crucible of civilization

1. What was the situation in Athens in 508 BC?  
   The city turned on the rulers and demanded freedom.

2. What class did Cleisthenes come from and what kind of power did this group exercise over Athenians? 
   Cleisthenes was an aristocrat, this group ruled Athens.

3. How did Aristotle describe life for most Athenians in the 6th century BC?  
   Life in Athens in the 6th century was tough, there was no reading/writing and there was rarely any true justice, life expectancy after birth was 16 years.

4. Where were the great civilizations in Cleisthenes day and how was Greece geographically different than these?  
   Greece had many mountains and hills. East to Persia and west to Egypt.Greece was different because it seperated into city-states. 

5. What Greek city seemed the most likely to dominate all others politically during Cleisthenes lifetime?  
   Sparta because they were raising an army and were taught only about fighting skills and were disciplined well. They also expanded very quickly.

6. What specific stories inspired Cleisthenes and his fellow Greeks?  
   Iliad and the Odyssey, he liked ancient tales and myths especially the kinds with mighty battles, struggles, and heroes.

7. Describe Arete, the Greek ideal or vision of a hero. 
   A life of greatness and glory through strength and valor and to become a real life hero.

8. What surprising political move did the ruler Pisistratus make in order to consolidate power in Athens?  
   He asked the common athenians for support instead of the aristocrats and he lowered taxes and introduced free loans.

9. What was Athens' most valuable trading commodity? 
   Olives, soap, and moisturizer.

10. What Athenian product that was almost worthless at the time now commonly fetches millions of dollars on the Antiquities market? What were the artisans who made these products main motivation in doing such good work?  
    The vase, when doing such good work they would paint a vase that resemble each other.

11. How was Hippias a different ruler than his father Pisistratus? What did he do to his father's reforms?  
    Hippias was a tyrant and he stripped away the reforms and freedoms.

12. What did Cleisthenes do in 510 BC? How was Greek society in Athens changing at this time? He overthrew Hippias and succeeded. he changed the government. 

13. How had the Olympics changed from their founding to the days of Cleisthenes and how did this festival influence ordinary Greeks? 
    They used to be a competition for the wealthiest Greeks but changed for anyone to participate.

14. Who did Isagoras turn to in 508 BC to help him overthrow Cleisthenes?
    Sparta

15. What happened in Athens while Cleisthenes was in exile? What did this do for Cleisthenes? There was a revolution Cleisthenes gained power and led Athens.

16. What did Cleisthenes carve out from the hillside that was near the Acropolis and why did he do this? What was this the beginning of?  

He carved out a meeting place for the citizens so even the common people got a say on what they wanted and their opinions.This was the beginning of their democracy.

The Greek Polis: Warring City States

Part A Reading Guide

1.The Sparta treated the Messenians very bad, they made them slaves and demanded half of their crops. 

2. The Sparta dedicated their society to becoming a strong military after the revolt.  

3. The Athenians avoided major political upheavals by moving their people into a Democracy. 

4. Solon outlawed debt, slavery, four social classes, and press charges to initiate economic and political reformation.  

5. The Cleisthenes organized citizens in districts that could submit laws and a council of 500 was randomly chosen. 

6. The Greeks had phalanx unlike the Persians.  The Greeks were disciplined and the Persians had lighter armor so poorer people would join. 

7. The consequences of the Persian Wars was Athens trading freely and flourishing and the Delian league formed. 

TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.
• polis • acropolis • monarchy • aristocracy • oligarchy • tyrant • democracy • helot • phalanx • Persian Wars

Polis means the city- state.  The acropolis was like a temple that each individual city-state had at their highest point and each was set up mostly the same.  The Aristocracy were the land owning class of people, AKA the highest class.  The Demos were the average citizens.   A Monarchy is a single ruler; king or queen.  The Aristocracy was also a system of government where the wealthiest were in power.  Oligarchy is two or more rulers.  Tyranny was a system where one tyrant would be appointed to have power in a time of emergency and crisis, usually a small period in time.  Phalanx is a very powerful fighting force in the ancient world where you hold a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.  The Persian Wars were fought between the Persians and the Greeks. 

USING YOUR NOTES
2. Which of the events on your time line do you think was the most important for life today? Explain.

 The Greeks defeating the remaining Persian army was the most important event for life today because if they hadn't, life now for the Greeks could be far behind how advanced they are today and they could've gone through a very bad period of loss.

MAIN IDEAS
3. How does an aristocracy differ from an oligarchy?

An Aristocracy is made up of nobles and an oligarchy is just powerful/ wealthy people. 

4. What contributions did Solon and Cleisthenes make to the development of Athenian democracy?

Solon outlawed debt slavery.  Cleisthenes broke up the power of nobility by organizing citizens into groups based off of where they lived no their wealth.  He also let all citizens to submit laws. 
5. How did Athens benefit from victory in the Persian Wars?

Athens became the leader of the Delian League which had grown into at least 200 city-states.