Ancient Greece

Section 2:
The Greek City-States

Essential Questions
1. Where was the center of Greek life?
2. What differences exist between Athens and
Sparta?
 Key Terms
Polis: the Greek word for a city-state (page 115)
Acropolis: a fortified area at the top of a hill in a Greek
city-state (page 115)
Agora: an open area below the acropolis where people would
assemble and where the market was located (page 115)
Hoplites: heavily armed infantry soldiers (page 116)
Phalanx: a rectangular formation used by hoplites to create a
wall of shields (page 116)
Democracy: rule of the many (page 118)
Oligarchy: rule by the few (page 118)
Helots: people captured by the Spartans (page 118)
Ephors: a group of five men who were elected each year by the
Spartans and who were responsible for the education of the
youth and the conduct of all citizens (page 119)
 Polis
the Greek word for a city-state
 Acropolis
a fortified area at the top of a hill in a Greek city-state

Agora
an open area below the acropolis where people
would assemble and where the market was located
 Hoplites
heavily armed infantry soldiers

Phalanx
a rectangular formation used by hoplites to create a wall of shields
 Democracy
rule of the many
Plato Aristotle
 

Oligarchy Tyranny
rule by the few rule by the one
Three types of government used in
the Greek city-states.
Advantage Disadvantage

Tyranny Ended rule of Went against the rule of

aristocrats law
Democracy Places power in the Difficult to reach a
hands of the people consensus
Oligarchy Relatively efficient Power in the hands of a
few people

(pg 118) Sparta & Athens (pg 120)

Sparta: Athens:
oligarchy (with two kings) king →
oligarchy of aristocrats →
tyranny →
democracy
 Ephors
a group of five men who were elected each year by the Spartans
and who were responsible for the education of the youth and the
conduct of all citizens.
 Political Reform
Reform-minded aristocrats made major changes in the society and
politics of early Athens.

Leader Reforms
Salon cancelled all land debts and freed
people who were slaves because of their
debts.

Pisistratus gave aristocrats’ land to the peasants

Cleisthene laid the foundations for Athenian

democracy by creating a new council of
s five hundred and by giving the
assembly, which was made up of all
male citizens, the final authority to pass
laws.
 The Polis
Center of Greek Life

Group Political Rights

Adult Citizens with Full Political
Males Rights
Women & Citizens with No Political
Children Rights
Slaves & Non-Citizens with No
Foreigner Political Rights
s
 Greek Colonies
What were two results of Greek Colonization?

1. Spread the Greek culture throughout the

Mediterranean.
2. Led to an increase in trade & industry.
Socrates (c.469-399 B.C.)

 Socrates

Plato (c.427-347 B.C.)

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

 Alexander
the Great
 Aristotle
 Plato
The Republic
Philosopher
Kings
Society ruled by those
motivated by the intellect (2%)

Auxiliary
Society policed & protected by
those motivated by courage (2%)

Hoi Polloi
The masses making up society,
motivated by their appetites
(96%)
 (parable)
1. The masses are imprisoned, seeing only the illusions of the puppet
masters.
2. The climb out of the cave (through education) is a long & painful
journey.
3. Those that leave are thought mad if they return and speak of truth.
 Discussion

How is the city we live in arranged?

Where is the center of the city?
In what part are most business activities
carried on?
Where is the city’s government offices?
Where are the residential areas?