Citizens and Communities: The Greek City-States
tribal communities of Dark Ages = city states
Social and political dev. = polis
acropolis - the high citadel and religious center of an ancient Greek town.
Fortress and temples = important > competitive
Civic activity = worship of gods or goddess
Athens = goddess Athena
Greek city state = community of its members had a share
Greek Language first to be known to have a specific word for a member of such a community = polites or "citizen"
City-States and Citizens
city states used up Mesopotamia and Phoenicia
notion of citizen participation = geography
hoplite - a heavily armed and armored citizen-soldier of ancient Greece
phalanx - a unit of several hundred hoplites, who closed ranks by joining shield s when approaching the enemy
monarchy - a state in which supreme power is held by a single usually hereditary ruler
oligarchy - a state in which supreme power is held by a small group
triremes - massive fighting vessels with 3 banks of oars used to ram or board enemy ships
tyranny - rule by a self proclaimed dictator
democracy - in ancient Greece, a form of gov. in which all adult male citizens were entitled to take part in decision making.
sense of city-state as a community of all its citizens = tradition and myth
city state = found by family or clan descended from divine or semi divine founder
citizenship = matter of birth
"good life" = life of active participation in civic affairs
Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny, Democracy
city-states = ruled by kings and their warriors
city developed into large commercials gave more power to majority
city states = narrow and exclusive
they sent citizens to overseas = independent states
Sparta: Military Ideal
Spartans = descendants of Greeks who had conquered part of the southern mainland, territory of Laconia
Helots = non citizens forced to work for landholders in the ancient city-state of Sparta
form of gov. = policy decisions had been taken over by a council of members
2 kings = high priests and army commanders
five officials = main power > ephors
spartan gov. = oligarchy
The spartan way of life:
dedicated male citizens entirely to the service of the state
boys were taken by age 7 = taught manly behavior and reading etc.
Girls = participated in drills and exercises
Spartan women had more = freedom
aristocrats = members of prominent and long established Athenian families
Corinth and Thebes = oligarchies > easy going
Athens: Freedom and Power
Sparta = agricultural and landlocked
Athens = carried on a prosperous commerce and had direct access to the sea
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