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Ancient greece – The classical age ashleycolbert<br />AN INTRODUCTION<br />

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Classical Greece – the times<br />What is known as the classical period of ancient Greek history, occurred between about 500 B.C., when The Greeks began to come into conflict with the kingdom of Persia to The east, and the death of The Macedonian king and conqueror Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.<br />In The period from 500-336 B.C. Greece was divided into small city states, each of which consisted of a city and its surrounding countryside's.<br />

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Politics <br />In the classical period the city state of Athens reached its greatest political and cultural heights. The democratic system of Government was ‘born’ under the leadership of The Athenian statesman Pericles.<br />

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More politics<br />Ancient Greeks belonged to their city-state, not the larger area Greece. Each person followed the political decisions of their city-state.<br />

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Athenian government<br />Consisted of Athenian citizens.<br />There was a council of 500 citizens that were willing to serve. They prepared matters for the Assembly to discuss. Also carried out the decisions of the Assembly.<br />All citizens could attend the Assembly and have an input. The Assembly dealt with laws, finance, war and peace. People were elected to run the day-to-day affairs of the city.<br />Each year, Ten Generals were elected as politicians as well as military leaders. Any male citizen was allowed to stand for election, as long as they had military experience. As Athens was at war so much they became very powerful.<br />A Jury was required to hear all crimes except murder and decide the verdict and punishment. Murder was not heard because it was considered a religious crime and was tried by the Council of Nobles. 6000 citizens were elected to be a part of the jury and on the day of the trial a lot was selected.<br />

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Government of Sparta<br />Was very different to Athens as a city-state.<br />Was ruled by a small class of masters.<br />Sparta was ruled by two kings. One who lead the army into battle, and one who stayed behind to help govern.<br />The kings were included in The Council of Elders which acted as advisers to the kings and a law court for important cases. The council consisted of the two kings and 28 citizens aged over 60.<br />The Ephors held the real power in Sparta. It consisted of five men that were elected each year and were responsible for law and order and supervised Spartan life.<br />The Assembly of Citizens were a group of males over 30 that listened to the kings and ephors discuss an issue and then vote on the issue. The vote was won by the side that shouted the loudest. These issues would be discussed at a meeting once a month outside the city.<br />

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Besides all the war and fighting<br />In the Classical period the Greeks produced great literature, poetry, philosophy, drama, and art. This was the time when the genre of history was first established. It also produced the institution we know of as Athenian democracy.<br />

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Greek values<br />The Greeks stayed with their history and continued to put their religious faith into their Gods and the just actions that the Gods would perform and the attainment of virtue in the polis(city). This history helped to shape in their belief of the significance of the individual and rationalistic spirit. The classical Greek world was a skilful combination of these values. <br />

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culture<br />Athens’ position lead to it becoming the main trade route from the Aegean which brought men and their ideas from everywhere to the great cultural centre.<br />Athens economic initiative lead to the polis becoming quite wealthy, which Pericles distributed generously to the Athenian citizens through a variety of forms.<br />One form was the sponsorship of the production of dramas.<br />

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References<br />Slide 1 picture - http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_greece/athens2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_greece/facts.htm&usg=__FaM01wx50EtNe-w6FFj5MAMPcP0=&h=313&w=534&sz=34&hl=en&start=5&zoom=1&tbnid=eh-1CE1ZDPCPvM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=132&ei=fU5LTpidGPDrmAWSzMSVCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dancient%2Bgreece%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1CHKB_en-GBAU430AU430%26ie%3DUTF-8%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnsb&itbs=1<br />