Polis (City-state)
*Sparta
Peloponnesus
Government
2 kings, council of elders, and assembly
Total subordination to state
citizens
helots
*Athens
Organization of government
Executive Committee of 50
Council (Boule) of 500
Assembly of citizens
Cleisthenes
Oligarchy (four classes of citizens)
Assembly of citizens given final vote, 508 BCE
*Pericles, 495-429 BCE
All citizens eligible for high offices
Xerxes
Alliance system
Delian League
Peloponnesian League
Macedon
*Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 BCE)
Zeus
Storms and lightning
King of gods
Poseidon
Sea
Apollo
Sun
Wisdom
Aphrodite
Sea, seafaring
Love, beauty
Dodona, Oracle of Zeus
*Delphi, Oracle of Apollo
Temple of Apollo
Pythias
Quadrennial festivals
1. What forms of political organization existed among the poleis (city-states) of ancient Greece? How did the governments and societies of Sparta and Athens differ?
2. What was the religion of the ancient Greeks? What role did divination play in their religion?
1. What were Pericles's ideals of democracy (p. 147)? Based on your reading of pages 149-59, to what extent did the government and society of ancient Athens exemplify these ideals? Provide at least three examples from the reading to illustrate your ideas.
2. What was the Peloponnesian War? Why did it contribute to the decline of the Greek city-states?
3. Why are the Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle considered so important? What is the Socratic method (p. 155)? How does Skaff use this method in class? What are the benefits and drawbacks of this teaching method?
1. What were the functions of the agora in ancient Athens?
2. Why does the article associate democracy and the philosopher Socrates with the agora? Based on the last years of Socrates's life, to what extent did the government and society of ancient Athens exemplify democratic ideals?