Sparta Pg. 1

1. In the late 1100’s B.C. invaders from the north had overrun most of the Peloponnesus and made Sparta their capital. Spartan society was made up of three groups: 1) Equals 2) Half Citizens 3) Helots Sparta Pg. 1

2. The Equals were descendents from the early invaders and they controlled the city-state. • Half Citizens were free, paid taxes, and served in the army but they had no political power because they were not born in Athens. • Helots were the lowest group in Sparta. They were the slaves in the city-state and greatly outnumbered the Spartans. • Spartans had to use force and terrorized the Helots to keep them from rebelling. • Pg. 2

3. Government Pg. 3 • Sparta controlled the lives of citizens from birth to death. • All male citizens were expected to take part in the military. • A group of officials examined the newborn babies and any unhealthy child was left to die. • At age 7 boys were taken away to start military training along with learning to read and write.

4. At age 18-20 they trained for war and at age 20 they could finally get married. However, even though they were married they could not live at home until the age of 30. • Men remained in the military until the age of 60 years old until they could retire. • Spartan girls were also trained and had to be strong and healthy, they thought healthy mothers would help make healthy babies. • Both boys and girls studied music to learn discipline and coordination. • Pg. 4

5. This training by the Spartan city led to a strong government and an almost unbeatable army. • Sparta was run by 2 kings, one who stayed at home, while the other led the army. • 5 Ephors were elected to 1-year terms who made sure the kings stayed within the law. • Spartans paid a high price for their power, they gave up most of their individual freedom. • Since Spartans were very militaristic, they created little in art, philosophy, literature or science. Pg. 5

6. Athens

7. Athens: Athenian Society Pg. 6 • Athens is located on the Attic peninsula, one of the least fertile areas in Greece. • Citizens formed the top group in Athenian society which could be aristocrats or poor farmers. • Only Athenian born men had full political rights. • Female citizens could not vote or hold office. • The next group in Athenian society was the Metics.

8. Metics were non-citizens because they were born outside Athens and usually worked as merchants or artisans. • Metics were free and paid the same taxes but they could not take part in government or own land. • Slaves were at the bottom of society and were captured during times of war. • Slaves were owned by masters and treated as property. • Sometimes masters freed slaves who then became Metics. Pg. 7

9. Athens Early Government Pg. 8 • First Athens was a monarchy then an Aristocracy. • Only citizens who owned land could hold office. • All adult males citizens met in an assembly and elected generals in time of war. They also elected nine Archons who served one year terms. • Early on Athens’s laws were not written down. In 621 B.C. an Archon named Draco created Athens’s first written law code.

10. Draco’s laws were so harsh and severe that today they call a harsh law a Draconian law. • Poor citizens and farmers were sold into slavery to pay for their debts. • An archon named Solon settled this dispute by erasing debts of the poor and outlawing slavery for debt. He also freed people who had become slaves to pay their debts. • Peisistratus ruled over Athens as a tyrant and improved Athens economy in the process. Pg. 9

11. In 507 B.C. Cleisthenes seized power in Athens and turned it into a democracy. He divided Athens into 10 tribes and each had to choose 50 men that formed the Council of 500. • Members of the council served for 1 year and could not be chosen more than twice. • Under Cleisthenes, Athens was a direct democracy. • Direct Democracy- all citizens participate directly in making decisions. • Representative Democracy- citizens elect representatives to govern them. Pg. 10

12. Daily Life in Athens: Economy • Most citizens were farmers who grew olives, grapes, and figs. • Trade was very important to Athens society. • Athens exported olive oil, wine, and household items. • Athens imported grain and other foodstuffs. Pg. 11

13. Home & Family Life Pg. 12 • Most Athenian families lived in simple homes. • Athenians believed that money should be spent on buildings that would benefit the whole community. • People in Athens built one-story houses, made of sun-dried brick. • Marriage and family life were important too. • Parents always arranged marriages. • Girls married young at age 13 or 14 and their husbands may be twice her age or older.

14. The main purpose of marriage was to have children. • If a family could not afford to raise a child, the baby may be left to die, especially if it was a girl. • Athenian women legally and socially were considered inferior to men. They were citizens but could not own or inherit property. • Women’s duties included managing the household and slaves and raising children. • At home women were expected to stay in the background Pg. 13

15. Mothers took care of all the children until the age of 6. • At age 7, boys came under the care of their pedagogue which was a male slave who taught the boy manners. The pedagogue went everywhere with boy, including school. • Girls stayed at home and learned to run a household but usually received no education. • However, wealthy girls were taught to read and write. Pg. 14

16. Education & Military Service • Most Athenians were poor and hardworking, working long hours with little leisure time. • Athenians placed great value on literacy and education. • Athenian boys studied reading, writing, grammar, poetry, music, and gymnastics. They learned poetry by heart including Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey. Pg. 15

17. Sophists- opened schools for older boys. Sophists took their name from the Greek word “sophos” meaning “wise”. • At these schools they studied mathematics, ethics, and rhetoric. • Ethics- deals with what is good and bad and moral duty. • Rhetoric- study of oratory or public speaking and debating. • At age 18 males received a year of military training and became hoplites in the army. Pg. 16