Dawning of the Classical age

archaic greece - what was the Polis

• essentially a city

• community of citizens who shared civic obligations, rights, and a strong sense of collective identity

• Aristotle’s “Political Animal”

• Geographic diversity

archaic greece - Aristotle’s “Political Animal”

• how Aristotle described human beings (meaning humans were made to be political)

• argued that humans can achieve moral development, virtue, and self-sufficiency by participating in the law

archaic greece - Characteristics of the Polis

• small

• specific meeting places
  - acropolis
  - agora

• small population
  - slaves
  - citizens
  - residents with no political rights

archaic greece - Religious

• City Patron gods

archaic greece - Politcal

• civic virtue/duty

archaic greece - Political innovations

• created democracy

• citizens assembly

• aristocratic council

• the Hoplite Revolution
  - Phalanx

sparta - Citizen’s Assembly

a fundamental governing body composed of citizens to vote and decide on legislation

sparta - aristocratic council

a traditional governing body typically composed of elite, noble members holding advisory or executive

sparta - the Hoplite Revolution

a major sociopolitical shift driven by citizen-soldiers known as hoplites

sparta - Phalanx

The tightly packed, cohesive military formation used by hoplites reinforced the importance of the common soldier in society

sparta - Militarized society

• 90% slaves

• all males were soldiers
  - bootcamp at 7
  - family at 20
  - Retirement at 30

• women meant to produce offspring

sparta - 4 key institutions

• 2 kings

• five Ephors

• Council of Elder - gerousia

• Citizens Assembly - apella

sparta - essential characteristics

• closed

• conservative

athens - lawgivers/tyrants

• Draco (621 BCE)
  - Draconian

• Solon (595-594 BCE)
  - Boule/Council of 400

athens - Reforms of Cleisthenes (510-500 BCE)

• Expansion of Citizenship

• Council of 500

• The Ecclesia

• Board of 10 Generals

Athens - essential characteristics

• open

• progressive

Sparta - 5 ephors

a board of 5 high-ranking judges that are elected each year who shared executive power with the two kings

athens - council of 500

Administrative body made of 50 citizens from each of the ten new tribes. they were responsible for handling daily governmental affairs and preparing legislation

athens - the ecclesia

popular assembly of all Athenian citizens that had the final say on legislation, war and peace, and foreign policy

athens - board of 10 generals

a military leadership committee known as the strategoi, with one elected general representing each of the new tribes