The Age of Pericles

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The Polis
The Greek City-State
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Definition

• The Polis or the city-state was the basic
  political unit of Ancient Greece

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The Typical Polis

• Included a city and the surrounding villages,
  fields, and orchards
• At the center of the city on top of a hill stood
  an acropolis, or fortified hill
• At the foot of the acropolis was the agora, or
  public square

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The Typical Polis, cont.

• Citizens those who took part in government
• Carried out public affairs
• Chose their officials
• Passed their laws
• Citizens of a polis had both rights and
  responsibilities
• Rights
• 1. They could vote
• 2. Hold public office
• 3. Own property
• 4. Speak for themselves in court

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The Typical Polis, cont.

• Responsibilities
• 1. Serve in government
• 2. Defend the polis in times of war
• Not everyone could be a citizen
• In Athens
• Slaves
• Foreign born
• Before 500 B.C., men who didnt own land
• Women
• Women had no political or legal rights.

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Political Evolution

• The political structure started as a king-ruled
  society
• The kings lost power to land-holding aristocrats
  (nobles)
• Nobles began giving loans to farmers to be paid
  off at harvest
• When they could not repay the loan, the
  aristocrats would take the farmers land
• This caused unrest among the farmers
• As the Greek army became more dependent on
  phalanxes, the farmers became more powerful
• Phalanx units of soldiers that used shields to
  form solid walls

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Political Evolution, cont.

• As a result of the unrest, tyrannies arose
• A tyranny was created when one man seized power
  and ruled single-handedly
• Tyrants ruled various polis until 336 B.C.

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Political Evolution, cont.

• An oligarchy is a government ruled by a few
  wealthy men
• A democracy is a government by the people
• The democracy of Athens and the oligarchy of
  Sparta became the most famous city-states/polis

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The Age of Pericles
Greece Expands
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I. Persian War Review
A. Battle of Marathon (Darius) B. Battle of
Thermopylae (Xerxes) C. Battle of Salamis
(Xerxes) D. Platea (Xerxes)
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II. After the defeat of Persia
A. Athens was rebuilt B. Built an empire in
Aegean C. Greeks gained confidence D.
Unification necessary for survival E. Created
a defensive alliance of city-states against
Persia Delian League 1. Many
chief officials were Athenian 2.140
city-states total gave either money or ships to
the alliance Ex
Sparta couldnt send army far from
home b/c they feared helot uprisings
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III. Pericles
A. Athenian statesman and orator 461-429 B.C. B.
Democracy expanded 1. all white males 2.
except the lowest class C. Strengthened and
expanded the Athenian empire D. Used
Athenian navy to protect Aegean E. Brought
economic prosperity F. The Golden Era of Athens
Time of greatest power and prestige
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G. Members of Delian League prospered but lost
independence 1. Athens made all decisions
2. Forced city-states to join league 3.
Pericles moved Delian treasury from the
island of Delos to Athens 4. Used money to
benefit Athens 5. Cities could not leave
alliance without the unanimous
vote of all the members 6. Caused great
tension throughout Greece 7. This
policy failed to unite Greece 8. Lead to the
Peloponnesian War