyrants. Tyrants seized and kept power by using hired soldiers'

The end of Tyranny in the City-States The end of tyranny allowed new classes to participate in government. Some city-states became democracies, ruled by the many. Others became oligarchies, ruled by the few. Athens and Sparta show the differences between these two kinds of government.

SPARTA

Sparta Like many Greek city-states, Sparta needed more land. It gained land through conquest of the neighboring Laconians and Messenians. These people became serfs who worked for the Spartans. They were called helots, from the Greek word for “capture.”

Sparta To maintain power over the helots, Sparta created a military state. Between 800 and 600 BC, the lives of the Spartans were rigidly controlled and disciplined. Boys learned military discipline, entered the military at 20. Spartans could marry at 20, vote at 30. They stayed in the army until they were 60.

Spartan women Spartan women lived at home while their husbands lived in their barracks. Thus, they had more freedom of movement and greater power than women in other city-states. They were expected to remain fit to bear and raise healthy children. They expected their husbands and sons to be brave in battle, to win or be killed.

Spartan Travel Sparta closed itself off from the outside world. Travelers and travel were discouraged, except for military reasons. Spartans frowned upon new ideas and the arts. Only the art of war.

Athens

A king ruled early Athens. By the seventh century B.C., however, it was ruled by an oligarchy of aristocrats who owned the best land and controlled political life. By the end of the seventh century B.C, however, Athens had serious economic and political troubles. Many Athenian farmers were sold into slavery for nonpayment of their debts to aristocrats.

Athens The reformist aristocrat Solon was appointed leader in 594 B.C., to handle these problems. He canceled the debts but did not give land to the poor. Because the poor could not obtain land, internal strife continued. It led to tyranny.

Sparta vs. Athens SPARTA Population of 100,00 Economy dependent of agriculture. Laid back society Oligarchic Military Schools. ATHENS Population of 140,000 Economy dependent on trade and agriculture. The had a forward thinking society. Democratic Schools on philosophy, Science, Mathematics