The Greek City-State:
Democratic Politics
GREEKS WERE THE ORIGINATORS OF PHILOSOPHY IN
THE WESTERN HISTORICAL TRADITION AND THE
GENIUS WAS POLITICS
Early Development of Greek Society:
 Is based on small autonomous city-states, Polis
 Highly independent character: Monarchies,
Tyrannies (not necessarily oppressive) Early
Democracies.
 Urban center, dominating surrounding rural areas
 Overtime these city-states began to trade with each
other.
 Venture out into Aegean and
Mediterranean Sea, used as highway
to Europe, Asia Africa.
Minoan and Mycenaean Societies:
 Minoan society developed on Crete in 2000 b.c.e.
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thrived until it fell under foreign domination in 1100
b.c.e
Developed a written language known as Linear A
based on syllables (unable to deciphere)
Traded olive oil and wine
Mined copper
Created Beautiful frescoes
Built luxurious palaces and homes
Mycenaean Society
 Developed from Indo-European roots in Peloponnesus,
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the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Mycenaeans’ first traded with the Minoans, but
eventually overpowered them
Taking over their palaces, goods and trade routes
Adapted Minoan writing to their own language. (Linear
B)
Mycenaeans fought a war with the city of Troy in 1200
b.c.e. that served as the inspiration for Homer’s epics, the
Illiad and Odyssey.
They fell apart by 1100 to 800 b.c.e. to constant foreign
invasions and political turmoil
The World of the Polis:
 The Greek polis, or city-state developed out of the
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political chaos of the 11th century b.c.e.
First served as forts
Then evolved, into poleis of cultural and economic
urban centers as well as a political bases for Greek
civilization.
Each Polis was independent; Monarchies, Tyrannies
Early Democracies
Spartan City State
Highly Militarized Society
 Sparta located in a fertile region in Peloponnesus
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relied on its military power to control that region
and to maintain public order.
Spartans forced the original Peloponnesian
inhabitants to work as slaves called helots.
Because the helots rapidly outnumbered the
Spartans the polis became a military state.
Austerity the norm
Boys removed from families at age 7 military training
Athens City State
Development of Early Democracy
 Athenian polis, located in a region call Attica
 Maritime trade brings increasing prosperity
 Athens’s political structure was based on democratic
principles and citizen participation in decisionmaking, free adult males. Women & slaves excluded
 Aristocratic landowners dominated smaller
landowners. Economic decline, sold into slavery
 Increasing socio-economic tensions emerged: Class
conflict, on the verge of civil war
The Reforms of Solon
 Aristocrat Solon mediates crisis, hoping to avoid
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Tyranny aristocrats gave him full power)
Reforms: Canceled all current land debts, outlawed
new loans based on humans as collateral and freed
people who had fallen into slavery for debts
Stopped short of redistribution of the land
Gave nonaristocratic peoples participation of
government
His reforms did not avoid a tyrant and in 560bce
Pisistratus seized power
Greece and World Interrelations:
Poleis prospered and expanded by establishing trading
centers and colonies along the shores of the
Mediterranean and Black seas:
 Immense commercial and cultural exchange from India
to Egypt
 Products including fish, fur, metals, honey, gold, amber,
and slaves
 Culturally spreading Greek language and culture beyond
the Greek mainland.
 However this expansion brought them into conflict with
the Persians
Greek Conflict with Persian Empire to the East
500-479 bce
 Persian Kings Darius and Xerxes sought to gain control
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over Greek city-states, known as Persian Wars
Though the Greeks were victorious at the battle of
Marathon Darius in 486 bce vowed revenge and
renewed the invasion of Greece.
Xerxes led a massive invasion into Greece, close to
150,000 troops, 700 naval ships and 100s of supply
ships. Spartan troops held off Persians for awhile
The Athenians abandoned their city. Persians sacked and
burned Athens to the ground.
Greeks formed the largest Greek army seen and
decisively defeated the Persian army at Plataea .
The Greeks had won the war.
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Age of Pericles:(495 - 429 B.C.E.)
Pericles was so important that the era in which he lived
the 5th Century B.C. is known as the Age of Pericles
 After Persians defeat Athens led a confederation called the
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Delian League to protect against further Persian conflicts
and liberating all Greek states from Persian control
Promoted arts and literature along with major building
projects such as the Parthenon using Delian League
Treasury. Massive payments to Athens fuels Periclean
expansion
Pericles was a statesman, orator and general of Athens
Responsible for rebuilding Athens following the Persian
Wars.
During Pericles Athenians became deeply attached to their
democratic system
He was leader of Athens during the Peloponnesian War.
Pericles:
 Athenian democracy reached its high
point, many males
 During Pericles Athenians became deeply attached to
their democratic system
 Public officials were subject to scrutiny and could be
deposed from office if they did not maintain a vote of
confidence.
“Just because you do not take an
interest in politics doesn't mean politics
won't take an interest in you. ”
― Pericles
The Peloponnesian War
 Athenian expansion and arrogance helped spark the
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Peloponnesian War
Civil War in Greece 431-404 bce
Poleis allied with either Athens or Sparta
Athens forced to surrender
Sparta established political control of Athens, known
as “The Rule of the Thirty Tyrants”
Opposed democracy and admired oligarchy
Overtime Athenians reestablished their democracy
in 403 b.c.e.
Macedonians and the Coming of an Empire:
 Macedonians to the north became increasingly
powerful under the leadership of King Philip II
 By 338 b.c.e. King Philip II controlled all of Greece
 KingPhilip next goal: Persia
 His mysterious assassination in 336 b.c.e. meant his
dream would be realized by his young son Alexander.
Alexander the Great:
 Alexander military and intelligence quickly won him
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Ionia, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
By 330 b.c.e. at 26 yrs of age Alexander defeated the
Persians. Took the title “Emperor of the Persians”
Invaded India, captured wealthy Punjab.
Died in 323 b.c.e.
Legacy: Spread Greek and
Macedonian traditions.
Brings about the Hellenistic Age.
Most important city Alexandria