Year 9
Unit 2 - Classical Greece
Lesson 3 - Athens - a Greek city state
In the Archaic Period, Greece was made up of many small, independent states. Each of these states was called a Polis or city state and it consisted of a city and the countryside which surrounded it. Greece is a generally mountainous country and ancient Greece suffered from frequent wars. The founders of the city states therefore often chose a hill around which to build their city. A hill could be fortified and defended easily if the city was being attacked. A hill was also a suitable place on which to build temples to the gods, because it reached to the skies where most of the gods were believed to live. The hill around which the city was built was called the Acropolis, which meant "high city". The Acropolis of Athens is high enough to give a fine view as far as the nearby Aegean Sea. If raiders were landing for an attack on the city, the Athenians could have plenty warning of their coming.
In the Archaic Period, Greece was made up of many small, independent states. Each of these states was called a Polis or city state and it consisted of a city and the countryside which surrounded it. Greece is a generally mountainous country and ancient Greece suffered from frequent wars. The founders of the city states therefore often chose a hill around which to build their city. A hill could be fortified and defended easily if the city was being attacked. A hill was also a suitable place on which to build temples to the gods, because it reached to the skies where most of the gods were believed to live. The hill around which the city was built was called the Acropolis, which meant "high city". The Acropolis of Athens is high enough to give a fine view as far as the nearby Aegean Sea. If raiders were landing for an attack on the city, the Athenians could have plenty warning of their coming.
The most important temple on the Acropolis was the Parthenon; this was seventy metres long and built of marble. The Parthenon was dedicated to the Goddess Athena, who was the patron Goddess of Athens (and after whom the city is named). The Acropolis contained several temples other than the Parthenon. It also contained a huge open- air statue of Athena. This statue was said to be 16 metres tall and could be seen glistening in the sunlight for a great distance out to sea.
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Social divisions in Athens
In all Greek states people were divided into different classes. This division was strict and it was virtually impossible for a person to change from one class to another.
Citizens were free adult men who were born of Athenian parents. They were the most privileged and powerful group in Athens, as they were the only people who could take part in the government of the Polis.
Metics were free men who had been born outside Athens or to parents who were not native Athenians. Most metics were traders or craftsmen and some of them were very rich. Like citizens, they were expected to pay taxes and to serve in the army if needed. But, unlike citizens, they could take no part in the running of the state. Nor could they ever become citizens.
Slaves were considered to be the personal property of free people. Some slaves had been captured in war. Most were born into slavery; being themselves the children of slaves. Slaves did all sorts of work for their masters. Some performed back-breaking labour in mines and quarries. Others worked on the land or in the homes of their owners. Some were even skilled doctors or teachers. A few were paid for their work, but all slaves had one thing in common: they had no legal rights at all and could be bought and sold like animals. It happened sometimes (though not often) that a slave owner would grant freedom to his slave. This made the slave a free person, though he or she could never become a citizen or a metic.
The social divisions here applied to men only. A woman had to take the social status of her husband or father and no woman was ever allowed to take part in government or other public life.
How was Athens ruled?
The Monarchy (up to c. 800BC) - In its earliest times, Athens was ruled by kings who lived in the easily defended Acropolis. One famous Athenian king was called Theseus. Many legends were told about Theseus.
The Aristocracy (c. 800-600BC) - After Theseus the power of the monarchy declined and Athens fell under the control of an oligarchy, which means rule by a small group of people. This small group consisted of the richest landowners, whose wealth gave them great power and influence. These powerful people were sometimes called aristocrats, which comes from the Greek word aristoi, meaning "the best people".
The Tyranny (c. 600-500BC) - As time went on, many other Athenians such as traders, and craftsmen and farmers demanded that they, too, should have a say in the running of the Polis. The aristocrats, however, wanted to keep all political power for themselves. Rioting and trouble broke out. To re-establish peace, the people sometimes allowed one powerful man to seize all power for himself. A leader who seized complete power by force was called a tyrant. Some tyrants were cruel and unpopular and were soon driven out. But others helped the poor, were popular and reigned
Democracy (from c.500BC) - In 508BC, an Athenian leader called Cleisthenes introduced a new system of Government to Athens. This government was called democracy, which meant” rule by the people". Today, democracy means a system of government in which every adult has a vote, this was not the case in ancient Greece.
In all Greek states people were divided into different classes. This division was strict and it was virtually impossible for a person to change from one class to another.
Citizens were free adult men who were born of Athenian parents. They were the most privileged and powerful group in Athens, as they were the only people who could take part in the government of the Polis.
Metics were free men who had been born outside Athens or to parents who were not native Athenians. Most metics were traders or craftsmen and some of them were very rich. Like citizens, they were expected to pay taxes and to serve in the army if needed. But, unlike citizens, they could take no part in the running of the state. Nor could they ever become citizens.
Slaves were considered to be the personal property of free people. Some slaves had been captured in war. Most were born into slavery; being themselves the children of slaves. Slaves did all sorts of work for their masters. Some performed back-breaking labour in mines and quarries. Others worked on the land or in the homes of their owners. Some were even skilled doctors or teachers. A few were paid for their work, but all slaves had one thing in common: they had no legal rights at all and could be bought and sold like animals. It happened sometimes (though not often) that a slave owner would grant freedom to his slave. This made the slave a free person, though he or she could never become a citizen or a metic.
The social divisions here applied to men only. A woman had to take the social status of her husband or father and no woman was ever allowed to take part in government or other public life.
How was Athens ruled?
The Monarchy (up to c. 800BC) - In its earliest times, Athens was ruled by kings who lived in the easily defended Acropolis. One famous Athenian king was called Theseus. Many legends were told about Theseus.
The Aristocracy (c. 800-600BC) - After Theseus the power of the monarchy declined and Athens fell under the control of an oligarchy, which means rule by a small group of people. This small group consisted of the richest landowners, whose wealth gave them great power and influence. These powerful people were sometimes called aristocrats, which comes from the Greek word aristoi, meaning "the best people".
The Tyranny (c. 600-500BC) - As time went on, many other Athenians such as traders, and craftsmen and farmers demanded that they, too, should have a say in the running of the Polis. The aristocrats, however, wanted to keep all political power for themselves. Rioting and trouble broke out. To re-establish peace, the people sometimes allowed one powerful man to seize all power for himself. A leader who seized complete power by force was called a tyrant. Some tyrants were cruel and unpopular and were soon driven out. But others helped the poor, were popular and reigned
Democracy (from c.500BC) - In 508BC, an Athenian leader called Cleisthenes introduced a new system of Government to Athens. This government was called democracy, which meant” rule by the people". Today, democracy means a system of government in which every adult has a vote, this was not the case in ancient Greece.
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Activity Write the questions and answers for a ‘Fling the Teacher’ style quiz entitled ‘The Society and Government of Ancient Athens’. The correct answers are: Acropolis, Polis, Parthenon, Citizens, Metics, Slaves, Monarchy, Aristocracy, Tyranny and Democracy. Remember for each correct answer you must include 3 feasible incorrect answers. |