Learning Goals
 The students will understand how and
why democracy developed in Athens.
 The students will apply this
understanding to the development of
democracy in the United States.
 The students will understand the
differences between Sparta and Athens.
Power lies directly in the hands of the people
Power is given to a representative group of
People (Senate/Congress)
Athens
By Mr. Fitzpatrick
Monarchy
“The Birth of
Democracy”
Democracy
Oligarchy
Democracy
Oligarchy
This is ATHENS
Reforms of
Solon
1. Limited amount of land a person could
own
2. All landowners could now vote
3. Only the ASSEMBLY could make laws
4. All debts were erased, start from
scratch
5. People in slavery from debt were freed
Encyclopedia
Article
6. Artisans and craftsmen could become
citizens
7. All sons had to be taught a trade by
their fathers
This is ATHENS
Reforms of Peisitratus
He was a tyrant who got power from
the help of the poorer citizens
• Divided large estates and gave
them to farmers who owned no
land
• Gave citizenship to all, even if
you didn’t own land
• Encouraged sculpture and other
arts to entertain people
The Story of Athens Early Government
1. First, Solon tries to change the Government.
2. Cleisthenes is a young rich boy, growing up under aristocratic rule.
3. Peisistratus walks into Athens with a tall woman, claiming she is the goddess
Athena. They take over power. He is a tyrant, but being a tyrant is not a bad
thing. The people like him. Greece becomes an economic power, trading olive
oil all over the Mediterranean Sea.
4. When Peisistratus dies, his son Hipias takes over.
5. He is good at first, but when his brother is murdered, he becomes pretty ruthless.
6. The people no longer like him.
7. Cleisthenes is now a grown man. He overthrows Hipias, and kicks him out of
Athens. He goes to Persia, angry at the Athenians.
8. Pysagorus wants to take control from Cleisthenes, so he goes to the Spartans for
help. They agree, and send a force to Athens.
9. Cleisthenes, and over 700 other aristocrats are made to leave Athens.
10. The common Athenians REVOLT against Pysagorus. They climb the Acropolis,
and make him surrender.
11. WHAT NOW????
12. They go get Cleisthenes back, and he creates the Common Vote of the people,
creating a Democracy.
13. He puts Athens on the path to greatness, but does not take them there himself.
14. Pericles.
The Anthenians
This is ATHENS
Reforms of Cleisthenes
1. Opened the ASSEMBLY to all males over 20
2. Gave freedom of speech
3. Council of 500 had term limit of 2 years so everyone could
have a turn
4. At 7 boys had to start schooling= reading, writing, math,
and music
5. Citizenship was granted at 18 if promise to:
1) make Athens a better place
2) be honorable in battle
3) follow the constitution
4) respect the gods and religion
Review
 Began as a Monarchy – a King or Queen
 Led to Oligarchy – a few people have the ruling power
 Possible Uprising – Things Must Change. Unlike
Sparta, they did not have the strength to put down a
revolt.
 Solon – developed the first constitution, limited
amount of land ownership per person, freed slaves of
debt, offered artisans citizenship along with all
landowners.
 Peisistratus – gave non-landowners land, no longer
had to own land to vote, encouraged sculpture and
other arts. Tyrant, who was supported by the Poor.
 Cleisthenes – First Democratic Constitution, the
democratic assembly.
ATHENIANS
SPARTANS
Interactive Link to this Review
Our women train to be fit
No writers here
No foreigners here
We throw out
visitors
We don’t trade, we
allow others to do it
No reading here
Our women are not
allowed out of the house
Our boys go to school
We like books and
free speech
We trade with
everyone
Our boys train to be soldiers
We have kings who
make our laws
We welcome
visitors
We welcome
writers
Humanities Activity
Athens: The Truth about
Democracy
Forms of Government
Horrible Histories – Wife Swap
Big Quarterly Question
In Athens, …
a) we welcome new ideas and accept
change.
b) we value independent women.
c) we do NOT form alliances with other city
states.
d) we do NOT like to trade with outsiders.
Big Quarterly Question
 I, along with my fellow assemblymen, left
a legacy for you, which is a
government…
 represented by the citizens, for the
citizens.
Big Quarterly Question
 Which of the following are the duties of
citizens in a Greek city state?
Vote
Farm
Hold public office
Educate youth
Attend school
Defend the Polis
Respect women
Take part in government