Archaic Period Flashcards
Name three important characteristics of a Greek polis. Why is the most common translation of the term polis, namely ‘city state’, not ideal according to the manual?
Three important characteristics of a Greek polis (plural: poleis) are:
1. a relatively small territory
2. (usually) an urban administrative center, with a specialized official apparatus, an assembly place and sanctuary.
3. the desire to remain autonomous and not to be absorbed into larger territorial empires (= particularism). (Not always successful!)
A polis is more than a city: it is largely determined by the relationship with its surroundings, where its citizens (politai) own their land
How was the Spartan constitution characterized in ancient times? What were the main political institutions of Sparta?
mixed constitution- The Spartan constitution consists of a monarchical element (two kings) and an oligarchic element (the Gerousia) who together form the College of 30 (2 kings + 28 Geronts) and a democratic element (Apella and five ephors). Apella – popular assembly, in which all Spartiates participated.
Gerousia – elderly council consisting of 30 (or actually 28) men aged 60 and over, elected for life by the Apella, headed by the two kings (these did not have to be over 60)
Ephoren – 5 overseers for the daily management, elected annually by the Apella. Cf. Athenian archons.
By what measures did Pisistratus succeed in winning over the Athenian people in the second half of the sixth century?
Pisistratus took advantage of the continuing dissatisfaction among the Athenian people after the actions of Solon. His measures were not a threat to Solon’s constitution, but an important addition.
- He hired a bodyguard, whom he equipped with armor. It was composed of the poorer inhabitants of Attica, whom he managed to bind to him by including them, as long as they were not yet Athenian citizens, in the Athenian civilian community and allowing them to rise to hoplite status (zeugitai)
- Ensured poor farmers could switch to more remunerative crops (e.g. olives) by banishing rival aristocratic families and distributing the confiscated property to their benefit. However, there is no evidence for real land redistribution!
- Ensured that non-noble citizens could also purchase armor.
- Organized major national celebrations and undertook major construction projects (employment, water supply, etc.) that connected the people to him and the city, instead of to the local elite
List the reforms implemented by Solon and Cleisthenes respectively, according to the textbook
The reforms of Solon (594/3 BC. eponymous archon):
1. the tele
2. the so-called seisachtheia
3. ban on grain exports, promotion of wine and olive growing.
4. new legal code + people’s court (Heliaia)
The tele-Solon divided the citizenry into four asset classes, of which the highest two could claim the office of archon, the highest three had access to the newly established Council of 400 and all four (= adult male Athenian citizens) had access to the assembly. The constitution for which Solon was responsible is also called a timocracy; Government offices are linked to certain asset criteria
By giving wealth rather than birth a greater role in gaining political power, Solon managed to reduce the power of the traditional aristocracy and thus respond to the dissatisfaction that existed among the noble non-wealthy who sought greater political control
However, there was also another social group in need: the small farmers who had fallen into debt and demanded debt cancellation and land distribution. For this group Solon proclaimed the so called Seisachtheia – the shedding of burdens. This means that Solon
cancelled all debts;
freed debt slaves;
repatriated debt slaves sold abroad by buying them back;
ban on debt slavery for Athenian citizens (bodies may no longer be pledged);
abolition of the status of the hektemoros
Cleisthenes- founder of Athenian democracy. He made the dēmos of male citizens the backbone of the government and the army, which now became a citizen army of hoplites. Cleisthenes’s system meant a blow to the aristocrats, who still enjoyed considerable power on a local level. Fifty men from each tribe were granted seats in the Council of Five Hundred (boulē). A list of candidates was set up for each tribe, from among whom the fifty were chosen by lot. In Athens, drawing lots was considered the most democratic procedure, for elections involved the risks of demagogy or of popular leaders becoming too powerful. The members of the Council (boulē) of Five Hundred were appointed for one year. It was not permitted to sit on the Council more than twice, and not in consecutive years. This meant that many Athenian citizens had an opportunity to become members of the Council and gain political experience.
Define Ostracism
Ostracism was a political measure of banishment in ancient Athens, attributed to Cleisthenes (6th century BCE) but perhaps started later. The public assembly was asked once a year whether there was a need for this procedure. If so, everyone was given the opportunity to write on a potsherd (ostracon) the name of a person who was thought to be a threat to the state. The person whose name occurred on most potsherds was then exiled from Athens for ten years.
Define a phalanx
During the 7th century BC, the Greek city-states adopted a phalanx eight men deep. A Phalanx was a military tactic in which each hoplite protected the unprotected right side of his neighbour with his shield. The basic Greek formation was made more flexible by Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander III the Great. After Lycurgus, the Spartiates were referred to as homoioi, ‘equals’ or ‘peers’. This equality referred to their equal position in the hoplite phalanx and to their equal vote in the assembly.
Define an ethnos
An Ethnos is a Greek form of government that developed from the 8th century. In contrast to the autonomous poleis, ethnic groups give up their autonomy to act in a cooperative context between several smaller communities, especially in military and foreign relations. These tribal structures occurred in less developed areas, but the role of urban centres varies widely (e.g., in Boeotia high degree of urbanisation, but in other areas hardly any urban development). The social-ideological bond of these tribal structures is often the belief in a common ancestor.
Define a tyrannos
A Tyrannous was a Greek name for a sole ruler who had assumed supreme power, although it was not his right. Typically, an aristocrat who managed to sideline other aristocrats. In the fifth century BC, it acquired a negative connotation, but initially, it had a relatively neutral charge. Tyrants include Cypselus of Corinth (657 – 625 BC); Polycrates of Samos (535-522); Pisistratus of Athens (561, 546 – 528 BC); Hipparchus (528-514) and Hipparchus of Athens (528 – 510 BC).
Define a Helot
A helot was a state-owned serf of the ancient Spartans. The ethnic origin of helots is uncertain, but they were probably the original inhabitants of Laconia (the area around the Spartan capital) who were reduced to servility after the conquest of their land by the numerically fewer Dorians. After the Spartan conquest of Messenia in the 8th century BCE, the Messenians were also reduced to the status of helots. They allowed the Spartans to focus on military training as they worked the land.
