Democracy in Ancient Greece

In Today’s Class… Learning Outcomes: Social Structure - students will be able to identify and understand the following; social class, gender roles, social behaviors and cultural norms. Politics / Bureaucracy - students will understand the various systems of government, the types of leadership, the evolution of government and the influence of specific individuals (i.e. oligarchy, democracy, and republic). Mark “The Road to Democracy” Handout Review of Athens and Sparta Discuss Democracy: Worksheet Activity

“The Road to Democracy” Please get out your handouts we did on Friday. Exchange with a partner and we will mark them together.

Athens Review Situated on the coast, Athens was one of the most powerful and well-known city-states in Greece. Athenian agriculture converted from grain production to the production of olive oil and wine. This produce was for export and it turned Athens into a trading polis that required a strong merchant and military navy. This agricultural shift also produced the growth of a class of people concerned with commerce. These less time- consuming crops also provided farmers with more free time to devote to military and civic duties. Athens flourished through the Dark Ages, until it controlled the entire region of Attica by 800 BCE.

Athens Review Although Athens experimented with many forms of government and was governed by tyrants, they settled on direct democracy. Every citizen could have a direct say in the government. At age twenty, an Athenian male became a hoplite and if chosen could take part in the proceedings of the Assembly. In order to prevent tyranny (one person rule), the Athenians introduced the device of ostracism. Each citizen had the annual right of writing on a piece of pottery the name of any officer of state to be exiled. A minimum number of such votes were needed before an official was ostracized. Following the Persian Wars, Athens experienced a period of calm and consolidation under Pericles (461 – 429 BCE). This prosperity caused jealousy and fear among other city-states who had been Athenian allies resulting in war between Athens and Sparta.

Sparta Review Sparta was the largest city-state in the southern Peloponnese. It was an agricultural centre throughout its history. A growth in Spartan population caused them to conquer their neighboring states taking land and slaves. The social structure of Sparta was completely decided by the military and foreign policy of the city-state. The size of the Spartan empire and the number of slaves meant that the Spartan hoplites were required to spend their lives protecting their city-state.

Sparta Review At age seven, boys joined a military group as full time members. Their training involved harsh discipline and hardships. At twenty, Spartans became a hoplite and went into military service. At thirty, a hoplite went home and went into the reserve. At sixty, all military obligations were completed. Spartan girls also experienced rigorous physical training likes the boys. They were expected to be physically fit in order to produce strong, healthy babies. Unhealthy babies were not allowed to survive in Sparta. Sparta was never ruled by a tyrant as were most other city-states. It was an oligarchy. Power lay in the hands of a council of nobles over sixty years of age. All adult male Spartans were, however, officially equal under the law. Sparta was a totalitarian and military state. The principal of obedience to the state was unquestioned by the Spartan people.

Democracy In Ancient Athens they had a system of democracy known as “Direct Democracy”. This meant that every man above 20 was able to vote on any decisions they were considering at the time. In Canada today we have a system of “Representational Democracy”. This means that people above the age of 18 can vote for a candidate to represent them. Example: Think about our Student Council, with elected grade reps and a president and various vice-presidents who represent you.

My Name Is… Handouts You will now work on a reading and writing assignment. Read the first handout as a class and answer the questions. When you are done, show me your answers and you may do the next one.