AN02a4

Unit02: New Directions in Government and Society

Ch.05

Timeline: 6th C. - 4th C. BCE

FQ: How did democracy shape the military, economic, and cultural accomplishments of Greece during its
Golden Age?
Main Idea: In the years following the Persian War, Athens entered a period in which it would achieve
cultural heights that will become benchmarks of the Western World. In addition, Athens will grow to be a
military power in the region. All of these accomplishments were consistently influenced by an Athenian
institution that is dear to the hearts of Americans, the experiment with Democracy. In some respects, our
democracy was 2300 years in the making- but the debate over issues of rights & liberties continues.
CCSS...
Ponder
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of democracy?
2. What kinds of people would you want voting in a democracy?
3. What kinds of decisions are best made by a direct democracy?
I. Democracy- Greek Style
A. Direct Democracy: Citizens of the polis (city-state) gather as an assembly to make decisions
via a voting system.
B. All Citizens take part in the defense, leadership, and prosperity of the polis. Citizens were
those with voting (decision-making) rights and participated in an Assembly of Citizens. Only
Greek natives of the polis were citizens. Other restrictions to citizenship included the exclusion of
women, foreigners, slaves, and those without property. Approximately 80% of Athens population
were not citizens.1
C. Civic Duties: All citizens were responsible for upholding certain values of a democratic society.
As is the general belief in our nation today, the foundation of a free society is the equal
application of laws. All citizens were responsible to ensure that justice is served as part of their
daily civic duties (Equality of Citizens before the Law). This responsibility went beyond their own
personal lives to include the lives of non-citizens, who could exercise few legal rights.
D. 'Free Thinking' Citizenry: Education was critically important. This education would be different
based on gender. Male citizens would be expected learn History, philosophy, rhetoric, etc. These,
and other, disciplines contributed to an academic environment that encouraged investigation and
discussion of topics from mathematics to drama.
E. Slavery2: Not viewed as a failure of Democracy. This institution was a representation of a
'natural' order.A condition of enslavement could be brought about by warfare, debts, or
punishment for crime.
1.Upper Class (Aristocracy) depended on this labor source.
2.Justified Philosophically- Slave were often incapable of 'full' human reason.
3.Treatment varied from inclusion into the master's family, to service at hard labor.
4.Slavery was not necessarily a life-time condition. Manumission (granting of freedom
by the owner/ master) was possible.
Many slaves attempted to escape Athens and travel to Sparta or other city-states.The 8 - 1
(Slave - Freeman) ratio in Athens during the late 5th C. BCE heightened societal fears of a revolt
(Roman Example: Spartacus, 73 BCE). Extreme measures were often taken by these classical
civilizations to control large slave populations.

1 Women were generally confined to their homes and sequestered in a particular area of the home. If they ventured outside the

home they were often required to veil their faces. Consequently, they were often educated at home. They had no jury appeal and
no right to inheritance or own property.
2 Slaves were usually war captives and numbered ~100,000 in 5th C BCE Athens.

AN02a4

Unit02: New Directions in Government and Society

Ch.05

II. Accomplishments of Athenian Democracy During the Golden Age ( Age of Pericles)
For one hundred years Athens flourished and occasionally blundered under the direction of its
democratic government. Several key decisions that shaped the culture and prosperity of Athens were
made by its citizens via a vote in the assembly
A. Election of Generals
Besides duties such as making major laws and acting as a court, one of the main duties of the
Athenians was to vote on the generals. Some of the more famous Athenians to be elected as
generals included Pericles, Themistocles, and Cleon.
B. The Persian Invasion
In 480 B.C., after a dispute over an Athenian colony, the Persian Empire sent two million soldiers
and 1,000 Persian ships to Greece to crush the Athenians. As the Persian army approached
Athens, the Athenian assembly voted whether to stay in Athens and protect their city, or flee. If
they fled, their city would be destroyed, but they could then defeat the Persians at sea where the
Athenians were more skillful.
C. The Delian League and building the Parthenon
Under the guidance of Pericles, Athens took a leading role in a Greek military alliance known as
the Delian League. In his enthusiasm for glorifying Athens, Pericles encouraged Athenians to use
money from the other members of the Delian League to build a monument to Athens glory in the
form of a temple known as the Parthenon.
D. War with Sparta
Athens imperialism brought the Delian League into conflict with the Spartan-led Peloponnesian
League. Sparta resented acts of aggression against its allies and war seemed inevitable if Athens
did not cease aggressive acts such as taking colonies, supporting revolts against Corinth, and
issuing trade sanctions. The Athenian Assembly had to decide whether to appease Sparta or go
to war.
Ponder: Are these the type of decisions you would want all citizens to participate in?

How did each of these situations turn out?

How do you think having a direct democracy affected the outcome of each of these situations?
III. Pericles 5th C. BCE
Pericles was a statesman during the Golden Age of Greece. His impact was so significant during
this period that his time as a statesman is often referred to as 'The Age of Pericles'. As with his
predecessor Solon, a crisis was forming that required the presence of a leader who would guide the society's
development. The crisis during the late 6th C. to early 5th C. BCE was the Persian invasion.

Pericles was immensely popular among Athenian citizens and thus able to use his influence to
pursue many ends, usually for the glory and advancement of Athens and an Athenian empire. Pericles took
advantage of Athens' artistic explosion by pushing for a massive beautification project. Through the arts, he
attempted to glorify in a public fashion the values and political uniqueness of Athens. The similarity with Solon didn't
end with the presence of a crisis. Pericles' reforms were political and economic in nature as well:

A. Economic reforms included creation of a commercial empire by building a naval force to

protect a growing merchant fleet.
B. Political reforms included the expansion of salaried public officials. Salaried officials are now
tied to the government financially and owe no allegiance to anyone other than the government.
C. Unfortunately for Athens, Pericles often elevated the city-state's position on the Peloponnese peninsula
by weakening or disregarding her allies (Delian League).

AN02a4

Unit02: New Directions in Government and Society

Ch.05

The Athenian experiment with democracy lasted about 100 years, gave rights to only 20% of the people in
Athens, and was the last major experiment with democracy until 1776. However, the political reforms of Greeces
leaders and the principles espoused by its philosophers will inspire many who were yet to come.
Ponder:
In both societies (Ancient Athens and Sparta) rights and privileges were never intended for everyone. It was an
accepted fact that certain groups of people were not entitled to the rights, privileges and duties of citizens of the polis.
Among these disenfranchised peoples you must include slaves, non-citizens, and women (this latter group especially
in Athens, less so in Sparta).
Is it possible that these ancient Greek traits were also inherited by the 'Western World' along with the arts and
sciences?
Does our democracy and its principles apply to citizens regardless of race, gender, creed, and economic condition?
Are the words '...liberty and justice for all...' not applicable beyond our borders?

Materials/Sources: Refer to the course calendar for additional assignments and pertinent due dates.
World History: Patterns of Interaction
Slide Presentation