CAMS 025 Lesson 12 Jason Brooks The Pennsylvania State University

• Polis – Citizenship – Assembly (“boulē”) – Rule? • Oligarchy • Tryannos – Not a cruel despot, just someone who takes rule • Democracy

• Sparta/Lacedaimon – Oligarchy • Devoted to military readiness • Discipline – Spartan Infantry – Spartan Geography • Easily defended • Narrow N to S plain • Between two mountain ranges • Harbor c. 25 miles from urban core – Very dangerous part of Medit. » Kept them mostly land-focused » Made a sea-attack v. difficult for enemies.

• Sparta – Spartan “synoecism” • Originally 4 villages – 2 dominant ones • Came together to form first polis • Synoecism = “union of households” – Many people stayed in their original village » But one became the center. – Many also would have moved to the urban center

• Spartan Expansion – b/c of synoecism, Sparta was governed by 2 military leaders: Kings • Problems – Disputes mid-battle – Disputes over policy – Spartan Oligarchy • 28 men over 60 y.o. + 2 kings = gerousia • Assembly of all free males • Ephors = 5 elected “overseers” – Arable land becomes insufficient • Spartans start attacking their neighbors

• Tyranny – Response to oligarchy • Sparta never experienced tyranny – Most Famous: Corinth, 657 BCE • Under tyrants, Corinth became – Economic power – Naval power – Artistic center – They colonized Syracuse (Sicily) • Bacchaid family

• Corinthian Tyranny – Bacchaid family ruled violently – Cypselus overthrows them • Oracle from Delphi • Popular support – Cypselus destroyed rivals, remained popular – Cypselus dies in 625 • Son took over (Periander), died in 585 BCE – His successor was then ousted (due to Periander’s harsh rule) – A new govt. was established with 8 magistrates and a council of 80.

• Tyranny: What’s the upshot? – Greek tyranny represented a distinct type of rule • How power was acquired • Tyrannoi were members of social elite – Needed to rally support • Usually preserved laws and institutions – Promotes social stability • Often ruled over periods of economic and cultural blossoming • Not necessarily bad: Greeks judged each tyrannos separately. – No negative connotations like “tyrant” in English » Keep this in mind when we get to Oedipus.

• Athens and Democracy – Theseus – Athens @ end of Bronze Age – C. 850 BCE, Athens’ ag. was coming back to life • Peasant farmers = biggest and fastest growing demographic – Began to demand more political say – Pull domination from the elite (a broad oligarchy at Athens) – By late 7th cent., Athens established first limited form of Democratic govt.

• Athenian Proto-Democracy – Ecclesia = “assembly” (by 7th cent.) – Archons = “rulers” (magistrates of ecclesia; elected 9) – System threatened in 621 BCE • Cylon wanted to be tyrannos • 621 BCE: Athenians appoint Draco to establish code of laws – Promote social stability and equality – Failed – About 25 years of political turmoil and problems

• Reforms of Solon/Early Athenian Democracy – Solon of Athens: 594 BCE • From prominent family in Athens • Poet • Given special power to revise laws (after Draco’s revisions of 621 failed) • Restructured political power, balanced interests of 2 major groups: – Rich – Poor » Wanted to ensure justice for all Athenians

• Reforms of Solon – Divided Athenian Citizens into 4 classes 1. Pentakosiomedímnoi (500-measure men) 2. Hippeis “horsemen” (300-measure men) 3. Zeugitai “yoked men” (200-measure men) 4. Thetes “laborers” ( >200-measure men) – Higher the class, higher level of state participation » Only the pentakosiomedimnoi could hold state offices, like treasurer – Created boulē (“assembly”) of 400 1. Chosen by lot – Probably only from top 3 classes – Established schedule of regular meetings for the boulē

• Reforms of Solon – Reaffirmed participation of all citizens – Extended citizens rights in judicial system • Right to appeal “to the people” – All reforms were made public • If you could read… – Importance of Solon’s Reforms • Categories base on wealth, not property • Supported further developments of democracy – Removed direct taxes on income • Political system open to individual initiative and change • Administration of justice concerned all citizens – But he increased the power of Areopagus » Only the top class held position in the state court • Repatriated many Athenian slaves from abroad • Outlawed debt slavery

• Early Athenian Democracy cont. – Continued discontent and unrest – Pisistratus becomes tyrant in 546 BCE • Wealthy friends • Championed cause of poor – Provided funds for to help peasants acquire farm equipment – Employed poor men with public works projects – “Judges on tour” – Taxed agricultural production – Hippias takes control in 527 BCE • Opposition ousts him with help of the Spartan army!

• Cleisthenes fills power vacuum in 508 BCE • Cleisthenes’ rival, Isagroas, rallied Sparta to oust Cleisthenes – Athenian people united to force Isagoras and the Spartans out • Sowed seeds for Athenian-Spartan mistrust • Cleisthenes reestablishes democracy – Helps move Athens to be a society based on thought and speech.

• Herodotus of Halicarnasus • C. 485-425 BCE • “Father of History” • First critical look at historical events – Search for causes (aitia) • Cf. annals, chronicles – Geographical and chronological scope – Ethnography – Critical of evidence – Lively narrative