The Greek City-States

THE RISE OF THE GREEK CITY-STATES
 In the 8th century BC, Greece began to emerge from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of
the Mycenaean civilization. Literacy had been lost and Mycenaean script forgotten, but the
Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, modifying it to create the Greek alphabet. From about
the 9th century BC, written records begin to appear. Greece was divided into many small self-
governing communities, a pattern largely dictated by Greek geography, where every island,
valley and plain is cut off from its neighbors by the sea or mountain ranges.
 The Greek Alphabet
 The basic unit of politics in Ancient Greece was the polis, sometimes translated as city-state.
"Politics" literally means "the things of the polis". Each city was independent, at least in theory.
The supreme power in each city was located within that city. This meant that when Greece went
to war (e.g., against the Persian Empire), it took the form of an alliance going to war. It also gave
ample opportunity for wars within Greece between different cities.
 Two major city-states emerged in Greece. They were Athens and Sparta:
 ATHENS SPARTA
Government & Athenian Government Spartan Government: Usually classified as an

Political Usually classified as a "direct "oligarchy" (rule by a few), but it had elements
organizations democracy" (because everyone, not of monarchy (rule by kings), democracy
just politicians attended the Assembly), (through the election of council/senators), and
Athens claims to be the "birthplace of aristocracy (rule by the upper class or land
democracy". owning class).
The Assembly open to all citizens (all The Assembly of all Spartan males aged 30 or
citizens were eligible to attend such over could support or veto the council's
meetings and speak up). They passed recommendations by shouting out their votes.
laws and made policy decisions. The
Assembly met on the Hill of the Pnyx at Women did not participate in the political life
the foot of the Acropolis. of Sparta.
Women did not participate in the

political life of Athens.
Social Structure Freemen were all male citizens: divided Three classes: Spartiates (military professionals
into numerous classes: at the top were who lived mostly in barracks and whose land
aristocrats who had large estates ; was farmed by serfs; they served in the army
and could vote).
middle ranks were small farmers;
lowest class was the thetes (urban
Perioeci or "neighbors/outsiders" who were
craftsmen). Metics - those who came freemen; they included artisans, craftsmen,
from outside the city; they were not merchants; they could not vote or serve in the
allowed to own land, but could run army; foreigners could be in this class.
industries and businesses. Slaves were
lowest class, but less harshly treated Helots (serfs descended from those peoples
who had resisted subjugation by Sparta and
than in most other Greek cities. Slaves
who were constantly rebelling. They were
had no rights, and an owner could kill a
treated like slaves and gave 1/2 of their
slave. Slaves varied in status: some produce to the Spartiate citizens who owned
were given important roles in Athens, the land.
like policemen.
Women had few rights, but were more
Women were rarely seen outside the independent in Sparta than elsewhere in
home and had no rights in the Athenian Greece.
democracy.
Military Strong navy. Strong army, best and most feared fighters on
strength land.
Life style and Democratic values for citizens. They Spartan culture: Militaristic values. Children of
values believed in participation in government citizens were raised to be "Spartan", taught to
as a civic responsibility. Athenians get along with almost nothing. Spartiate
believed in their cultural superiority citizens were not permitted to own gold or
and in their role in an empire and silver or luxuries. Spartan children were taught
benefiting from trade. to respect elderly, women, and warriors
Spartan mothers would say to their sons,

"Either come back with your shield or on it"
(meaning return victorious or die fighting).
Education Boys: Schools taught reading, writing Boys: Boys were taken from parents at age
and mathematics, music, poetry, sport seven and trained in the art of warfare. They
and gymnastics. Based upon their birth were only given a cloak - no shoes or other
and the wealth of their parents, the clothes, and not enough food so they had to
length of education was from the age of steal (to learn survival skills). At age 20 they
5 to 14, for the wealthier 5 - 18 and were placed into higher ranks of the military.
sometimes into a student's mid- To age 30 they were dedicated to the state;
twenties in an academy where they then they could marry but still lived in barracks
would also study philosophy, ethics, with other soldiers. They were educated in
and rhetoric (the skill of persuasive choral dance, reading and writing, but athletics
public speaking). Finally, the citizen and military training were emphasized.
boys entered a military training camp
Girls: Girls were educated at age 7 in reading
for two years, until the age of twenty.
and writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival
Girls: Girls received little formal skills. Could participate in sports; treated more
education (except perhaps in the as equals.
aristocrats' homes through tutors); they
were generally kept at home and had
no political power in Athens. The
education of a girl involved spinning,
weaving, and other domestic art.
Role of women Athenian women and girls were kept at Girls were educated in reading and writing and
home with no participation in sports or could participate in sports; they were treated
politics. Wives were considered more as equals to men. The goal was to
property of their husbands. They were produce women who would produce strong
responsible for spinning, weaving and healthy babies. At age 18 she would be
other domestic arts. assigned a husband and return home. Citizen
Some women held high posts in the women were free to move around and enjoyed
ritual events and religious life of Athens a great deal of freedom. Domestic arts
(where the goddess Athena was the (weaving, spinning, etc.) were usually left to
patron). the other classes. Spartan women could own
and control their own property. In times of war
the wife was expected to oversee her
husband's property and to guard it against
invaders and revolts until her husband
returned.
Cultural Art, architecture, drama and literature, Military supremacy and simple lifestyle are the
achievements philosophy, science, medicine, etc. major inspiration behind the philosopher
and legacy Government (democracy, trial by jury) Plato's book 'The Republic' - the first attempt
to formulate an 'ideal' community.

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THE RISE OF THE GREEK CITY-STATES

 The Greek Alphabet

Government & Athenian Government Spartan Government: Usually classified as an

Women did not participate in the

Spartan mothers would say to their sons,

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