The Rise of Greek City-States

Section 4-2pp. 118-123

Geography Shapes Greece

Greece is part of the Balkan Peninsula

Greece is part of the Balkan Peninsula

Greece has rugged terrain

Greece has rugged terrain

Greek city-states were isolated by mountains or

water

Greek city-states were isolated by mountains or

water

The seas connected Greece to the outside world.

The seas connected Greece to the outside world.

PeloponnesusPeloponnesus

Aegean SeaAegean Sea

Adriatic SeaAdriatic Sea

Ionian SeaIonian Sea

II. Governing the City-States

• Polis: Greek City-State– Acropolis• High point of the city• Temples located here

– Lower City• Marketplace• Theater• Homes

II. Governing the City-States

• Citizen: Free residents of a town or city– Not all citizens were equal – Male landowners held the most power

II. Governing the City-States

• Monarchy: A government in which a hereditary ruler exercises central power.

• Aristocracy: Rule by a hereditary landholding elite.

• Oligarchy: Rule by a small group of the wealthy elite.

III. Sparta: A Warrior Society • Government– Ruled by two kings– Citizen assembly

approved decisions– Daily work ran by ephors

• Military Society – Needed to control helots– Trained from birth – Used phalanx formation

III. Sparta: A Warrior Society

• Women in Sparta– Trained to bear and raise healthy soldiers – Patriarchal society, could inherit property

• Isolation– Avoided trade and travel– Didn’t value arts or literature

IV. Athens Evolves Into a Democracy

• Government– Evolved from an

aristocracy into a democracy

– Solon: made the government more democratic

IV. Athens Evolves Into a Democracy

• Pisistratus: Tyrant who weakened the aristocracy by giving more power to the poor

• Cleisthenes: Created the Council of 500 – Legislature composed of 500 citizens chosen by lot

IV. Athens Evolves Into A Democracy

• Athens had a limited democracy– Only landholding males were citizens – Didn’t include slaves, women, or merchants

• Women in Athens– Most important participation was in religious life– Received little or no formal education

IV. Athens Evolves Into a Democracy

• Education – Reserved for wealthy

males – Studied reading,

writing, poetry, music, public speaking

V. Forces for Unity

• Shared culture helped unite Greek city-states– Language– History – Religion• Polytheistic • Gods lived on Mt. Olympus and

led by Zeus • Honored with temples,

festivals, and sacrifices