ANCIENT HISTORY - Tyranny and Democracy

[1] Give one of the engineering achievements of Polycrates' tyranny.

He built an aqueduct to supply Samos with water.

[1] After Cleisthenes's reforms, how many members did each tribe contribute to the boule?

50.

[1] Give three details of what the Athenians did to hold an ostracism.

- Needed 6000 votes to be ostracised.

- Voted on once a year.

- Voted on pieces of pottery.

[1] Name two religious changes introduced by Peisistratus.

- Moved religious cults to Athens and made them national in focus.

- Popular harvest festival of Dionysius was brought to the urban centre.

[1] Name the successor of Polycrates.

Maeandrius.

[1] Name the two people who attempted to remove Cleisthenes from power in 508 BC:

Cleomenes and Isagoras.

[1] Give two of the reasons why the Athenians supported the Ionian revolt between 499 and 494 BC.

- Hippias put pressure on the Persians to attack Athens, meaning public opinion turned against tyranny.

- Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, persuaded them.

[1] Name the goddess that the people of Samos built a temple for as the protector of their island:

Hera.

Aristotle

- Writing around 400-350 BC.

- 150-200 years after the events we're discussing.

- Athenian Constitution.

- Relies on other authors (used oral sources for Athenian Constitution).

- Favours good tyrants.

- Anti-bad tyrants.

- Anti-Democracy.

Thucydides

- Writing around 420-400 BC.

- History of the Peloponnesians Wars

- 80-100 years after events.

- Loves democracy.

- Specific Individuals analysis

Herodotus

- Writing around 450-420 BC.

- Herodotus Histories discusses Persian Wars the most.

- 80-100 years after events.

- Exaggerates from time to time, expresses opinions occasionally, rounds up quantities.

Cornelius Nepos

- Living and writing 1st Century BC.

- 400-500 years after events he is writing about.

- Parallel lives, Greek and Roman comparisons. Biographies.

- Has an agenda. Wants to show morals, very philosophical.

- Far removed from the events he's talking about.

- He is writing about biographies not histories, meaning its more people focused and less event focused.

Plutarch

- Writing in 2nd Century AD.

- 600 years after events.

- Writing biographies.

- Prone to exaggeration, extravagant, entertaining.

- Far removed from events.

- Talking about personalities, all of his sources would have a different opinion.

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 1

Removed the tyrants:

- Murder of Hipparchus by Harmodios and Aristogeiton led to Hippias's tyranny becoming harsher. Did not result in the overthrow of the tyrants or the creation of democracy.

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 2

Removed the tyrants:

- Overthrow was only achieved by the Alcmaeonids scheming. They bribed the Pythia in Delphi to say to all Spartans that they must free Athens. This led to Cleomenes coming to Athens and freeing it of the Peisistratids.

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 3

Removed the tyrants:

- Spartans captured the sons of Hippias as they attempted to escape. They negotiated that Hippias leave Athens.

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 4

Removed the tyrants:

- According to Herodotus, Athenians wanted to hide the Spartan role, and thus dramatised the role of Harmodios and Aristogeiton to overshadow it. Herodotus stated that 'in my opinion they did far more to free Athens than Harmodios and Aristogeiton.'

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 5

Lead to Cleisthenes:

- Cleisthenes played a bigger role by filling the gap left behind by the departure of the Peisistratids.

[10] Explain the significance of the murder of Hipparchus in the sequence of events leading Athens from tyranny to democracy. 6

Lead to Cleisthenes:

- Cleisthenes used the support of the people to further his own position and develop the isegoria, the right to equal speech in the Assembly and his reforms.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 1

Changes of allies:

- Allied with Amasis of Egypt and Cambyses of Persia to secure rule (sent 40 triremes to help with Egypt invasion).

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 2

Changes of allies:

- Polycrates sent people likely to revolt in 40 triremes, told not to send them back. Either didn't make it or made it but escaped from their guards. Threatened to burn the families of any solider that defected to them.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 3

Changes of allies:

- Exiles sailed back to Samos and fought Polycrates. Landed on Samos and were defeated. They then sailed to Sparta. Herodotus rejects the idea that they went to Samos and won because Polycrates had a huge army.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 4

Changes of allies:

- Many feared Polycrates' growing power such as Sparta, who were happy to aid the Samian exiles.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 5

Changes of allies:

- Samos besieged for 40 days by Spartans; they were beaten and sent home. Or Polycrates bribed them to leave, but Herodotus disagrees.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 6

Changes to improve Samos:

- Polycrates invited poets, artists and engineers to Samos.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 7

Changes to improve Samos:

- Encouraged trade with Egypt and Cyprus, mostly in olive oil.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 8

Changes to expand:

- First tyrant to build large navy, extended influence of Aegean Islands.

o Herodotus states Lesbos and Miletus.

o Thucydides states Rhenea and other islands.

[10] Explain how Polycrates' foreign policy changed during his reign. 9

- Polycrates wanted to control Ionia and the islands according to Herodotus. Unpopular with Oroetes and Mitrobates, two Persians.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Opening

Agree quite far, but not fully. Aristocrats and oligarchs still held most of the power and normal people were not really affected by the changes. However, did receive some major changes such as the voting systems, and the power given to people.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 1

- I believe Aristotle believed that Cleisthenes reforms were welcomed, since he was an Alcmaeonid.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 2

- Was different because tribes changed from 4 to 10, meaning there could be less singular aristocratic power. Did not really affect the individual lives of the people.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 3

- System of demes meant citizens could partake in local politics. Each deme had demarchs (served for 1 year), council and assembly. Citizens could experience government on a local scale, preparing them for whole city scale.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 3.5

Plutarch also talks of the new ostracism and voting system. This shows that this info is reliable as Aristotle says the same thing so they support each other.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 4

- Herodotus believed Cleisthenes reorganised the tribes for personal, not political reasons. He did this because he did not like Ionians and did not want the tribes to be associated with them. He was also copying his grandfather. This was unlikely because Herodotus assumes Cleisthenes is copying, misunderstanding the purpose of reorganisation.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 5

- According to Aristotle, the Boule was increased to 500, isegoria (equal right to speak), was introduced. Citizens had more political power as anyone could now offer an opinion. Step away from oligarchy.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Agree 6

- Herodotus saw isegoria as the reason for Athens' military success.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Disagree 1

- I believe that Aristotle thought divisions of population by wealth meant less could freely speak.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Disagree 2

- Solon's reforms had been oppressed by the tyranny and thus could not be as liberal.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Disagree 3

- Aristotle is the only source that states that the boule council existed before Cleisthenes, meaning Solon introduced it. Was writing in a time ahead, not fully convincing.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Disagree 4

- Basic system of justice and daily life of citizens was not that greatly affected by Cleisthenes reforms.

[20] 'Living in Athens after Cleisthenes was completely different to living in Athens under the Peisistratids.' How far do you agree with this view? Conclusion

- Life was not completely different since the aristocracy still held much power, but citizens could now get elected and had more power, e.g., ostracism.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Opening

Agree to an extent, but not fully. Some more than others.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Peisistratus 1

- Not a disaster:

o Introduced relatively low tax, 10% according to Aristotle, 20% according to Thucydides.

o Built Temple to Athena.

o Introduced travelling judges, the poor didn't need to travel to secure justice.

o Aristotle described him as 'well disposed' and 'compassionate.'

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Peisistratus 2

- Disaster:

o Aristotle states that the Boule was open to top three classes only, meaning not many could have a say.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Polycrates 1

- Not a disaster:

o According to Herodotus, alliances with Amasis of Egypt and Cambyses to consolidate power.

o Naval victories over Lesbos and Miletus according to Herodotus.

o Naval victories over Rhenea according to Thucydides.

o Invited poets, artists and engineers to Samos.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Polycrates 2

- Disaster:

o Samian exiles sparked rebellion by returning. One account states that they won at Samos, but Herodotus rejects this as Polycrates had a huge army.

o Oroetes wanted to remove Polycrates because his existence made it possible for Mitrobates to insult him. Or Herodotus states that Polycrates was aiming for naval dominance of Ionia, which scared Oroetes. This is more likely as Herodotus displays a detailed knowledge of Samos.

o Polycrates was popular with the people but not the aristocracy.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Hippias and Hipparchus 1

- Not a disaster:

o Hippias reduced power of aristocracies by exiling some aristocratic families.

o Hippias and Hipparchus promoted artistic projects and invited artists and poets to Athens.

o Made links with overseas powers according to Thucydides.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Hippias and Hipparchus 2

- Disaster:

o Aristotle states that Hippias tortured Aristogeiton to tell him the conspirators involved in the plot to kill Hipparchus. He killed him in a fit of rage. Hippias became more oppressive because of the death of his brother. Thucydides stated that Hippias continued to be popular, while Aristotle stated that Hippias was 'unpopular' after Hipparchus's death.

o Hippias feared a revolution and thus according to Thucydides married daughter of Lampascus to secure himself and make alliances. Alcmaeonids tried to return to Athens but failed.

[20] 'Our sources highlight that tyrants were a disaster in every state.' How far do you agree with this view? Conclusion

- Agree but not fully. Peisistratus was most beneficial, had few problems. Polycrates dealt with other problems, population was generally satisfied, not many sources on them, Hippias and Hipparchus not so successful because of internal conflicts and their repercussions.