The beginnings of Greek civilisation. Sparta and Athens.
to define what the Greek polis were;
to indicate the differences between the functioning and system of Sparta and Athens;
to list the names of eminent politicians and military leaders of the ancient world;
to describe the influence ancient Greece had on the modern world.
In the history of ancient Greece, the fate of the two largest city‑states, Athens and Sparta, called the polis, is of particular importance. Polis was not only a city‑state but also a form of political organization and community of its citizens. They were usually founded around a high hill - an acropolisacropolis, where the most important buildings and temples were located. Thus, it played both a public and religious role.
Despite their differences, the ancient Greeks had a strong sense of being connected to each other. They shared not only the same religion and culture but also customs, political system and language (with small (dialectaldialectal) differences).
Located in the southern part of the Peloponnese, Sparta was radically different from other Greek polis. There was a clear division of society into different classes: citizens who were professional soldiers, helots who were the conquered population, deprived of any rights and with the status of state slaves, and PerioikoiPerioikoi who were free but deprived of civil rights; their main occupation was craftsmanship and commerce. Two kings ruled Sparta, who with 28 experienced Spartans formed the so‑called gerousiagerousia, i.e. the council of elders. They were responsible for drafting laws, passing judgments and advising in matters concerning the polis.
The education of young Spartiates, the primary goal of which was to train efficient and devoted soldiers, was unique. In order to make the city‑state strong, shortly after birth, a special council accepted only healthy newborns into the community, while weak and sickly ones were left to die. Already at an early age, boys had to leave their family homes and live in common barracks, where they stayed until they were 30 years old. The conditions there were very difficult, devoid of any comforts, hence the saying „Spartan conditions” that is still used to this day. The Spartans called each other equal, as each one of them had one vote at the assembly and had the duty of military service, most often as a hoplitehoplite, a heavy armored infantry soldier.
One of the most important polis were Athens in central Greece. Initially, it was ruled by kings, after which power was taken over by the aristocracy. Thus began the rule of a few, i.e. oligarchyoligarchy. At that time, the popular assembly did not have many powers and did not decide in political matters of the polis. It was not until the time of Cleisthenes in the 6th century B.C. that political rights were extended to all free Athenians. Cleisthenes also established the council of five hundred citizens which was composed of proposed candidates chosen by sortition. The council administered the polis and prepared the assemblies that decided on the most important state matters. In a similar way (by lot), most of the officials were selected, apart from the archons - the nine highest officials - and the strategoistrategoi - the military commanders. Probably it was also during the time of Cleisthenes that ostracismostracism was developed, i.e. the procedure of secret selection and removal of politicians who threatened the political system of the polis.
The golden age of Athens was under the rule of Pericles in the 5th century BC. Historians consider him the creator of the enormous power of this polis. At that time, Athenian democracydemocracy was fully developed and every citizen could become an archon. Pericles introduced remuneration for the work of officials, so that everyone, regardless of their profession and property, could have their share of power.
Citizens of Greek polis were obliged to serve in the army. Depending on their property, they performed various functions. Around the 7th century B.C., hoplites, i.e. heavy armored infantry soldiers, became the main force. They fought in a compact formation which consisted of 8 to 16 rows and was known as a phalanxphalanx. Fighting as a phalanx required not only strength, but above all excellent training, experience and full cooperation of all the hoplites. A mistake of a single hoplite could lead to the whole formation breaking, and thus to the destruction of the entire phalanx unit. Explain what factors were decisive for Spartiats being considered the best hoplites?
Assign the following principles of political system to either Athens or Sparta
Helots were the state slaves., The basic aim of upbringing was military preparation., The army was commanded by archons., In order to enable the poor citizens to participate in political life, small sums of money were paid to them for holding offices., An assembly of free citizens held the largest power., Power was exercised by two hereditary kings., Gerousia was responsible for preparing draft laws., The procedure of ostracism was applied.
| Athens | |
|---|---|
| Sparta |
Connect the keywords with the definitions.
Military commander in Ancient Greece, Superior troops in ancient Greece, guards of the king, Hoplite battle formation, Heavy armored Greek infantry soldier, Armoured part of the trireme's bow, Greek warship with three rows of oars, Elite Greek cavalry
| Phalanx | |
| Hoplite | |
| Trireme | |
| Strategos | |
| Ram | |
| Hippeis | |
| Agema |
Keywords
polis, Acropolis, dialect, triremetrireme, helots, Perioikoi, gerousia, ephorsephors, phalanx, hoplite, oligarchy
Glossary
Polis – rodzaj miasta‑państwa w starożytnej Grecji, które ograniczało się do miasta i pobliskich osad.
Akropol – w starożytnej Grecji miasto lub jego część znajdująca się na wzgórzu. Najbardziej znanym akropolem jest akropol ateński ze świątynią Ateny Partenonem na szczycie.
Dialekt – odmiana, rodzaj języka, który odznacza się wyjątkowymi cechami, gramatyką lub słownictwem odróżniających go od pozostałych.
Triera – starogrecki okręt z trzema rzędami wioseł, w późniejszym okresie również z żaglem. Pierwsze pochodzą z VII w. p.n.e.
Heloci – pozbawieni wolności chłopi w starożytnej Sparcie. Należeli do polis i tylko jego władze miały prawo ich uwolnienia.
Periojkowie – ludzie wolni lecz nieosiadający praw politycznych w starożytnej Sparcie. Zajmowali się handlem, rzemiosłem, rolą i hodowlą zwierząt.
Geruzja – w starożytnej Sparcie rada starszych. Jej członkami byli geronci, którzy doradzali w sprawach polis, sprawowali sądy i zgłaszali wnioski. Składała się z dwóch królów i 28 gerontów.
Eforowie – pięciu wyższych urzędników w starożytnej Sparcie. Czuwali nad przestrzeganiem prawa, sprawami finansowymi, polityką zagraniczną a także odpowiadali za przygotowania do wypraw wojennych.
Falanga – oddział piechoty greckiej tworzony przez hoplitów ustawionych w 8‑16 szeregach.
Hoplita – ciężkozbrojna piechota grecka walcząca w szyku falangi. Hoplitami najczęściej byli wolni i zamożni obywatele greckich polis.
Oligarchia – dosłownie panowanie nielicznych; forma rządów niewielkiej grupy ludzi wywodzącej się z warstw uprzywilejowanych.
Archonci – dziewięciu najwyższych rangą urzędników w starożytnych Atenach, wybieranych raz w roku. Początkowo posiadali rozległą władzę, ograniczoną następnie do spraw sądowniczych.
Metojkowie – cudzoziemcy zamieszkujący ateńskie polis. Za prawo pobytu w Atenach płacili specjalny podatek i musieli wykonywać te same obowiązki jak jego obywatele.
Areopag – był głównym organem ustawodawczym i sądowniczym w starożytnych Atenach, cieszącym się ogromnym prestiżem. Jego zadaniem była kontrola działalności urzędników i czuwanie nad moralnością obywateli.
Strateg – dowódca wojskowy w starożytnej Grecji, w starożytnych Atenach również najwyższy rangą urzędnik. Wybierano ich raz do roku.
Ostracyzm – doroczna procedura tajnego głosowania w starożytnych Atenach, podczas którego wolni obywatele typowali zagrażającego demokracji i funkcjonowania polis polityka. Musiał on opuścić Ateny na 10 lat.
Demokracja – forma sprawowania władzy, w której udział mają wszyscy obywatele.