Athenian Politics Flashcards
While they were under…
Tyrannical rulers, the Athenians were no better in war than any of their neighbours, yet once they got rid of their tyrants, they were by far the best of all
H. 5.78
These reforms made the constitution…
Much more democratic than that of Solon; for it had come about that the tyranny had obliterated the laws of Solon by disuse
Aristotle 21-22
The first person banished…
By ostracism Was one of his relatives, Hipparchus […] the desire to banish whom had been Cleisthenes’ principal motive in making the law
Aristotle 21-22
(Hipparchus’ banishment was actually twenty years later…)
Cleisthenes brought over the people…
To his side by handing over the control of the state of the common people
Aristotle 20.2
While Pericles…
Was champion of the people the constitution was not in too bad a state, but after his death it became much worse
Aristotle 21-22
The constitution “entails preferring…
The interests of bad men to those of good men”
O.O
Slaves and metics…
Lead the most undisciplined life
O.O
A person can “spend a year and…
Still not get business settled by the council or the assembly”
O.O
The Athenians are “best advised,
In allowing even the bad to speak”
O.O
The city would not be capable…
Of completing all the transactions that everyone wants
[bribery in Athens is useless]
O.O
In public affairs…
We do not break the law because it commands are great respect
Thucydides (Pericles FO) 2.37
Pericles was the first…
Man to provide payment for jury service.
Aristotle 27.3
[a number of puppies come out of the house.]
Come up here, you poor things, and implore and beseech and whimper and weep.
Aristophanes The Wasps
Bdelycleon to Philocleon
“Wait till you’ve heard both sides”
Aristophanes The Wasps
Then the resident aliens…
Who joined in the incursion [Potidaea] were at least 3000 strong
Thucydides 2.31
This was not the treatment…
That we deserved at the city’s hands, when we had produced all our dramas for the festivals, and contributed to many special taxes
Lysias in Against Eratosthenes
In them…
We have one of the very best sources of revenue […] they contribute by paying a special tax
Xenophon Poroi 2.1-2.5 (about metics)
The Megarians […]
Threw the blame for the Athenian hate on Aspasia and Pericles
Plutarch 30 (references Aristophanes’ Acharnians)
Effects of the occupation of Decelea:
“More than 20,000 slaves, the majority of whom were skilled workers, deserted”
Thucydides 7.27
+ Erechtheum description gives accounts of payments made to slaves (exact same amount as made to free people)
The greatest glory of a woman…
Is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticising you.
Thucydides 2.45
[In the] law courts they…
Put their own self-interest before justice
OO
No one, so long as…
He has it in him to be of service to the state, is kept in political of security because of poverty.
Thucydides 2.37
We are free..
And tolerant in our private lives; but in public affairs we keep to the law.
Thucydides 2.37
We do not say that a man…
Who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds is own business; we say that he has no business here at all.
Thucydides 2.40
