Ch. 4 - Revolutions in the ancient world Flashcards
ow long have revolutions been occurring in human history?
Revolutions date back as far as the pharaohs of Egypt, with efforts to overthrow governments and create greater social justice being recorded since ancient times.
How has the understanding of “revolution” evolved over time?
The term “revolution” has evolved from meaning a circular pattern of political changes to violent and permanent change, and today includes peaceful democratic movements.
What role did increasing population and affordable weapons play in ancient Greek revolutions?
As populations grew and weapons became more affordable, heavily armed infantry (hoplites) replaced aristocratic charioteers, leading to organized conflicts between elite and popular groups and periodic shifts in power.
What significant event marked the end of the Old Kingdom in Egypt?
The reign of Pharaoh Pepi II ended with a revolution in the 22nd century BCE, as regional lords took over and the social order was overturned by uprisings from the poor.
What five main forms of government did the Greeks recognize?
The Greeks recognized monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny (dictatorship), oligarchy, and democracy as the main forms of government.
What did Plato and Aristotle believe was the primary cause of revolutions?
Plato and Aristotle both believed that social injustice was the primary cause of revolutions, with injustice either stemming from the wealthy oppressing the poor or the poor attacking the rich.
How did many Greek city-states experience revolutions in practice?
Many Greek city-states underwent cycles of revolutions, where aristocrats were overthrown by populist leaders, who became tyrants, only to be overthrown again by popular movements seeking a balanced government.
How did Plato view the cycle of government change?
Plato argued that aristocracies based on virtue would eventually degrade into oligarchies focused on wealth, which would be overthrown by democracies. These, in turn, would devolve into disorder, leading to the rise of a tyrant.
What factors did Aristotle identify as leading to revolution?
Aristotle noted that revolutions could be caused by personal rivalries, external interventions, and most importantly, social injustice. He believed stability depended on a constitution that balanced wealth, numbers, and merit.
What were two well-known constitutions from ancient Greece that sought balanced governance?
The constitutions of Solon for Athens and Lycurgus for Sparta were famous for relying on assemblies of male citizens to create a balanced, law-based government.
How did Athens and Sparta influence revolutions during the Peloponnesian Wars?
Athens and Sparta often fomented revolutions to overturn governments allied with their rivals, similar to the tactics used by the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
What revolution led to the founding of the Roman Republic?
: In the 6th century BCE, Romans rose up against their Etruscan kings, establishing a citizen-based government called the republic, where politics became a public concern, not a private affair for kings and nobles.
What was Thucydides’ account of the revolution in Corcyra (427 BCE)?
Thucydides described the revolution in Corcyra during the Peloponnesian Wars as violent and chaotic, with pro-Athenian democrats fighting pro-Spartan oligarchs, leading to mass killings and destruction.
What were the main governing institutions of the Roman Republic?
The Roman Republic was governed by an aristocratic Senate, with citizens voting in assemblies to elect officials like consuls and tribunes and pass laws.
Why did the Roman Republic begin to struggle as its territories expanded?
As Rome’s conquests and population grew, its institutions struggled to function, with immense wealth and power concentrated in the hands of senators and generals, causing instability.
Who were the Gracchus brothers, and what happened to them?
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus were tribunes who attempted to pass laws redistributing wealth to the common people. They were assassinated for their efforts, which ultimately failed.
