Classical Greece
Every Greek lived at the most 80 to 85 miles from the sea
The sea was very important for trade farming and travel
75% of the land was covered with mountains
It was hard to move large armies through the mountains
Mountains divided the regions
Climate was nice- upper 40s in winter and lower 80s in summer
Climate allowed for many activities
3 big civilizations
Minoans- first of the three
Best with writings influenced the Mycenaean culture
Started around 3000 B.C.
Used ships to trade goods
Mycenaean- heavily influenced by the Minoans
Came from Indo Europeans migrants
Dominated Greece from 1600
Dorian- not as advanced as others
Focused on storytelling
Best storyteller- Homer
During the Dorian Period
Adapted and adopted more with the local area
Government made the transition from tribal or clan to more formal governments called city-states
A polis was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside which would include numerous villages
Citizens of the polis would come together to meet at an acropolis to discuss their city government
Not all city-states had the same form of government
Four forms of government
Monarchy- state ruled by a king
Rule is hereditary
Some rulers claim that they have a divine right to rule which means that they thought God told them they had the right to rule
Practiced in Mycenae by 2000 B.C.
Aristocracy- state ruled by nobility
Rule is hereditary and based on ties, social rank, and wealth
Social status and wealth support rulers’ authority
-Practiced in Athens prior to 594 B.C.
Oligarchy- state ruled by a small group of citizens
Rule is based on wealth and/or ability
Ruling group controls the military
-Practiced in Sparta by 500 B.C.
Direct Democracy- state ruled by citizens
Rule is based on citizenship
Majority rule decides vote
-Practiced in Athens by 500 B.C.
Athens-about 600 B.C., Athens was taking steps towards democracy
There were major reforms for the next 100 years that would eventually lead to a democracy starting around 500 B.C.
Draco- Developed a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians, rich and poor, were equal under law
He had very harsh punishments for nearly any crime
He believed in debt slavery
The word “Draconian” has come to mean “extreme cruelty or severity”
Solon- stated that no citizen should own another
Organized Athens into four social classes based on wealth
Only top three classes could hold political office
However, all four could participate in the Athenian assembly
Cleisthenes- Broke Athens up based on Region that the citizens lived instead of wealth (10 Groups)
He increased the power of the assembly by allowing all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage
Created the council of Five Hundred
-Proposed laws
-counseled the assembly
-Members were chosen at random
Limited Democracy- The reforms allowed for a limited democracy
However not all people were citizens
Requirements- Free, Adult, Property owner, Born in Athens
Sparta- Located in the southern part of Greece
Was cut off from the rest of Greece by the Gulf of Corinth
Spartan Government- Several branches
Assembly, all citizens, elected officials and voted on major issues
Council of Elders, 30 older citizens, proposed laws on the assembly to vote on
Five elected officials that carried out the laws that were passed by the assembly
Two kings that ruled over Sparta’s military
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