Ancient Greece was influenced by its mountainous terrain which led to small independent city-states. These states shared a common language, culture, and religion. Athenian democracy lasted around 200 years in the 5th century BC and allowed native born men to participate directly in governing. It was a direct democracy where citizens voted directly on legislation and executive offices were filled by lot. However, democracy failed in Athens as the people grew greedy and conflict between city-states led to war and instability for centuries. Philosophy developed during this time, with Socrates being executed for challenging Athenian ideals, and Plato believing people should not directly rule and be assigned roles by leaders.

1. II. Ancient Greece

2. A. What influenced Greece?
1. Dominated by mountains, valleys & small
plains
2. Small communities due to little arable soil
3. Difficult to communicate
4. Had to sail to colonize, trade.

3. B. With so many independent states
within Greece, what did they have in
common?
1. A common language
2. A common heritage of myths
3. The worship of the gods.

4. C. Athenian democracy…
• Lasted about 140 to 200 years
• Did not include all Athenians, just native
born men.
• Was not seen again until Colonial America.
• Democracy comes from Demos meaning
"people" and kratos meaning "rule."

5. D. How did democracy develop?
1. Draco the Lawgiver and wealthy nobility used harsh punishments to
control people.
a. Capital punishment for minor crimes
b. Law was codified
2. After Dracon’s death, Salon…
a. Abolished enslavement of Athenian citizens, redeemed all the Athenian
slaves he could.
b. Established two ruling bodies made up of representatives of the people:
Council composed of four hundred members made the law and oversaw
magistrates which enforced it. Appeals court for people to contest rulings
they thought were unfair
c. He divided the citizens into four classes based on wealth, not kinship so
your status was based on your success not on those you were related to.
d. Got rid of the severe penalties established by Dracon.
e. He changed the currency to facilitate trade with the East.
f. Nothing to be exported except olive oil and eventually wine so grain would
stay in Athens to feed people.

6. 1. Abolished divisions based on wealth.
2. He created 10 artificial tribes.
3. Expanded membership of the Assembly. 6000
needed for quorum.
4. Allowed each tribe to choose 50 members to serve
in the Council of 500.
5. Directed Council to create agenda for the assembly
so it was more orderly.
6. Designed chief executives – 10 generals chosen by
lot.
7. Believed that any Athenian man could participate –
an ideal of democracy.
E. Later, Clisthenes…

7. F. Why Didn’t Democracy Work?
• The people were easily swayed.
• People were greedy and wanted more territory which led to war.
• The first wars against Persia were defensive and justifiable
• Athens led an alliance to defend Greece against King Darius.
• Afterwards, the Delian League, led by Athens, continued to exist for security, but Athens
used it to expand their sphere of influence in what was known as the Athenian Empire.
• Those that refused to belong or contribute money and troops were destroyed. Cities
were burnt, men were killed and women/children were enslaved.
• Afraid of Athenian dominance, the Spartans and other city-states started the
Peloponnesian League.
• Eventually the two leagues fought a series of wars which involved Persian help to Sparta,
infighting (especially in the Delian League), and declining support within Athens.
• Pericles of Athens maintained leadership and popular support of the people which briefly
garnered a 30 year peace. Once the wars started again, Athen's position continued to
falter and Pericles died of the plague.
• Eventually, the Spartan army was able to besiege Athens and starve them into submission
• Sparta installed an oligarchy of nobles known as the “Thirty Tyrants.” They were cruel and
stripped the people of rights until they were toppled. Athens was not stable or free for
centuries.

9. G. Philosophy
• Socrates was executed for challenging the ideals of Athens.
• Plato believed the people could not rule, they must be assigned to roles.
• Wrote The Republic, reflecting on life of mentor.
• Plato was angry over mentor’s death.
• “Philosophers must become kings…or those now called kings must…genuinely and
adequately philosophize.”
• People must be broken up into classes…
a. Leadership (preferably philosophers)
b. Civilians
c. Military
1. Started “The Academy” to train future leaders.
2. One student was Aristotle who believed the law and government needed to reflect logic in
order to thwart man’s evil instincts.
3. Aristotle educated Alexander the Great who conquered the known world and died by 32.
4. Despite his Macedonian origins, Alexander absorbed Greek ideas and spread them through
the Mediterranean where they influenced Rome.