The Greek Roots of Democracy

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The Greek Roots of Democracy

• 500s 400s B.C.

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(No Transcript)
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Sparta

• Militaristic State
• Led by Two Hereditary Kings
• Each could veto the other
• Spiritual, Judicial, and Militaristic Leaders
• Baby bathed in wine shortly after birth
• Survived, Brought before panel Gerousia
• Puny and weak, thrown into chasm at Mt. Taygetus

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Sparta, cont

• Entered Military Training at age 7
• Learned physical and weapons training, reading,
  writing, music, and dancing
• Purposefully underfed, learned to steal food
• Chose a mentor at age 12, practiced sexual
  relations with mentor

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Sparta, cont

• Entered reserves at age 18
• Remained active in army until 30
• Left reserves at age 60
• Women to husband when leaving for war - "With
  this, or upon this"
• Return from war w/out shield, punishable by death
  or banishment
• Shield key to Phalanx, protect soldier to left

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Spartan Phalanx

• You Tube Clip from 300

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Sparta, cont

• Girls also active to be strong and produce strong
  children
• Enjoyed equality with men
• Encouraged to bear others children, if unable to
  do so themselves?
• Signifies importance of future children

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Athens
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Athens

• Monarchy to 683 B.C.
• Became Aristocracy Ruled by wealthy landowners
• Bronze weapons and Chariots expensive
• Defended the King and became more powerful over
  time
• Trade in olives and grapes brought new class of
  rich merchants, farmers, and artisans
• Nouveau Riche competed for power

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Old Rich
Located in Camp Parks, in Dublin
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New Rich
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Athens, cont

• New Rich extended rights to poorest to gain power
• Over time Athens developed into a limited
  democracy
• Only males were citizens, women and slaves, and
  foreigners were not
• Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles all instituted
  democratic reforms

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Athens, cont

• Solon, outlawed debt slavery, reduced
  restrictions on citizenship
• Cleisthenes, created Council of 500, all citizens
  over 30 eligible to be chosen by lot
• Pericles
• Instituted Direct Democracy
• Instituted pay for public office
• 30 citizens chosen by lot to be jurors for 1
  year, paid jurors, hundreds to thousands of
  people on jury, US today 12 jurors

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Athenian Philosophers

• Lovers of Wisdom
• Leaned toward logic reason away from Whims of
  the Gods
• Plato, Aristotle, Socrates
• Plato Philosopher King
• Worried about mob rule
• Platos teacher Socrates
• Roamed the marketplace questioning people until
  they contradicted themselves
• Annoyed people a lot
• Put on trial at 70 for corrupting the citys
  youth and ignoring the Gods
• Condemned to death, Refused to fight punishment
• Believed all should be subject to the law
• Drank poison hemlock and died

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Athenian Philosophers

• Aristotle
• Strong believer in the rule of law
• Nobody is above the law
• Distrusted democracy, feared mob rule
• Desired constitutional monarchy led by middle
  class
• Thought women less than men
• Men brought life to womens ability to produce
  kids
• Did value womens happiness

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Important Points of Athens