Greek Democracy

Monarchy->Oligarchy->Tyranny->

• • • Dark Age: Aristocrats realized that kings needed $. More power against invaders. Oligarchy. Toward DEMOCRACY 600 BCE: Farmers in serious debt(markers) Food scarce. Aristocrats good, middle class, no voice. SOLON

Solon 594 BCE

• • Wealthy Aristocrat- ruled for 34 years in Athens with his rich buddies. Bright. Tried to revise the laws so that the wealthy Athenians could maintain their financial advantage, but give the poor a greater say in political matters and also redistribute some lost farmland.

Split Decisions

• The Men of the Coast: Men who supported Solon’s reforms.

• • • The Men of the Plain: Men who supported the rights of the wealthy only. (Visiting king: “Wise men speak and fools decide”) The Men of the Hills: Men who wanted full and complete democracy regardless of wealth.

Next Steps toward Democracy

• • • • • • • • Solon’s reforms: The rich oligarchs continued to hold most of the wealth and power, but the poor could take part in the assembly and vote, In addition, Solon: 1. Cancelled debts and freed and enslaved Athenians.

2. Granted all citizens the right to make laws & decide judicial matters. Jury trials. 3. Reformed Draco’s laws- killing for murder, not stealing cabbage. 4. Encouraged trade and military unity. 5. Limited Land Ownership.

Did it Work?

• • • • • Solon's changes= happy pups.

Farms back They didn't owe money. Cause of death no longer cabbage. Voting Rights

Solon’s Reforms Answer

It didn’t last. Farms lost, debts accumulated, invaders invaded.

Pisistratus

• • • 560 BCE Tyrant: Support me, I’ll solve your problems. Wealthy tried to restore oligarchy. Taxes- equal. Gvt loans for equipment, not loans to the wealthy. Large estates were divided among farmers with none. The poor were hired to build temples, especially in honor of Athena. Successful until death.

Sons: Hippias and Hipparchus

• • • • New tyrant(s). Athens prospered under his rule-Mined silver.

Advancements in math and astronomy (star charts, theories, trig) as well as political matters. He worked well with his brother Hipparchus who was in charge of religious matters and cultural features such as the arts. Sweet…until disaster struck.

Assassins: Harmodius and Aristogeiton

• • • • • •

Restore Oligarchy?

Hipparachus eyes pol rival. Harmodius, “No way” Harmodius publically called a degenerate . Sister: not to take part in a religious festival for Athena. Festival revenge!

Hipparachus & Harmodius dead. Aristogeiton tortured. Forced to reveal “enemies” of Hippias.

Shields to protect your eyes.

Paranoid and Wacko!

• • • Sent to Persia after he exhibited an inability to trust almost everyone.

Cleisthenes

He took power following the removal of Hippias and following some tyrannical rule, he restored the laws of Solon in 508 BCE. Made up a new government “democracy” from demos people and kratos- power.

ATHENS

• • • • •

Stats

Size: About the size of Louisiana Rival: Sparta (about 150 miles away) Government: Direct Democracy Culture: “The barbeque host” Traded with others…close to sea good ships for trading and war, geography. Isolated due to location within mountains.

Famous Landmark: The Acropolis (“upper city”)- hilltop fort. Parthenon. Lots of city-states in region.

Before and After

Greek Democracy

•

Democratic Differences

Direct Democracy (people actually make decisions). The US has a Representative Democracy (a representative makes the decisions on behalf of the people) •

Greek Citizens

Citizens were free Athenian born men (with an Athenian born father) over the age of 18. No slaves. No women. No metics (people from other places) All citizens were able to take part in Athens government.

How Did It Work?

• •

The Council of 500

Each year, all citizens 30+ were gathered and 500 were chosen. You could serve only twice. Citizens from tribes were selected by lottery for a year’s duty (50 members per tribe). The Boule met daily, (Started by Solon w/ 400 members: advice to navy or judicial matters). •

How They Functioned

A year was split into 10 and the 10 tribes served as presidents during each (1 chairman per day). They decided the business/laws that would be discussed at the Assembly (Ecclesia), questioned &elected officials, & oversaw the daily issues of the state such as making sure the new laws were carried out, greeting foreign leaders, money issues etc.

The Assembly

• • • • • The Council of 500 ran the day to day business & suggested new laws. Before these law were passed, it had to be approved by the Assembly (Ecclesia). Four major functions: A. Elected officials: 9 administrators (archons) who ran

the government and 10 generals(the strategoi) to lead

the military & implement foreign policy. B. Laws C. War D. Crimes

Assembly Functioning

• • • 6,000 male citizens had to be present.

First 6,000 -$. (Rope dipped in paint was used to herd people in- red mark= fine.)

More Assembly

• • Citizens spoke during these assemblies, but it wasn’t exactly a formal welcome. Jeers and cheers of support would greet speakers in hopes of swaying the public. A water clock was used to time the speeches. A plug was used when reading laws.

Vote Today!

• A show of hands would then decide the outcome. No real counting, estimate by show of hands. The average citizen was making decisions about going to war or issues with what today would be worth 200 million dollars.

Ostracism

•

Bad Dudes!

Once a year, the assembly voted on whether or not they felt a vote of ostracism was necessary. If the assembly voted “yes” a day was set aside and every Athenian had the right to submit the name of a citizen who was believed to have acted against the interests of Athens. The name was put on a piece of pottery called an “Ostrakon” If 6,000 citizens agreed, that person had 10 days to leave Athens for 10 years. The property and rights were retained by that individual. He often returned after 10 years and led a productive life in Athens (about once every 10 years would this happen.)

Trial by Jury

Order in the Court!

No lawyers, charged man defended himself, often with a speech writer. Women needed closest male relative for representation. No women could testify as a witness. Your case was heard by a jury of men over the age of 30. Desired!

Jury? 100 people or 6,000 depending on what you did.

The Dikasteria

Order in the Court!

•

Time Efficient

Speakers were forbidden to speak more than the allowed amount of time. Some were over in 1 hour and trials were almost always resolved in the same day. Amazingly, citizen juries also decided whether various laws were “constitutional”

The Verdict!

• Each juror had two discs. One with a hole pierced in the cylinder (guilty), one without (innocent). Hidden with thumb and finger-placed in urn. Tie means innocent. No appeals. • Punishments were harsher for slaves and metics than they were for the wealthy. Fined not flogged. Exile instead of execution.

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• Why are you still reading this slide if it does not exist? • My all time favorite student this year is…oh…no point typing that if this slide doesn’t exist!

• • • http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/government/athens2.htm

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/government/athens2.htm

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