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 timeconsuming 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.