Classical Greece
Sea- allowed for great trade and travel. Allowed them to get to natural resources that they couldn’t get to.
Land- rugged mountains about ¾ of ancient Greece was mountains. They were also the divider for different regions. Played a big role in wars it was hard to move an army through the mountains.
Climate- upper 40’s in the winter and lower 80’s in the summer. The climate allowed for many different outdoor activities.
Minoan influence- created an elegant civilization around 3000 BC made a writing language.
Mycenaean Develops- Were heavily influenced by the Minoans. Dominated Greece from 1600 BC to 1100 BC. They built cities in the mountains so they were hard to attack.
Dorian- They spoke a kind of Greek. Not as advanced as the others, no writing system. They focused more on storytelling. Best storyteller was Homer.
The dorian and the Mycenaean people started to identify less with culture of their ancestors and the government made the transition from triball to city-states
A polis was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside. They would meet at an acropolis to discuss their city government.
There was four forms of government. Monarchy is ruled by a king who made all the rules. It was used by the Mycenae by 2000 BC
Aristocracy was ruled by nobility. Rule was hereditary and based on ties, social rank and wealth. Social status. Practiced by Athens prior to 594 BC
Oligarchy- state ruled by a small group of citizens. based on wealth and or ability. Ruling groups controlled the military. Practiced by Sparta by 500BC
Direct Democracy- State ruled by citizens, the rule is based on citizenship but just because you live there doesnt mean you are a citizen. Majority rule decides vote. Practiced by Athens by 500BC.
Athens- About 600BC Athens was taking steps towards a democracy. There were major reforms for the next 100 years that would lead to it around 500 BC.
Key players- Draco develeped a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians rich and poor were equal under law. Very large punishments for nearly any crime. 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 3 classes could hold political office. Cleisthenes broke up athens based on religion that the citizens lived instead of wealth He increased the power of the assembly by allowing all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage.
Limited democracy in athens. Requirements free, adult, property owner. born in Athens.
Sparta was in the southern part of greece. Government had assembly all citizens elected officials and voted. Council of elders. 30 older citizens proposed laws the assembly to vote on. 5 elected officials that carried out laws that were passed by the assembly.2 kings ruled spartas military.
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