- become the cultural center of classical Greece

- until 594 B.C.: governed by aristocrats (an aristocratic council) - Areopagus; they elected 9 magistrates - archons - every year
- the citizens divided in: 4 tribes and a number of brotherhoods
- membership in Areopagus - hereditary
- no written law (only oral law or traditions); archons - interpreted legal issues
- political tensions - high until the election of Solon (as the only archon) - 594 B.C.
Solon's reforms:

- canceled outstanding debts; and freed many slaves
- introduced the Council (400 citizens) => checked on the Areopagus
- encouraged commerce and industry
- prohibited the export of wheat and encouraged that of olive oil

560 and 546 - 527 B.C. - emergence of Pisistratus (ruled as a tyrant)
- he worked to break the remaining power of the aristocratic families
- public works flourished ( remodeled the agora + new temples) - gave work to many citizens

Pisistratus => succeeded by Hippias (his son) - overthrown in 510

Cleisthenes - laid the foundations of the democratic system
Reforms:
- expanded the number of demes (the primary unit of local government)
- divided them in 10 (not 4) tribes (each tribe would incorporate citizens from the urban, rural, coastal arias)
- a Council of 500 was elected with 50 members from each tribe; they prepared legislation, supervised the finances and foreign affairs - they met at least 40 times/year
- each tribe had supreme executive power for 1 month (the calendar had 10 month)
- magistrates - were chosen on a merit basis

-isonomia: equal rights under the law
-isegoria: all votes are equal (no matter the wealth)
-mistos - wage (equal with a craftsman wage)
-leitourghia: the wealthy people would give money for public expenses (fleet, the theater shows, religious festivals)

Sparta

- Spartans wrote little => they are known through the writings of foreign political theorists
Accounts:
- Sparta: grim place; poor, conservative, distinguished only by its army, and discipline

=> Sparta: aristocratic garrison state
- the first Spartans - maybe Doric invaders => established their polis on the ruins of an earlier society
- they displaced the ruling class (Dorian as well) - those -perioikoi -retained property and personal freedom; the others became helots (serfs)

725 B.C. - Sparta conquered Messenia (neighboring polis) - its inhabitants - reduced to serfdom

- helots - outnumbered Spartans by a ration of ten to one
650 B.C. - the helots rose against Spartans => survival of the Spartan state => required complete social reorganization
Reorganization attributed to:
Lycurgus (legendary figure); the new practices evolved over time

- Sparta: dual monarchy; two hereditary kings had equal powers in war and religious matters
- Council of Elders (28 men) - over the age 60 - advised them, reviewed their legal decisions (1); for life
- ephors ( a committee of five) ran the government - they could override the military decisions of the kings (2); one year term

1+2 - were elected by an assembly composed of all Spartan males over age 30

=> the system was very effective and stabile

Life in Athens:

- lived in small houses (standardized) - with a central court and the rooms on each side; andron - one of the important rooms in the house (for parties, or banquets) - only citizens were allowed to have an andron; women (wives + daughters) were not allowed to participate in those parties
- citizens
- slaves - worked as domestic servants + in mines (Laurion); killing a slave was a crime; many could buy their freedom if they could raise their price of purchase
- foreigners; Athenians welcomed foreign ideas and capital; could not participate in the political life, could not own real estate - many they became wealthy (commerce)
- women: had no political rights; legally they had the status of minors - their judicial rights had to be exercised by others; divorce was rare; women controlled the household and avoided public life
- poor and foreign women worked or sold goods in the marketplace - freedom of movement
- segregation of sexes
- prostitution was common => hetairai (lightly educated) were highly valued as companions at banquets
- homosexuality => regarded as normal , praiseworthy (initiation)
- lesbianism => accepted; Greek man may not have cared about sex between women => did not raise the issue of inheritance

=> Greeks: open about sexual matters => self control remained the essence of the ideal citizen (sexual restrain, physical fitness and moderation in the consumption of food and drink)

Life in Sparta:

- Spartan law:
the life evolved around the security of their polis
- infants physically unfit were killed
- male infants of 7 years old - taken from their mothers and trained to fight, endure pain and survive without supplies => at 20 entered a phiditia (barracks - where they would live for most of their lives => took their meals in common); allowed to marry - they could visit their wives; their military life ended at age 60
- foreigners: periodically expelled
- trade and agricultural work - forbidden; fitness, discipline and courage - prized
- Spartans paid dues to phiditia from the proceeds of land worked by the helots
- women supervised the work of the helots; women were independent, received physical training (a stronger mother produces strong children);
women had the right to landed property and the right to control the helots

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