I. Athens & Sparta
humanism: philosophical approach
focusing on reason, freedom of
thought, and nature over religion
A.
Athens & Sparta
1. Sparta located in Peloponnesus
in s. Greece
-Spartan enslaves Messenians
(helots)
-severely strict & militarized
society
-all Spartan males trained for
army (age 7)
2. Athens located in Attica
-period of tyrants
-developed democracy
3. Rise of Athenian Democracy:
a. Solon:
- lets Aristocrats keep land
- bans debt slavery
- easier to participate in gov’t
- instituted paid civil service
b. “Golden Age” of Pericles:
- massive public works
- Delian treasury moved to Athens
- reconstruction of Acropolis
Athens
Athenian Government
I. Assembly:
-made up of all adult male citizens
-passed all laws
-debates were held in public
-all laws were posted in public places
II.
Council of 500:
-each district sent 50 representatives
-minimum age of 30; two term limit
III. Court System:
-jury pool of 6,000 citizens
-501 were chosen at random to serve as jurors
-ostracism (exiled for 10 years)
Greek Colonization
B. The Persian Wars (526–323 BCE)
A. Roots of War:
1. 499 b.c.e. the Greek cities in Ionia stage 5-year revolt against
Persians (Greeks back Ionians…Persians attack both)
2. 1st Persian War: Darius I captures Ionia and burns Athens
-attack foiled by Athenian forces at Marathon
3. 2nd Persian War: Xerxes lead large army and fleet
-Battle of Thermopylae (Persians defeat 300 Spartans)
-Battle of Salamis (Athenian naval victory)
-Sparta organized Hellenic League against Persians
-Athens organized Delian League (477 b.c.e.), push out Persians
First Persian War: In 490 B.C. Darius sent 600 ships and thousands of soldiers to
invade Greece. He wanted to punish the Athenians for helping Ionian rebels.
Persian
Empire
Marathon
Athens
Sparta
Second Persian War: Battle of Salamis
The large Persian
ships could not
maneuver in the
close quarters.
The smaller Greek
ships destroyed
them. Xerxes
could not avenge
his father’s loss…
Thermopylae
Salamis
Athens
A Citizen of Athens:
Naxos has nothing to fear from the Delian
League. It is a defensive alliance formed to
protect us from a Persian invasion. We
proved during the last invasion that we could
defeat the mighty Persians if we fought
together.
We admit we removed the treasury of the
Delian League to Athens from the island of
Delos. Our reason for doing so was only to
protect the treasury in case of an invasion.
We will need to build ships and to buy
supplies. And since Athens is the strongest
member of the League, is it not the most
logical place to keep the League's treasury?
True, we have forced other cities to
remain in the League, but that is not
Athenian tyranny. We must stay united, or
the Persians will see their opportunity and
conquer us one by one. No one can be
permitted to weaken the League by leaving
it.
A Citizen of Naxos:
The Delian League is a clever disguise
for an Athenian empire. Athens is the
strongest member of the League, and it
forces every other city to accept its will.
Can we defend Delos from a Persian
attack? Why was the League's treasury
not safe there? I'll tell you why. Athens
wanted the money. Athens is rich, but it
wants to be the strongest power in
Greece.
The Persians will not invade us. They
learned their lesson at Salamis. Even if
they do, there is plenty of time to form
an alliance to defeat them. Athens uses
the fear of Persia to build an empire of
its own.
Naxos is not afraid of Athens. We will
not become its slaves. There is more
danger from Athens than from all the
armies of Persia.
C. Height of Athenian Power (480–323 BCE)
1. Classical Period of Greeks
dominated by Athens (due to
Delian League control)
- became imperial naval power
- lower-class men as rowers
-trireme: fast, maneuverable
170-oar boat
-profitable trade and tribute
from subject states
-constructed impressive public
works, festivals, & development
of arts & sciences
2. Athenian philosophers:
a. Socrates turned philosophy to study of ethics:
- created Socratic method
- “know thyself”
- executed for “corrupting the youth”
b. Plato (Socrates’ student) wrote in “dialogues”
(The Republic)
- the world we see is a reflection of an ideal
reality (Allegory of the Cave)
-founded school, Academy
c. Aristotle (Plato’s student): focus on scientific
method
- school: Lyceum
C.
Inequality in Classical Greece
1. Athenian democracy very limited
- free adult males citizens (10-15%)
- women, children, slaves, and foreigners
2. slaves: mostly foreign (1/3 of pop.)
- allowed male citizens time for political activity
3. Women’s Rights:
-Sparta: relatively free & outspoken
-Athens: more confined to home & oppressed
(arranged 14 yr old girls-30 yr old men)
4. NO meaningful man-woman relations…
-men sought companionship with…other men
Greek Male Homosexuality
pederasty: an older male with a younger
male lover
-older male was to “teach” younger male about politics,
military, & love…