Inland

Peloponnesus

Most powerful

Descendants of Dorians

Lived military based life

Slave workers from conquered lands owned by Sparta

4:1 Helots to citizens

War time:

2 kings from different families

Shared authority

Peace time:

Oligarchy

30 elders older than 60

Proposed laws to assembly

Law making group

Adult male citizens

Passed laws of elders

Elected ephors

5 wealthy landowners

Took care of

everyday governing

Boys

Age 7 sent to training camps

Age 18 began 4 years of military training

Ages 20 – 30 allowed to marry

Age 30 became a citizen

Age 60 time as active soldier ended

Girls

Trained to be strong

More freedom than in other city-states

Highly respected

Handled household

Raised children

Everyone

Travel and trade discouraged

Dressed plainly

Simple meals

Strong sense of honor

On harbor off Aegean Sea

Many trading partners

683 BC oligarchy replaced monarchy

No written laws until 620 BC

(Draco)

600 BC many in debt, forced into

slavery

594 BC Solon brought reforms

Lawmaker

Wrote first written laws for Athens

Laws were very harsh

Respected and fair leader

Authority to deal with debt crisis

Made reforms (changes)

Canceled all debts

Freed all who had put themselves into slavery

Replaced harsh Draconian laws

Rights based on wealth, not birth

Male citizens divided into 4 classes

All males could attend assembly

Council (400 citizens) established to support assembly

Majority rule

Boys

7 – 14 spent day in school

After 14 wealthy had private tutor

Learned father’s trade

Girls

Studied at home

In charge of home life

Learned spinning, cooking, etc.

Slaves

1/3 of Athens

Many educated

No rights

5oos BC Mesopotamia

Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) began the empire

Cambyses added Egypt

Darius I made the empire the largest in history

Empire divided into 20 regions

Each had governor

Built a 1,500 mile road to connect empire

Wanted to control all Greek city-states

Feared the Persians and Athens

Sparta created a league (group of allies)

Peloponnesian League

•Formed to protect members

•Became large fighting force