Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece The Polis The City-state of Athens

 Map of the City of Athens (Upper Left)  Image of the Topography of Athens (Lower Left)  Buildings of the Acropolis (both on the Lower Right) Greek Government

2000-1100 BC Monarchy Most city-states and Greece were monarchies. Minoan and (rule one person, a king or  King Minos of Crete Mycenaean queen for example)  King Agamemnon of Mycenae Periods  King Priam of Troy

1100-750 BC Aristocracy Noblemen known as aristocrats begin to gain control over some of the Dark Ages (oligarchy = rule by Greek city-states. Democracy is first seen in small towns. the nobility (rule by a few)) 750-500 BC Tyranny Some city-states were ruled by aristocrats; others were ruled by tyrants Archaic Period (dictatorship = rule by (dictators). Democracy and democratic ideas begin to grow in Athens. a tyrant, a dictator for Sparta and Argos are two of the few monarchies that remain. example)  Tyrants in Athens included Theseus, Draco, Solon, and Peisistratus

500-323 BC Democracy Athens becomes the first large city to embrace democracy as its main form Classical Period (demos (people) and kratos of government. Sparta is still a monarchy. (rule) = rule by the citizens –  Major democratic reformers in Athens included practiced in Athens and Cleisthenes and Pericles some other city-states)

 Direct Democracy o all citizens make laws  Representative Democracy o elected representatives make

Assembly The Assembly was made up of all free male citizens 21 years of age or older. It elected the Board of Generals. It also received and considered proposals made by the Council and the Board of Generals. The Assembly discussed and voted on all important matters of state, including declaring war and appropriating money.

Council Board of Generals Board of Officials The Council was an executive body that The Board of Generals was made up of The Board of Officials was elected to prepared and suggested items to be 10 generals who were elected by the direct public affairs such as the courts of considered by the Assembly. It handled Assembly. The Board advised the justice. most of the routine government business. Assembly on military affairs. It led the It was made up of ten committees, which army took turns heading the Assembly. Its 500 and navy in wartime. members were chosen by lot from all the citizens. Members had to be at least 30 Juries years old. They served for one year. Six thousand people acted as judges and jurors combined. Of these, at least 201 were chosen by lot for each trial. In important cases the jury would number 501 or more people.