Mike Albritton
History Ib / Blue
B
Chapter 3 Review Questions:
1. Describe the Minoan civilization of Crete. How did the later Bronze Age Mycenaean civilization
differ from the Minoan civilization in political organization, art motifs, and military posture? How
valuable are the Homeric epics as sources of early Greek history?
Minoan
Minoan
Ruled by single king.
Supported by bureaucracy
Detailed records kept
Similar to Near East,
Different from later Greeks
Political Organization
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Art Motifs
 Influenced by Egypt, Asia
Minor, Syria;
 Peaceful scenery, games
 Lacked fortifications
Military Posture
Mycenaean
 Strong kings
 Multiple, independent
powerful monarchies.
 Unquestioned power (as
evidenced by grave sites
which required much labor)
 War murals
 Boar hunting
 Heavily fortified
 Built on hills
 Defensive walls
 Apparent wealth from raids
Value of Homeric Epics:
Very valuable: One of few texts we have from the time.
Some limits to value: It was written so far after the fact. Sack of Troy about 1200 bce; Iliad & odyssey
printed but some of descriptions of worship & burial resemble practices common in 9 & 10th centuries
BCE (or 800’s & 900’s bce)
Democratic Homer tales don’t match with what we know of Mycenaean practice.
Appears to draw from very old verbal tales. Still, Homer shows first evidence of democ5acy, as king
consulted w/ assembly and solders could express their feelings. Shows key values of the time:
personal and family honor.
2.
Define the concept of polis. What role did geography play in its development, and why
did the Greeks consider it a unique and valuable institution?
Polis: City state, where all presumed descendants from the same founder. Groups further divided into
clans, and into other subgroups.
Development: Site chosen for farmland and defensibility of natural fortress, not for trade and for gods.
Grew haphazardly.
p. 95: Polis was a community to which every member must be responsible; the connection of justice with
the community, aristocratic hatred of monarchy these were philosophical seeds from which democracy
could grow. Even when tyrants came to power, they couldn’t stay long in the face of these deep seated
values.
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History Ib / Blue
3.
Compare the fundamental political, social and economic institutions of Athens & Sparta
about 500 BCE. Why did Sparta develop its unique form of government? What were the
main stage in the transformation of Athens from an aristocratic state to a democracy
between 600 and 500 BCE? Knowing this perfectly gets you very close to nailing not one
but two essential questions on the course. Buckle down and get this solid! It will pay off,
I promise.!!!!!! Dr. A
Each started as a traditional polis, with Aristocrats controlling the best & most land. Each polis faced
problems from growing population and resultant pressure on land and agricultural production.
Sparta: Land grab, and military build up to maintain, built military culture
Athens: Economic shift, and political transformation to maintain, built democratic culture
Political
Sparta
Style of Gov’t:
 Monarchy, oligarchy, democracy:
o 2 kings,
o Council of elders – 28 over 60;
judicial
o Assembly – all citizens over 30;
ratify
o Ephors – 5 elected annually; foreign
policy
Foreign policy emphasis:
 Conquer, then allow to keep land and
wealth in return for collaboration in
foreign policy and contribution of
soldiers.
Athens
Shifted over time:
Start:
 Areopagus: council of nobels
 Archons: annually elected
administrators
 Broad based citizens assembly: little
power, represented tribes.
Solon
 Debt forgiveness, no slavery for
indebteness
 Shift to cash crops
 Broadened citizenship, including to
craftsmen.
Pisistratus
 Hired guns help him take over.
 Manipulates but doesn’t destroy
democratic trappings
 Lots of public works
 Remembered mildly
Hippias
 An idiot
 Loses to Sparta backed by Isagoras
Clisthenes
 Is himself a noble, but forms alliance
with commoners to take power.
 Challenges Isagoras
 Calls for & gets popular support
 Enlarges roles of citizens,
 Vests final authority in assembly of all
adult males.
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History Ib / Blue

Social
Economic
In order to maintain control of Helots, all
emphasis on military training:
 Males: 0 life or death; 7 to military
school; 20 to army; 30 to home but still
involved; 60 to retire
 Females encouraged shift care from
family to polis
Geography constrained growth.
Much trade
Dependence on Helots to produce.
In essence, a slave economy with required
military power to enforce.
More inclusive, because needed skilled
workers for economic trade.
Solon & Pisistratus cultivated idea of
participation, that others would not easily
be able to diver themselves from.
Geography constrained growth
Even more trade.
Dependence on craftsmen, cash crops to
produce high value goods that then they
could trade for basic needs plus a profit.
As a result, had to extend citizenship to
lots more people and be more inclusive.
Key themes of Athens:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Beginnings of democracy
Stories of Homer
So Close and Yet so far: Differences in Athens & Sparta
Out of the bloodshed: Alliances and leagues.
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