2.2 Politics in Athens

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2. The Greeks

2.2 Politics in Athens 

What you will learn in 

this lesson

1. You can give a description of four different ways in which Greek-city states were governed. 
2. You can explain roughly how Athenian democracy worked and what was different to democracy in the Netherlands now.
3. You can describe how democracy came to an end in Athens and other Greek city-states.

Various types of state 

The English word politics comes from the word 'polis'. 

four forms of government 

1. Monarchy (King)
2. Aristocracy (Rich men) 
3. Tyranny (Tyrant) 
4. Democracy (The people had the power)

Athenian democracy 

Assembly took decisions about important things like war and peace.

Ostracism

In Athenian politics, it was important to be good at debating. If you were, you were likely to get people to vote your way. The Athenians did not want any one person to 

have too much political influence. It would stop things being democratic. Their way of stopping this was simple. 

Each year, there was a chance to vote to ostracise.

If over 6000 votes were cast, the person whose name was on most ostraka had to leave.

Source A

Ostraca used to vote in an ostracism in Athens in about 450 BC. You can still read the name Themistocles.

The Dutch parliament at work. 

Differences in democracy

150 elected politicians (NL)

Farmers and merchants took part in government (Gr)

People over 18 can vote on members of parliament. (NL)

Citizens take part in decisions in the assembly (Gr)

New government each month (NL)

New government each four years (NL)

Women were not allowed to take part in politics (Gr)

In the Netherlands women are allowed to take part in politics

Macedonia and the end of democracy 

In 338 BC, Macedonia became the most powerful city state in Greece. Led by king Philip, it defeated the other city states. Philip then led a Greek expedition to Persia. He wanted to defeat the Persians (who had previously captured Macedonia several times) so heavily that they stopped attacking Greece. 

Philip set off for Persia, leaving his sixteen year-old son, Alexander, in charge in Macedonia. Two years later, Philip died.

Source A

Facial reconstruction of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great

 

Archaeologists found a skull in a rich tomb at Vergina in northern Greece.

The injury on the skull seems to reflect the injuries that Philip suffered in his life. He lost an eye during the siege of Methone in northern Greece in 354 BC. We can't be absolutely sure these are Philip's remains but the rich grave goods associated with them suggest that this was someone very important.

Alexander's empire

Alexander took over as ruler of Macedonia and made sure that the rest of Greece understood that Macedonia was still the most powerful city state. He was, in effect, ruler of Greece (map 1). In 334 BC he set off with 40,000 soldiers to finish the conquest of Persia his father had started (map 2). 

Eleven years after he left Greece, Alexander was dead, aged just 32. He had changed the map of the world. He had built Greece a huge empire and was worshipped in many places as a god. 

He named thirteen cities after himself (Alexandria) and one after his horse, Bucephalus. He is known as 'Alexander the Great' for his amazing military achievements.

Map 1

Map 2

Did Pericles make Athens more democratic or less democratic? Explain your answer

After having watched the video, write down several differences between the Athenian democracy and our own modern democracy.
(remember to avoid the negative form in your answer)

5. The Athenian Assembly was a meeting of all the people in Athens

1. true
2. false

7b. Athenian democracy meant that all people were equal

1. true
2. false

watch short animation video