1. The Rise of Greece City-States

2. Polis Primary form of political and social organization
3 interlocking ideas
Geographical territory
Community
Political and economic independence
Origin of many modern English words
Policy & politician

3. Independent City-States
City built around a defensible fortification called an acropolis
Average polis covered between 30 to 500 square miles. Athens covered 1,000 square miles
No professional bureaucracy, no professional army, no professional politicians
Extended community that included a family, a clan, a brotherhood, and the polis, in that order

4. Life in the Polis Life centered around agora (marketplace)
Divided into three groups
Adult men: citizens with political rights
Free people (women, children and resident foreigners: no political rights
Slaves: prisoners of war or for debt
Girls were considered economic liabilities since they had to be provided with dowries before they could get married

5. Life in Polis continued
Aristocrats controlled every aspect of Greek society.
Acted as judges and determined the laws.
Major landowners.
Monopoly over the military
Colonization was motivated by a hunger for land and a need for new agricultural bases
An explosion in commercial activities.

6. Change is in the Air
Trade and commercial opportunities allowed commoners to acquire wealth
Bronze (expensive and materials are hard to find) gives way to Iron (plentiful and inexpensive)
Military strategy changes
Hoplites and phalanx formations

7. Law codes Laws were enforced by aristocrats and ruled as they saw fit
Demands grew to force the aristocrats to codify, or write down, the customary laws and procedures governing the cities
As the laws were made public for all to see the rule of the aristocrats was brought to an end

8. Writing stems into Lyric Poetry
Focused on personal feelings and emotions, subjects with which everyone, not just the aristocracy could identify
Sappho
“Tenth Muse” ~ Plato
Enormous influence on the development of poetry (Sapphic meter)

9. Solon the Lawgiver Social unrest leads to new system
Solon canceled debts and abolished enslavement for debt.
Citizenship based on wealth
Public office was open to the three upper classes
Fourth class was ineligible for public office
Problems for poor farmers continued
Many small farmers had to sell or mortgage their farms, borrowing from the wealthier aristocrats. Many even had to sell themselves into slavery to pay their debts.

10. Peisistratus & Cleisthenes
Peisistratus the Tyrant
Wielding sole political power in violation of the established law, but with the support of the people
Beautified the city and increased the sense of being a Athenian by civic festivals
Cleisthenes democracy
Mixed different tribes in hope to destroy the regional power of the aristocracy
Created Council of Five Hundred
Direct democracy: all legislative and electoral power remained with the popular assembly, made up of all voting citizens
Council of Five Hundred: was to prepare all matters for presentation to the popular assembly. Each month a different tribe would serve on the council, but no one person could serve on the council more than twice.

11. Sparta

12. Sparta
Covered by hills and mountains, isolation contributed to the Spartan’s desire to be left alone?
Education focused entirely on physical fitness and military training (men were full time soldiers from 20 to 30 years of age)
Women were to bear children, but were also known for their wealth and indepence
Almost no interest in the arts or philosophy
If considered weak, a baby was left in the mountains until it died. Men were allowed to go home after the were 30 years old.