athens

1. Chapter 2

2. Athena: Athens’ Patron
Goddess
 Goddess of wisdom, war (strategy), arts and
crafts
 Legend = olive tree
 Monuments, statues in her honor

3. The Parthenon: Athena’s
Temple
Ruins of Athena’s Temple
on the Acropolis
Athenians built a huge statue
of Athena inside the Parthenon

5. A Slow Start
 Slow to come into
prominence
 Less advanced than
other poleis
 No major trade routes,
no land shortage
○ Growing population ok
 Less political pressure
from outsiders

6. This is an artist’s interpretation
of what the ancient city of
Athens might have looked like.

8. Favoring the Nobles
 Ruled by aristocrats
 Got most, best land
 Dominated religious
and political life

9. Clothes Make the
Man?
For the ancient Greeks, clothing was less
about style and more about status.
You only had to see a person’s clothing to
determine his station in life.
Look closely at this picture. Can you tell
who is at the top of the social ladder, and
who is at the bottom?

10. The Chiton
Many wealthy Greek women wore a linen chiton, like the ones you see here.
This garment was made from a very long and very wide, rectangular piece of fabric
that was sewn up at the sides, and then pinned or sewn at the shoulders.
Women often wore a belt around the waist.

11. Children’s Clothing
Greek babies often wore nothing at
all, but sometimes they wore cloth
diapers. If it was cold, they would be
wrapped in a warm blanket.
Many children wore cloth wrapped
around their middles, like shorts.
As they grew older, aristocratic
children would begin wearing robes
like their fathers wore.

13. The Areopagus
The Romans called this site
“Mars Hill” because it was
dedicated to the god of war.
 No written laws at first
 Rules based on tradition +
aristocratic preference
 Athens governed by
areopagus
 Council of nobles
 Term comes from hill where
nobles met

14. Archons
 Council elected nine
archons every year
 Magistrates = judges
 Served for one year,
then joined Areopagus
 Served on Areopagus
for life
○ Archonship = stepping
stone to position on
Areopagus

15. Quarreling and Change
 Athenian nobles argued over land, food
 Cylon tried to take control but failed.
 Draco emerged as the leader.

16. Draco’s Rule
Draco’s laws were so severe
that people today refer to
harsh laws as “Draconian law.”
 Authority to codify, publish
laws (first time)
 Harsh laws; “written in
blood”
 Result = people angry at
nobles
 Thought Draco was abusing
his power

17. Crisis: Food Shortages
 Poor soil conditions
 No crop rotation
 Expensive to plant crops

18. Debt and Poverty
 Farmers in debt
 Promised portion of
crops to lender
 Some pledged wives,
children, themselves for
loans
 Result: Many Athenians
poor, in debt, enslaved
○ Some sold abroad

19. Solon: The First Reformer
 Elected as the only
archon that year
 Given new authority
 Create laws
 Amend the constitution
 Enacted reforms that
helped Athenian citizens

20. Solon’s Economic Reforms
 Cancelled debts
 Forbad loans that
could result in slavery
 Brought many
enslaved Athenians
back
 Solon’s reforms =
“Shaking off of
Burdens”

21. Benefits of Economic Reforms
This ancient vase shows us how
Greek farmers harvested olives.
Can you tell what they are doing?
 Forbad export of wheat
 Wheat for Attica; not dependent
on foreigners
 Encouraged export of olive oil,
wine = cash
 Changed standards of weights
and measures
 Conformed with other, affluent
poleis; encouraged trade

22. The Importance of Olives
Olive oil was used every day,
for many things:
 Eating
○ A typical meal might include
bread, fish, wine, and olives.
 Cooking
 Lamps
 Bathing

23. Olive Oil and Its Many Uses
Here is an example of a Greek lamp that
would have used olive oil.
The Greeks would rub olive oil on their bodies,
then scrape it off, taking dirt with it.
That is what this athlete is doing in this picture,
which was found on an ancient Greek vase.

24. Standard Weights and
Measures
Solon changed Athenian standards of weights and measures
so that they matched the weights and measures
that other leading poleis were using.

25. Solon’s Political Reforms
 Changed the Constitution
 Earlier citizenship = adult
males with citizen fathers
 Citizenship now included:
○ Foreign artisans, immigrant
tradesmen, merchants
 Added Court of Appeal;
weakened nobles’ power

26. Four Classes of Society
 1st, 2nd groups (highest) =
could hold archonship
 3rd group = could serve as
hoplites
 Possible election to council of
400 citizens
 4th group = thetes (land
owners, not nobles)
 Vote for archons, council
members, council business

27. Pisistratus: Athens’ First Tyrant
Pisistratus ruling
 tyrant = ruler who comes to
power in unorthodox or
unconstitutional way
 Nobleman
 Tried to overthrow
government; failed twice
 Came back with mercenary
soldiers; succeeded

28. His Public Works Programs
 Encouraged
religious piety
 Built temples and
religious centers
 Supported poets,
artists
 Brought attention to
Athens through
festivals

29. His Political Policies
 Increased power of
central government
 Power taken away
from nobles
 Circuit judges heard
cases in country
 Weakened power of
local nobles

30. Making the People Happy
 Honored Solon’s constitution
 Assemblies, councils filled with Pisistratus’
supporters
 People generally happy with his rule

31. Hippias: The Next Tyrant
 Son of Pisistratus
 Brother murdered;
became suspicious,
harsh
 Exiled noble clan,
Alcmaeonids
 They asked Sparta for
help

32. Spartan Intervention
 Sparta’s king = Cleomenes I
 Attacked Athens
 Deposed Hippias
 Ended the tyranny

33. Isagoras: Pro Sparta
 Friend of Spartan king,
Cleomenes I
 Wanted to rule Athens
 Revoked citizenship for Solon’s
new groups
 Opposed Alcmaeonids
 One Alcmaeonid challenged
Isagoras for control

34. Clisthenes’ Victory
 Favored Alcmaeonids
 Initially lost
 Asked the people for
their support
 Never done before
 Won with the people’s help

35. Struggle for Control
 The people wanted
Clisthenes to rule
 Isagoras asked Sparta
to expel Clisthenes
 Sparta said ok, but
people revolted
 Drove out Spartans –
and Isagoras!
 Clisthenes: new leader

36. Clisthenes: Father of
Democracy
 Restored
citizenship; added
new citizens
 Deme became basic
unit of civic life
 deme = small
community within city,
political unit

37. Clisthenes’ Other Reforms
Clisthenes encouraged open debate.
Any Athenian could suggest legislation,
offer amendments, or argue law.
 Established council of 500
 Council’s role:
 Prepare legislation for
discussion in Assembly
 Financial duties
 Receive foreign dignitaries