Dark Age, Sparta and Athens

Transition from Greek Dark Age to Archaic Period

  • Transition marked by:
    • Development of the Olympic Games: Community-building event.
    • Development of Greek written language (borrowed from Phoenician alphabet).
    • Development of the polis (city-state).

Development of the Polis

  • Emergence of the polis:
    • Independent community of citizens in a city and surrounding countryside.
    • Citizenship: Right to participate in the legislative assembly (for male citizens).
    • Athenian assembly evolved into a democratic institution.
    • Sparta: Legislative assembly had less power.

Resettlement (Colonization)

  • Spreading of Greek culture and city-states beyond Greece.
  • Established by private groups/individuals, not state-sponsored.
  • Exceptions were Athens and Sparta, which didn't participate as much.

Political Systems

  • Most city-states were oligarchies (ruled by wealthy landowners).
  • Some became limited democracies (Athens).
  • Some went into tyranny (Corinth).

Sparta

  • Conquered neighboring Mycenae, gaining land and slaves (Helots).
  • Political system:
    • Oligarchy with an assembly that gave feedback.
    • Two Kings with limited power overseen by Ephors (elected officials).
    • Council of Elders (28 members from noble families).
    • Assembly of Spartan males over 30 (feedback mechanism).
    • Barrack society: Military training from age seven.
    • Strong army needed due to the large number of slaves.

Athens

  • Emerged as a democracy, but initially an oligarchy.
  • Institutions: Athenian Assembly, Areopagus Council (dominated by wealthy landowners), nine Archons.
  • Agricultural unrest due to limited farmland and rising population.
  • Farmers indebted to wealthy landowners, leading to debt slavery.
  • Army was a citizen militia, so decline of small farmers weakened it.

Solon's Reforms

  • Solon given extraordinary powers as a reformer.
  • Economic Reforms:
    • No enslavement for debt.
    • Eliminated outstanding debts.
    • Restricted export of agricultural products (except olive oil).
    • Imported seed from the Black Sea region.
      *Judicial Reforms:
    • Increased power of the Athenian assembly.
    • Balanced political power based on annual income rather than inherited aristocracy.
    • Classification scheme allowed upward social mobility.
    • Confirmed laborers' right to vote in the assembly.
      *Judicial Reforms:
    • Any man could start a prosecution on behalf of another.
    • Appeals to the assembly from decisions of the six archons.
      *Political Reforms: Council of four hundred
    • Discussed and debated issues previously limited by the Areopagus Council.
    • Addressed issues that had formerly been limited by the Ariapagos council
    • Shifted the legislative agenda away from the council of the Aeropagus council and put in the council of four hundred

Impact of Solon's Reforms

  • Made Athens more democratic, but the wealthy still had influence.
  • Enhanced conflict between aristocratic families and other socioeconomic groups.
  • Set Athens on the path to becoming a more inclusive democracy.