• Location: Southern Europe; along Aegean & Mediterranean Seas
• Very Mountainous

• cities developed independently (much like Indus River Valley)
• very little agriculture was possible

• trading partners brought good and bad results
• population grew so did need for food - this brought new trading partners

• also known as 'Polis'
• developed gov. and culture independently (mountains)
• each city state was it's own tiny nation
• most important city states: Athens and Sparta
• 300+ separate city states
• people's alligance was not the the city state but to their Polis
• Aristotle: "Life does not exist outside the Polis"

• Aristocracy: ruled by wealthy (one with most land)
• over 200 years, gov. changed form aristocracy to democracy (rule of the people)
• soon Athens had a direct Democracy and Monarchy (rule of 1)

• very different from Athens
• based on Oligarchy (rule of many be few)
• 5 men served one year terms (responsible for day to day operation of government)
• Sparta also had a Democracy and Monarchy too

Sparta:

Democracy and 2 Branches

The Assembly

• The Assembly
  • included all Spartan males (voted on laws)
  • elected 5 men that would run government

Sparta:

Democracy and 2 Branches

The Council of Elders

• 30 male citizens aged 60+
• set agenda for assembly
• highest court in Sparta

Sparta:

Monarchy

• Monarchy - actively consisted of 2 kings
  • Control military
  • In Charge of relgion

Sparta:

Social Class

Spartiates

• Spartan citizens
• must be a 'true Spartan' - proved lineage
• few freedoms (life is devoted to Sparta)
• only they could participate in gov. or military
• made up minority of people

Sparta:

Social Class

The City Dwellers