Athens

They developed a radical democracy where all citizens met in assembly fortnightly to direct the council on actions to be taken. This is practicable only in a small state where citizens can cover the distance to vote in person. With our large states today this is impracticable, so we have representative democracy where elected representatives meet in a parliament to carry out the wishes of the people.

It provided the main part of the naval forces in the resistance to Persian attacks. After peace was made with the Persian Empire, Athens continued to collect the financial contributions for the League, by force where necessary, and used it for its own purposes, effectively turning it into an empire of its own.

Aristophanes was an important writer in Ancient Greece because he began a new style of writing. Aristophanes was the first author to create New Greek Comedy.

Not sure what you mean by "ancient," but some of the larger sailing ships of the late 1700s and early 1800s could make 7 to 10 knots, with some of the speedier ones getting up near 15 knots. Hope that helps.

Education In Sparta wanted a strong army, they had boys at the age of seven move into military housed called barracks. They also taught them how to read. Athens education was different, only boys with wealthy families could go to school and learn, they prepared them to be good citizens and studied many things, like math, reading etc.

Cyrus the Great was known for his laziness. He was so lazy that they gave him an award. Cyrus just sat on the couch and ate potato chips for his whole life. sadly, he died of eating too much junk food without excercizing. It was too bad.

Well first the Athens government is a direct government. Sparta isn't. Athens ruled Ancient Greece for many years and were the most powerful group. Then during the Peloponnesian war, which was Sparta v.s the powerful Athens (in the 400's B.C) at the end, we ended with a new powerful group called Sparta. The Spartanians were so releaved and excited and Athenians so depressed. That is a big difference in Greek City-States government. Some similarities is that they both had citizens that had to be males, but a big difference between that is to be a citizen in Athenia, you had to be a male, but you had to have family in that city-state for 3 generations. In Sparta and other city-states you had to be also a male, but had to be born in that city-state which made a lot of Citizens.

Thanks! AncientGreekGirl :)

A questioning spirit

He established a model democracy in which every citizen could participate. While no country has adopted such a form of government in the modern world, it has inspired many modern republics, including the United States.

the ancient greek market was called an agora.

The government, or certain members of it, would decide legal issues concerning the state and also at times, of individuals. Legal issues concerning the state would be in the nature of war and taxes and of individuals, it would give lawbreakers a trial.

The Golden Age was of Athens. Under the leadership of Pericles, it turned the Delian league which it had led against the Persian Empire into an empire of its own, milking it of money to support its own building programme, sponsoring the arts and learning, and putting half its own citizens on the public payroll. The pillaged cities didn't find it so golden, so it wasn't Greece, it was Athens which got the gold and easy life.

Pericles was a great statesman and general who influenced Greece during the period following the defeat of the Persians. He expanded democracy so that almost all male citizens could participate in government. He created a system of almost complete fairness in government by choosing officials by lot. He expanded the economy by establishing colonies throughout area. Because Athens led the Delian League, Pericles influenced the culture of the other Greek city-states. He had them adopt Athenian practices, and moved the treasury from Delos to Athens. Pericles created a time of prosperity and strength in Athens, but at the same time stirred resentment from other city-states in the league.

First he decided that the Athenians should not be sold as slaves when they could not pay their debts. That was something for the common people. Then he decided that the people who owed money and could not pay it should be helped to do so. This also was a gain for the poorer people; but as they had hoped that they should not have to pay anything at all, they were disappointed. Then he decided that the nobles must let the common people share in the rule of the city. "I gave the people," he said, "as much power as they ought to have without cheating them any, or giving them more than was their share." But this satisfied neither party; as the nobles had expected to keep all the power for themselves, [135] while the people also had hoped to get it all for themselves.

So both parties were dissatisfied with what Solon had done, and the quarrels continued. But after these had lasted for some time, and the Athenians had suffered much on account of them, they at last came to see that Solon was right, and they did as he wished them to do. The laws which Solon had made were cut in great blocks of wood, that they might not be forgotten; and for hundreds of years afterwards these blocks might be seen at Athens.

Many people expected that Solon would not lay down his power when his year was out, and that he would make himself "tyrant" or king. But Solon was too honest to do anything of the kind. When his year was over he went away from Athens, and spent many years traveling. According to a story which the Greeks loved to tell, Solon came once to the court of a great king named Croesus. There the king showed him chests full of gold and silver and many other precious things which belonged to him. Then Croesus asked Solon who was the happiest man in the world, thinking, of course, that Solon would say that he was, because he had so much of what every one wishes to posses. But Solon named a poor man who had died while [136] fighting for his country. Croesus then asked who was the next happiest; and Solon named two youths who had died while showing great honor to their mother. Then Croesus was angry.

"And do you not consider me happy?" he asked, pointing to all his wealth.

"I count no man happy until he is dead," answered Solon.

Many years after this, great misfortunes came on King Croesus. His kingdom was conquered by the king of the Persians, his jewels were taken from him, and he himself was placed on a great pile of wood to be burned alive. Then the words of Solon came to his mind, and he exclaimed,-

"O, Solon! O Solon! O Solon!"

When the king of the Persians heard this, he sent to ask Croesus who this Solon was that he called upon. Then Croesus told him what Solon had said to him, and added,-

"Now I see only too well that Solon was right."

Then the other king had pity on Croesus, and set him free. And the fame of Solon spread so far that he came to be looked upon as one of the seven wisest men of Greece.

A great number of events. Check the Wikipedia timeline at the link below.

A very second rate position. They were virtually in purdah at home doing housekeeping and domestic takss and child raising and home manufacturing (eg weaving) They got out only for the odd womens' religious ceremony.

Some characteristics about Ancient Greek sculptures are to colour the sculptures, make one foot stepping more forward than the other *left usualyl in front of right), left leg larger than right leg, body positioned different compared to way head is facing and feet are facing, details of hair, eyes, mouth and chesr are exactly alike on both sides of the figure.

Athems was in continuous wars through the 5th and 4th Centuries BCE. Its prosperous period came after the war ended against Persia, but having converted the anti-Persian Delian League into an empire of its own, it came into continual conflicts with these 180 citiy-states each year, colecting the annual funds by force. The records of Athens show losses each year in these enforcement battles.

With these enforced funds, Athens was able to become prosperous, but continued to engage in warfare with other city-states, keeping 100 warships at sea each year. As a result of its interference with other cities outside its empire, it became engaged in the devastating 27-year war against the Peloponesian League led by Sparta. It lost this war, was stripped of its empire and the easy money which it brought.

It had a period of peace when it was incorporated into the Roman Empire, but never the level of prosperity that warfare had brought it.

Solon was appointed to counter the friction, and threat of revolution, between upper and lower classes mainly over debt slavery. He solved this problem, but it had little to do with democracy which is the people at large controlling government. That did not happen for another 90 year under the active leadership of Cleisthenes in 507 BCE who brought in an assembly where landowners, big and small, passed legislation.

Its policy of preying on other city-states made it a dangerous place to be when they ganged up to lay siege to and capture it.

Citizens were obliged to serve in the army and navy and many were killed in wars.

It had no medical defence againt the plague.

Alexander

From about 800-1800/1900 (onwards) most countries in Europe (and many in Asia) had a landowning class called 'lords' or 'aristocrats' that enjoyed enormous privileges that were guaranteed by law. In view of the huge time-span involved the details of the privileges varied over time. For much of this period the peasants were 'tied to the soil'. That means they formed part of the aristocrat's estate and worked instead of paying rent. They had very few rights but unlike slaves they couldn't be bought and sold (except with the land). This system was called 'serfdom' and the last European country to abolish it was Russia in 1861. Very often, till about 1850 in many parts of Europe, the aristocrats weren't only the landowners, but also judged minor cases. Often they could have their serfs or agricultural labourers whipped for things like 'disrespect'. Originally, until perhaps 1500, the aristorcracy was the warrior

Monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, democracy, radical democracy.

According to Aristotle:

Monarchy (Rule by One) which degraded to Tyranny (Rule by an absolute ruler)

Aristocracy (Rule by the Best) which degraded to Oligarchy(Rule by the Few)

Democracy (People Power) which degraded to Ochlocracy (Mob Power).