Classical Greece

Perez World Civ

Basileus

Kings who rule Greek city states. City state could have more than one Basileus like Sparta.

Aristocracy

Form of government where power is held by small group of most noble citizens with best intentions for the polis. 

Oligarchy

A government ran by the few, or handful of people.  Not necessarily bad, but the group was always exclusive. Greek society evolved to be an oligarchy instead of a monarchy.

Tyranny

Rule seized by an individual usually by overthrow. Was not necessarily bad, as tyrants are self made monarchs whose followers are previously marginalized peoples. Eventually led to a demand for democracy.

Democracy

A government “Ran by the mob”.  Democracy can also include the “Tyranny of the majority”.

Polity

The rule of many, or a republic form of government.

Evolution of Government

Kingship gives way to oligarchy (By powerful clans).

Oligarchy gives way to tyranny; as Tyrants came from outside of the Oligarchy and overthrew it by revolution.

Tyranny gives way to democracy, a more inclusive form of government.

Greek Social Classes

Citizens: Males that could vote and hold office

Residents: Free persons protected by the law, but could not vote/hold office.

Underclass: Slaves, those who owed debt, and POWs.

Arkhons

Governors who served one year terms.

Council

There were two councils.  The Boule who wielded the most power, and the Areopagos comprised of former Arkhons, The Areopagos becomes similar to a supreme court.

Assembly

All citizens eligible to vote. In Athens, the assembly has collective power and can vote on/propose policies.

Draco

During the infancy of the Athenian legal system, Draco composed the city’s first written law code with aim of reducing arbitrary decisions of blood feuds. Ultimately, the laws aided the political power of the aristocracy and allowed to strengthen their control of the land and the poor. Later replace by Solon.

Solon

A wealthy trader who was allowed to reform Draco’s code. Didn’t attempt land reform due to difficulty of growing olive trees. Brought reforms to prevent future tyrants’ attempts.  Reforms include one-time cancellation of death and freeing debt-slaves. Divided the populace into 4 tribes, with 100 representatives of each tribe elected as members of the Boule. Tribes were divided by wealth, suggest the possibility of social mobility. Though his reforms did not work, he laid groundwork for Athenian democracy.

Tyranny of Persistratidai

After Solon left, Pisistratus took control of Athens, and after his own death, his tyrannical sons took over. Marginalized groups overthrew them.

Kleisthenes

An Aristocrat and reformer. The Athenians turn to him to re-establish order. Returned from exile and sided with commoners.

Kleisthenes’s Constitution

1. 10 new tribes, 50 members each representing all classes. The tribes were divided equally geographically.

2. All adult males become assembly members.

3. Introduced ostracism

4. Equality of laws and Freedom of Speech

Ostracism

Introduced by Kleisthenes, a practice used to get rid of potential tyrants. During elections, citizens cast votes using pottery shards with the names of potential tyrants. A person with enough votes would be expelled for 10 years.

Two basic principles of Athenian Democracy

1. No professional Buureaucrats, (Nobody served on council more than twice).

2. Every citizen could hold office.

Polis

A city-state. The core of the classical Greek political system. Operated as an independent state. Classical Greek is not a unified nation, but some poleis banded together in federations.

Synoikism

To “Dwell Together”, the process by which smaller villages come together to form a federation, politically fusing several poleis together.

Acropolis

Inner fortress. Usually contained the treasury, located on an important hill.

Agora

The center of public/economic activity. Where people trade, attend religious ceremonies, vote.

Hoplites

Armored fighters. Typically middle class farmers who had an interest in protecting the city-state. The backbone for the later Greek military. Fought together in a Phalanx.

Phalanx

A large body of packed hoplites with long protruding spears. A closed linear formation for war. Hoplites would overlap their shields, creating a wall. Required order/discipline from the hoplites. Was difficult to fight in uneven terrain.

Athenian Education

Boys ages 7-18 were educated in private schools. Girls’ roles were at home/in entertainment.

Laikadamion

The byzantine name for Sparta and Laconia as a whole.

Lykourgos

Credited with setting up the Spartan form of government and constitution including Rhetra. Laws weren’t written down, as discipline maintained order. He needed to develop a warrior class to contain the helots as they outnumbered Spartans 10-1.

Rhetra

Created by Lykourgos, the militarized form of Spartan citizenship/lifestyle that cultivated a warrior society. Defined by upholding the codes of militaristic society. Allowed Sparta to become powerful city-state that bullied other city-states into submission.

Early Spartan Life

Children were inspected by council of elders (Gerousia) at birth, those deemed unfit killed or cast off. Boys were taught hunting/military skills at a young age. Agoge=Spartan training system starting at age 7. Food was rationed; so stealing was expected but getting caught may mean death (Beating).

Spartan Adulthood

At 20, men either accepted into the army or rejected. Men could marry but still lived in barracks. At 30, men could take place in assembly and receive land. Helots supported family. At 60 men could retire from the army.

Spartan views on Culture

Spartans viewed art, trade, written word as distractions from the warrior life. Sparta was isolated from neighbors in culture/values. Few foreigners were allowed in Sparta. The currency of Sparta was iron bars.

Spartan Women

Men and women were often separated, resulting in low reproduction rates. Thus heavy losses in battle severely weakened Sparta. Spartan women had more freedom than other Greek women. Were encouraged to remain physically fit for fit children/warriors. Had the right to inherit property.

Spartan Government

Essentially an oligarchy.

Kings: Two kings with military/religious power. Hereditary.

Ephors: More powerful than kings, they are the 5 administrators of the city.

Gerousia: An advisory council of 28 elders.

Assembly: All of the citizens eligible to vote. In Sparta, citizens can only vote, not propose policies.

Spartan Society

Full Spartan citizens were called spartiates. Residents were called perioikoi. Helots were “slave-like”. They are legally tied to a piece of land and work for someone else regardless of who they are.

Ionian Revolt

A rebellion of several Ionian city-states led by Miletes (City) against Persian rule. Leaders of the revolt asked Greek city states for help. Sparta declined, but Athens and Eretria agreed. The rebellion eventually suppressed and Milites (City) burned. The Greeks’ part in the revolt angered the Persians.

First and Second Persian Invasions

After the first Persian fleet is lost at sea, the Second Persian Invasion destroys Eritrea, attacks Marathon, and plans to attack Athens.

The Battle of Marathon

The Athenians ask the Spartans for aid in battle against the Persians, but decline due to religious festival. 10,000 Greeks led by General Miltiades fought against 60,000 Persians. The outnumbered Athenians still defeat the Persians with little casualties using the Phalanx. Athenians claim superiority withing Greece, as Spartans arrive too late.

Third Persian Invasion: Thermopylae

Xerxes launches a 1 million person force to avenge Darius I and to defeat Greece. The army crosses the Hellespont with a pontoon bridge. Small city states surrender to Xerxes. Leonidas I of Sparta and his 300 men with 1000 Thespians hold off the Persians at Thermopylai until a traitor allows the Persians to win.

Salamis

After the Persians burn Athens, the refugees gather at Salamis. The Persians follow them, but the Greek navy led by Themistocles hides nearby and destroys most of the Persian fleet. He uses the fleet to lure Persian navy into Strait of Salamis then uses tides to attack Persians.

Plataiai

Xerxes must retreat to Persia for the time being, but leaves a large army behind, which is defeated by the Greeks at Plataiai led by Spartan general Pausanias against Mardonius.

Results of the Persian Wars

1. Athens becomes most powerful city-state.

2. Athens organizes the Delian League, an alliance with other city states.

3. Dominated alliance, becomes Athenian Empire

Delian League

Athenian led Greek naval alliance with a treasury on the Island of Delos (Later moved to Athens, giving symbolic control of Greece). Defeats the next Persian Invasion in Asia Minor. Athens uses tribute/money from the Delian league on itself.

Cimon

Athenian general. Under him, trade expanded as the silver drachma was introduced. He lost power and was exiled for 10 years after attempting friendship and offering aid to Sparta.

Issues/Decline in Sparta

Sparta sees Athens as a threat due to the Delian League and forms the Peloponessian league with nearby city states. Earthquake destroys the city and leads to helot revolt. Prominent generals accused of aiding Persians.

Themistokles

Leader of the Delian League early on and the Greek's naval leader. Key general at Salamis. Eventually he is ostracized and ends up in Persia

Triremes

Greek naval ships, fast and maneuverable. They need wind and human power to operate. Their main weapon is a battering ram in the front, used to sink other ships. Citizens who serve on the triremes of the Delian League gain political clout as politicians pander to them.

Demogogues

Those who "lead the mob" create new ways for the participation of less-elite citizens in government (becoming more democratic).

Kleroukhies

Military and economic outposts of Athens placed in the land of their allies. The practice (started by Pericles) generally alienates many of the Athenian allies. Created against Greek poleis rebellious to Delian league.

Pericles

1. Leader of Athens at the start of the Peloponnesian War.

2. Leads Athens through “Golden Age” of Athens. Under Pericles Athenian economy thrived and becomes more democratic.

3. Direct democracy is introduced and all citizens take part in government. Jury members received a stipend.

4. Ostracism is continued.

5. Rebuilds acropolis that was destroyed by the Persians. The Long Walls are built to Pireaus.

6. With help of Aspasia, his wife, Perikles made Athens the cultural center of Greece, with all with money borrowed/stolen from the Delian League.

The Funeral Oration

Famous speech given by Pericles and recorded by Thucydides. The speech is one of the earliest and greatest expressions of democratic ideals.

Peloponnesian War Background

1. Sparta creates Spartan league consisting of Corinth and city-states on the Peloponneseus. Encourages oligarchy. Rivals the Delian League

2. Athens offers help with a helot rebellion but Sparta doesn’t want help. Athens is offended.

3. A city-state tried to switch leagues (Del→Spr). Athens creates embargo of Megara, ally of Corinth. Sparta supports Corinth, calls for war against Delian League.

Peloponnesian War Begins

Greek vs Greek war. Athens is at geographical disadvantage due to location near the sea. Sparta was inland (no attack from sea). War takes a long time as they are incompatible powers: Athens dominates the war at sea and Sparta the war on land. Athens has superior wealth at the outset and believes they can outlast the Spartans. However, Athenians are also confined to their city.

431 & 430 BC: Spartan king Archidamus II invades Attica and destroys large areas around Athens. Athenians retreat behind the Long Walls. Pericles is deposed, but will eventually return to power.

Peloponnesian War Strategies

Sparta: Invades Attica and attacks the countryside. Limits the food production of the Athenians, who demand allies send in food by their superior navy. Athens is connected to the coastal city of Pireaus by the Long Walls (How they get food). Spartan invade every spring and return to Sparta in the winter.

Athens: Pericles has people in the hinterlands move in to the city to live. Athens citizens were drawn behind its walls. Strategy proved costly early on and got worse when a plague broke out and killed 1/3 population and eventually, Pericles.

Pericles death leads to a split in leadership:

Cleon: wants to continue with the war.

Nicias: wants to sue for peace.

Athenian Assembly favors Cleon until his death in 422 BC.

Peloponnesian War Continues

Sparta offers peace to Athens after suffering several major losses. Athens rejects peace until 421 BC when they lose 2 important generals in battle. In 421 BC Peace of Nicias was established. Peace was supposed to last for 50 years but only lasted for 3 years because: Sparta makes promises it can’t keep and allies of Athens refuse to agree to the treaty.

418 BC: The peace is broken. Athens aligns itself with the city-states of Argos, Mantinea, and Elis in the Peloponneseus. Sparta forces Athens to make a decision: reject its alliances or face open warfare in the south. Athens chooses warfare and the war unofficially begins with the Spartan victory at Mantinea.

415 BC: The nephew of Pericles, Alcibiades, convinces the Athenians to undertake an invasion of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily. The invasion was successful at first but soon turned into a disaster. The Athenian main commander Lamachus was killed, Alcibiades was recalled to Athens to stand trial, and Nicias fell ill. The Spartan adviser Glyippus arrived in the winter of 415/414 BC and turned the tide of the campaign. The Athenians sent reinforcements under Demosthenes in 413 BC but he does not bring enough horses. Athenian expedition is completely wiped out.

Peloponnesian War Ending

War turns on Athens after disaster at Syracuse. Why?

Alcibiades is exiled and moves to Sparta and gives them the advice to build a permanent fort in Attica. This forces the Athenians to live behind the Long Walls year round and cuts them off from their silver supply with which they buy food. Alcibiades will offer to negotiate a treaty with Persia if Athens allows him to return and form his own government. The Athenians agree and democracy is suspended in 411 BC. The treaty with Persia never happens!

The Spartans concluded a treaty with the Persians in 412 BC. The Persians supplied money for the Spartans to buy ships.

Sparta found a new and capable commander named Lysander who convinced the Persians to fulfill their promise to buy ships for the Spartans.

406 BC. The major turning point: After a victory at the naval battle of Argunisae, the Athenian admirals were unable to pick up survivors in the sea due to a freak storm. This violated a long standing Athenian tradition. The Athenian admirals were condemned and executed, removing the last of Athens experienced leaders.

405 BC.: Spartan admiral, Lysander, wins the battle of Aegospotomi. The Athenian fleet is destroyed. Sparta now attacks Athens with 3 armies. Athens surrenders, and is forced to disband the Delian League, destroy the protective walls from their city leading to the sea, and burn their remaining ships are burned. Sparta forces an oligarchy called the 30 Tyrants to rule Athens. Sparta seizes power (or hegemony) in Greece. Athens will recover after a civil war. Ironically they are supported by Persia!! The Long Walls are rebuilt in 395 BC., democracy was restored.

Peloponnesian War Turning Points

1. Death of Pericles

2. Failed Sicilian Expedition

3. Defection of Alkibiades

4. Persian alliance with Sparta

5. Defeat at Arginusae

6. Defeat at Aegospotomi

Post Peloponnesian War

To defeat Athens, Sparta offered Persia several cities in exchange for gold. Sparta does not follow through on the deal, and Persia in turn supports Sparta’s enemies financially. The Spartans finally give the requested cities to Persia, and Persian kings now dictate the affairs of Greece through diplomacy.

Peloponnesian War Results

1. Greece becomes a multi-polar system.

2. Democracy survives in Athens!!

3. Sparta declines because its social structure is not fit for the outside world.

4. Real winner is PERSIA!! Gain many Greek cities in the east.

Final Spartan Decline

Greek cities generally do not support the Spartan power. The city of Thebes breaks free from Spartan rule and frees other Greek cities, ending Sparta’s run of power.

Battle of Luektra

Fought in 371 BC Thebes under the general Epameinondas, defeat the Spartans in battle. The Spartan army is only able to field 700 full Spartan citizens. The mystique of the Spartan warrior was broken. The Thebans use their famous Sacred Band. After this battle many of Sparta’s allies abandon her. Thebes seizes hegemonic control of Greece until the arrival of Macedonians in 338.