2.2 Ruling the city state

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.2 Politics in Athens

What you can explain /  do after this section

• four different ways a city-state could be governed.
  
• how Athenian democracy worked and why it was different from democracy in the Netherlands
  
• how democracy in Athens and other city-states disappeared

1. Intro questions.

a. When a text is about gods and beliefs it is about:

1. culture
2. religion
3. politics
4. economics

b. When a text is about trade and money, it is about:

1. culture
2. religion
3. politics
4. economics

c. When a text is about art, fashion, poetry,
architecture etc., it is about:

1. culture
2. religion
3. politics
4. economics

d. When a text is about government and laws, it is about:

1. culture
2. religion
3. politics
4. economics

1e. This lesson is about:

1. culture
2. religion
3. politics
4. economics

Before you read the text in your textbook,  watch the following video.

00:24

a monarchy is hereditary.

(yes, you need to look up the word hereditary yourself...)

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

00:33

aristocrats were usually the

1. the richest people
2. the smartest people
3. the strongest people
4. the tallest people

00:46

a tyrant was elected by the other aristocrats

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

01:10

democracy

aristocracy

monarchy

tyranny

the best rule

power is taken by force

the people rule

a king rules

Make a note in your notebook about what you 

learned from the video

Different Greek poleis had different political systems.

For example, a polis could be a:

monarchy:    ______________________________________________

aristocracy:   ______________________________________________

tyranny:         ______________________________________________

democracy:  ______________________________________________

2a What kind of political system do we have in
the Netherlands today?

1. we are a monarchy
2. we are a democracy
3. we are a democracy, but also a monarchy
4. we are an aristocracy

2b. How can we be a democracy and also a monarchy at the same time?

1. The people elect the king
2. The king has no real power. Power is in the hands of the people.
3. The king rules together with the people
4. the king rules in the name of the people

Read 2.2

Questions: 4 to 9

Discuss in pairs

What do you think is the best and worst kind of government and why?

- Monarchy

- Aristocracy

- Tirrany

What do you think is the best kind of government

Monarchy

Aristocracy

Tyranny

What do you think is the worst kind of government

Monarchy

Aristocracy

Tyranny

What do we call the way a country or city makes decisions?

1. Polis
2. Politics
3. Poleis
4. Police

Monarchy

At the beginning most poleis were a monarchy

This means that a king has all the power

His power is inherited by his children

Often the king receives help from a council of elders

Aristocracy

After a while, the wealthy citizens also want to have something to say

They take weapons and put the king aside

These aristoi then make the decisions together

They also receive advice from a council of elders

Aristocracy

Aristos (ἄριστος) = the best

Kratein (κρατεῖν) = to rule

Aristocratie= the best rule

Tiranny

Sometimes an aristocrat manages to get all the power

This is often done by force

He then becomes a tyrant with all power to himself

Explain the difference between a tyrant and a king