Chapter 4, Section 2
Sparta & Athens
Vocabulary
Tyrant
Democracy
oligarchy
helot
Tyranny in the City-States
• _________, who owned large farms, seized power from
Greek kings.
• Farmers had to borrow money from nobles & often could not pay back
debt.
• Farmers lost land & had to work for nobles or were sold into slavery.
• Unhappy farmers demanded changes in power
___________ of city-states.
• Merchants & artisans also wanted to share in governing.
• Both groups very wealthy, but did not own land, therefore they were
not regarded as citizens and had no say in running the polis.
• Unhappiness led to rise of _________, or people who
take things by force & rule w/total authority.
• Most Greek tyrants acted fairly & wisely.
Tyranny in the City-States
• 600’s B.C.—tyrants able to overthrow nobles.
• Tyrants had backing of the people & hoplites (b/c many were
farmers).
• Tyrants were popular b/c of building:
• marketplaces
• __________
• Walls
• Greeks did not want rule by 1 person (tyrant).
• Formed ___________ & ____________.
• Oligarchy—_________________________________________.
• Democracy—________________________________________.
• Sparta = oligarchy.
Athens = democracy.
Sparta
• Sparta founded by __________.
• Sparta needed more land as it grew. They conquered & enslaved their
neighbors.
• Captive workers were called ____________.
• To keep helots from rebelling, Sparta created strong
___________ of boys & men.
• Age 7: boys left family to live in barracks. Were treated harshly to
make them tough.
• Age 20: men entered regular army & lived in barracks for 10 years.
• Age 30: returned home, but served in army until age _____.
• Spartans were expected to either win on the battlefield
or die!!! Never to surrender!!!
• “Come home carrying your shield or being carried on it!”
Sparta & government
• Girls in Sparta were trained in __________.
• Did this to become healthy mothers (kept them fit).
• Wives lived at home while husbands lived in barracks. Spartan women
were freer b/c of this.
• Could own property & go where they wanted.
• Spartan govt. was an _________________.
•
•
•
•
•
2 kings headed council of elders.
______ = 28 citizens over age of 60. (presented laws to the assembly)
______ = all Spartan men over age of 30 belonged to assembly.
Assembly voted on councils laws & chose 5 people to be _________.
Ephors enforced laws & managed tax collection.
• Govt. discouraged foreign visitors & banned travel
except for military reasons. Also, frowned upon
citizens studying literature or the arts.
Athens
• Boys in _______ attended school & learned from
3teachers. Finished school at age 18.
• #1—taught them to read, write, and ______________.
• #2—____________
• #3—taught them to sing & play stringed instrument called a ________.
• Athenian girls learned household duties from mother.
• Some wealthy girls learned reading, writing, & playing the lyre.
• Early Athens was ruled by nobles (like Sparta).
• Early govt. was an oligarchy (like Sparta).
• Had an assembly of all citizens, but had few powers.
• 600 B.C.—Athenians started rebelling against nobles.
• 594 B.C.—noble named ________ reformed
Athenian govt.
Athens
• Solon cancelled farmers’ debts & freed slaves.
• Also allowed all male citizens to participate in assembly.
• Farmers were angry b/c Solon wouldn’t give nobles’ land away.
• After 30 yrs. of turmoil, a tyrant, ____________
seized power.
• Won support of people by dividing large estates among landless
farmers.
• He loaned money to poor people& gave them jobs.
• Most important leader was _______________.
• Credited with creating a _______________ in Athens.
• Came to power in 508 B.C. & reorganized assembly.
Athens
• He gave assembly more power.
• All male citizens could belong & vote on laws.
• Could debate matters openly, hear court cases, & appoint army
generals.
• Most importantly:
• Created new council of 500 members to help assembly carry out
its duties.
• New council chosen by __________.
• Believed this was more fair than an election.
• Non-citizens:
• Women, foreign-born men, & slaves still excluded!!!