Question
Political Changes
As the Greek city-states grew, there were political changes. The wealthy nobles had seized power from the kings. Owners of small farms did not like the nobles ruling, however. Many of them had borrowed money from the nobles. When the farmers could not repay their loans, the nobles took their farms. By 650 B.C. merchants and artisans also wanted change. They were not citizens because they did not own land. That meant they did not have a say in ruling the polis. The growing political unrest led to the rise of tyrants. A tyrant is someone who seizes power and rules with total authority. Most of the tyrants who controlled city-states ruled fairly. It was the harshness of a few tyrants that gave the word tyranny its current meaning; rule by a cruel and unjust person. The common people and the hoplites, or citizen soldiers, supported the tyrants overthrowing the nobles. Tyrants became more popular by building new marketplaces, temples, and fortresses. Most people in the Greek citystates objected to rule by one person, however. They wanted a government in which all citizens had a say. Tyrants ruled many Greek city-states until about 500 B.C. Then most Greek city-states changed to either an oligarchy or a democracy. In an oligarchy, a few wealthy people hold power over the larger group of citizens. In a democracy, all citizens have a say in the government. Each polis chose its own type of government. Sparta and Athens, two important Greek city-states, had different types of government. They also had very different societies.
Political Changes in Ancient Greece
Nobles took control from kings • Farmers, merchants, and artisans wanted changes
• Common people supported tyrants • Most tyrants ruled fairly
• Greeks wanted more say in government • Replaced most tyrants with oligarchies or democracies
Sparta: A Military Society
Sparta was located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula in southern Greece. Sparta invaded nearby city-states and enslaved the people who lived there. The Spartans called these enslaved people helots. In about 650 B.C. the helots rebelled. The Spartans crushed the uprising. The leaders decided to make Sparta a military society. The leaders thought this would make citizens more loyal and obedient. All boys and men were prepared for a life of war. Boys left home at age seven. They lived in harsh military camps where they learned to read, write, and to use weapons. Spartan leaders believed harsh treatment would make boys into adults who could survive the pain of battle.
Life for Men in Sparta
Age 7: Left home for military camps
Age 20: Joined the regular army
Age 30: Could live at home while serving in the military
Age 60: Finally left military service
Spartan women enjoyed more freedom than women in other city-states because the men were often away from home. Girls were trained in sports such as wrestling. The main role of women was to raise sons for the military. Sparta’s government was an oligarchy. Two kings ruled together, but had little power. The council of elders acted as judges and the assembly made decisions about war and peace. The assembly elected five people each year to be ephors. The ephors enforced laws and collected taxes. Sparta's leaders believed education could lead to unrest. For this reason, the government discouraged people from studying literature and the arts. Foreign visitors were not welcome. People could leave Sparta only for military purposes. Trade was limited. Sparta became isolated.
Athens: A Young Democracy
Athens was another important Greek city-state. It was located northeast of Sparta. The people who lived in Athens were descended from the Mycenaean people.
The Athenian people had different ideas about government and society than the people of Sparta. In Athens, boys studied arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, and public speaking. They also practiced sports. Boys finished school at age 18. At that age, they were expected to be active in public affairs.
Girls in Athens were educated at home.
● They learned spinning, weaving, and other household duties.
● In some wealthy families they learned to read, write, and play music.
● Women were expected to marry and raise children.
About 600 B.C. most Athenian farmers owed money to the nobles. To avoid an uprising, the nobles turned to a respected merchant named Solon. Solon ended the farmers’ debts and freed those who had been enslaved. In 560 B.C. another tyrant took over the government. His name was Peisistratus. He gave citizenship to people who did not own land. He hired the poor to build temples. After Peisistratus died, Cleisthenes took over. He gave the assembly even greater powers. Cleisthenes also created a new council of 500 citizens to help the assembly manage government business. Each year a lottery was held to choose the council members. Using a lottery meant that every citizen had a chance to be a council member. Cleisthenes' changes made the Athenian government more democratic. However, people who were not citizens still could not participate in the government. This included all women, foreign-born men, and enslaved people.
Check for Understanding
Name one way Cleisthenes made the Athenian government more democratic.
1.
List the three groups who were not helped by his changes.
2.
3.
4.
Defining 1. What is a tyrant?
Listing 2. List two groups of people who lived in Greek city-states that did not want the nobles to rule.
Marking the Text 3. Underline the definitions of oligarchy and democracy.
Reading Check 4. Why were tyrants able to hold power in various Greek city-states.
Marking the Text 5. Circle the word that means “relating to soldiers and war.”
Describing 6. What were Spartan women expected to do as adults?
Outlining 7. Place a one-tab Foldable along the dotted line to the right. On the anchor tab, write Military Society. Use both sides of the tab to outline events in the lives of Spartan boys and men.
Reading Check 8. Why did Sparta fall behind other Greek city-states in many areas.
Reading Check 9. What did Solon do to help farmers?
Explaining 10. What was the benefit of using the lottery system?
Reading Check 11. Why was Solon chosen to be leader of Athens?
12. Place a one-tab Foldable to cover the Check for Understanding.
Write Cleisthenes on the anchor tab. Use both sides to list what you remember about Cleisthenes. Use your notes to complete the lists under the tab
As the Greek city-states grew, there were political changes. The wealthy nobles had seized power from the kings. Owners of small farms did not like the nobles ruling, however. Many of them had borrowed money from the nobles. When the farmers could not repay their loans, the nobles took their farms. By 650 B.C. merchants and artisans also wanted change. They were not citizens because they did not own land. That meant they did not have a say in ruling the polis. The growing political unrest led to the rise of tyrants. A tyrant is someone who seizes power and rules with total authority. Most of the tyrants who controlled city-states ruled fairly. It was the harshness of a few tyrants that gave the word tyranny its current meaning; rule by a cruel and unjust person. The common people and the hoplites, or citizen soldiers, supported the tyrants overthrowing the nobles. Tyrants became more popular by building new marketplaces, temples, and fortresses. Most people in the Greek citystates objected to rule by one person, however. They wanted a government in which all citizens had a say. Tyrants ruled many Greek city-states until about 500 B.C. Then most Greek city-states changed to either an oligarchy or a democracy. In an oligarchy, a few wealthy people hold power over the larger group of citizens. In a democracy, all citizens have a say in the government. Each polis chose its own type of government. Sparta and Athens, two important Greek city-states, had different types of government. They also had very different societies.
Political Changes in Ancient Greece
Nobles took control from kings • Farmers, merchants, and artisans wanted changes
• Common people supported tyrants • Most tyrants ruled fairly
• Greeks wanted more say in government • Replaced most tyrants with oligarchies or democracies
Sparta: A Military Society
Sparta was located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula in southern Greece. Sparta invaded nearby city-states and enslaved the people who lived there. The Spartans called these enslaved people helots. In about 650 B.C. the helots rebelled. The Spartans crushed the uprising. The leaders decided to make Sparta a military society. The leaders thought this would make citizens more loyal and obedient. All boys and men were prepared for a life of war. Boys left home at age seven. They lived in harsh military camps where they learned to read, write, and to use weapons. Spartan leaders believed harsh treatment would make boys into adults who could survive the pain of battle.
Life for Men in Sparta
Age 7: Left home for military camps
Age 20: Joined the regular army
Age 30: Could live at home while serving in the military
Age 60: Finally left military service
Spartan women enjoyed more freedom than women in other city-states because the men were often away from home. Girls were trained in sports such as wrestling. The main role of women was to raise sons for the military. Sparta’s government was an oligarchy. Two kings ruled together, but had little power. The council of elders acted as judges and the assembly made decisions about war and peace. The assembly elected five people each year to be ephors. The ephors enforced laws and collected taxes. Sparta's leaders believed education could lead to unrest. For this reason, the government discouraged people from studying literature and the arts. Foreign visitors were not welcome. People could leave Sparta only for military purposes. Trade was limited. Sparta became isolated.
Athens: A Young Democracy
Athens was another important Greek city-state. It was located northeast of Sparta. The people who lived in Athens were descended from the Mycenaean people.
The Athenian people had different ideas about government and society than the people of Sparta. In Athens, boys studied arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, and public speaking. They also practiced sports. Boys finished school at age 18. At that age, they were expected to be active in public affairs.
Girls in Athens were educated at home.
● They learned spinning, weaving, and other household duties.
● In some wealthy families they learned to read, write, and play music.
● Women were expected to marry and raise children.
About 600 B.C. most Athenian farmers owed money to the nobles. To avoid an uprising, the nobles turned to a respected merchant named Solon. Solon ended the farmers’ debts and freed those who had been enslaved. In 560 B.C. another tyrant took over the government. His name was Peisistratus. He gave citizenship to people who did not own land. He hired the poor to build temples. After Peisistratus died, Cleisthenes took over. He gave the assembly even greater powers. Cleisthenes also created a new council of 500 citizens to help the assembly manage government business. Each year a lottery was held to choose the council members. Using a lottery meant that every citizen had a chance to be a council member. Cleisthenes' changes made the Athenian government more democratic. However, people who were not citizens still could not participate in the government. This included all women, foreign-born men, and enslaved people.
Check for Understanding
Name one way Cleisthenes made the Athenian government more democratic.
1.
List the three groups who were not helped by his changes.
2.
3.
4.
Defining 1. What is a tyrant?
Listing 2. List two groups of people who lived in Greek city-states that did not want the nobles to rule.
Marking the Text 3. Underline the definitions of oligarchy and democracy.
Reading Check 4. Why were tyrants able to hold power in various Greek city-states.
Marking the Text 5. Circle the word that means “relating to soldiers and war.”
Describing 6. What were Spartan women expected to do as adults?
Outlining 7. Place a one-tab Foldable along the dotted line to the right. On the anchor tab, write Military Society. Use both sides of the tab to outline events in the lives of Spartan boys and men.
Reading Check 8. Why did Sparta fall behind other Greek city-states in many areas.
Reading Check 9. What did Solon do to help farmers?
Explaining 10. What was the benefit of using the lottery system?
Reading Check 11. Why was Solon chosen to be leader of Athens?
12. Place a one-tab Foldable to cover the Check for Understanding.
Write Cleisthenes on the anchor tab. Use both sides to list what you remember about Cleisthenes. Use your notes to complete the lists under the tab
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Check for Understanding
1. **One way Cleisthenes made the Athenian government more democratic:** Cleisthenes gave the assembly even greater powers and created a new council of 500 citizens to help manage government business.
2. **Three groups who were not helped by his changes:**
- Women
- Foreign-born men
- Enslaved people
---
### Defining
1. **What is a tyrant?**
A tyrant is someone who seizes power and rules with total authority. Most tyrants ruled fairly, but the harshness of a few led to the negative connotation of tyranny as rule by a cruel and unjust person.
---
### Listing
2. **List two groups of people who lived in Greek city-states that did not want the nobles to rule:**
- Small farmers
- Merchants and artisans
---
### Marking the Text
3. **Definitions of oligarchy and democracy:**
- Oligarchy: A form of government where a few wealthy people hold power over the larger group of citizens.
- Democracy: A form of government in which all citizens have a say in the government.
---
### Reading Check
4. **Why were tyrants able to hold power in various Greek city-states?**
Tyrants were able to hold power because they gained the support of common people and hoplites, who were frustrated with noble rule, and they often implemented fair policies and reforms that helped the citizens.
---
### Marking the Text
5. **Circle the word that means “relating to soldiers and war.”**
Military
---
### Describing
6. **What were Spartan women expected to do as adults?**
Spartan women were expected to raise sons for the military and were given more freedom than women in other city-states due to the absence of men who were often away for military duty.
---
### Outlining
7. **Outline events in the lives of Spartan boys and men:**
- **Age 7:** Boys left home for military camps.
- **Age 20:** Joined the regular army.
- **Age 30:** Could live at home while serving in military.
- **Age 60:** Finally left military service.
---
### Reading Check
8. **Why did Sparta fall behind other Greek city-states in many areas?**
Sparta fell behind other Greek city-states because its leaders discouraged education in literature and the arts, restricted trade, and isolated itself from foreign influences.
---
### Reading Check
9. **What did Solon do to help farmers?**
Solon ended the farmers’ debts and freed those who had been enslaved due to their inability to repay their loans.
---
### Explaining
10. **What was the benefit of using the lottery system?**
The lottery system ensured that every citizen had a chance to be a council member, promoting fairness and preventing the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals.
---
### Reading Check
11. **Why was Solon chosen to be leader of Athens?**
Solon was chosen because he was a respected merchant and was seen as capable of addressing the grievances of the farmers and avoiding an uprising.
---
### Cleisthenes Foldable
**Anchor Tab**: Cleisthenes
**Notes to be filled on both sides**:
- **Side 1:**
- Increased powers of the assembly.
- Created a council of 500 citizens.
- Used a lottery system to select council members.
- **Side 2:**
- Expanded citizenship to more people (not just landowners).
- Helped make Athens more democratic.
- Facilitated public participation in governance.
1. **One way Cleisthenes made the Athenian government more democratic:** Cleisthenes gave the assembly even greater powers and created a new council of 500 citizens to help manage government business.
2. **Three groups who were not helped by his changes:**
- Women
- Foreign-born men
- Enslaved people
---
### Defining
1. **What is a tyrant?**
A tyrant is someone who seizes power and rules with total authority. Most tyrants ruled fairly, but the harshness of a few led to the negative connotation of tyranny as rule by a cruel and unjust person.
---
### Listing
2. **List two groups of people who lived in Greek city-states that did not want the nobles to rule:**
- Small farmers
- Merchants and artisans
---
### Marking the Text
3. **Definitions of oligarchy and democracy:**
- Oligarchy: A form of government where a few wealthy people hold power over the larger group of citizens.
- Democracy: A form of government in which all citizens have a say in the government.
---
### Reading Check
4. **Why were tyrants able to hold power in various Greek city-states?**
Tyrants were able to hold power because they gained the support of common people and hoplites, who were frustrated with noble rule, and they often implemented fair policies and reforms that helped the citizens.
---
### Marking the Text
5. **Circle the word that means “relating to soldiers and war.”**
Military
---
### Describing
6. **What were Spartan women expected to do as adults?**
Spartan women were expected to raise sons for the military and were given more freedom than women in other city-states due to the absence of men who were often away for military duty.
---
### Outlining
7. **Outline events in the lives of Spartan boys and men:**
- **Age 7:** Boys left home for military camps.
- **Age 20:** Joined the regular army.
- **Age 30:** Could live at home while serving in military.
- **Age 60:** Finally left military service.
---
### Reading Check
8. **Why did Sparta fall behind other Greek city-states in many areas?**
Sparta fell behind other Greek city-states because its leaders discouraged education in literature and the arts, restricted trade, and isolated itself from foreign influences.
---
### Reading Check
9. **What did Solon do to help farmers?**
Solon ended the farmers’ debts and freed those who had been enslaved due to their inability to repay their loans.
---
### Explaining
10. **What was the benefit of using the lottery system?**
The lottery system ensured that every citizen had a chance to be a council member, promoting fairness and preventing the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals.
---
### Reading Check
11. **Why was Solon chosen to be leader of Athens?**
Solon was chosen because he was a respected merchant and was seen as capable of addressing the grievances of the farmers and avoiding an uprising.
---
### Cleisthenes Foldable
**Anchor Tab**: Cleisthenes
**Notes to be filled on both sides**:
- **Side 1:**
- Increased powers of the assembly.
- Created a council of 500 citizens.
- Used a lottery system to select council members.
- **Side 2:**
- Expanded citizenship to more people (not just landowners).
- Helped make Athens more democratic.
- Facilitated public participation in governance.