Politics in the Ancient Greek world

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  • Created by: Heather
  • Created on: 29-12-16 14:38
For the Mycenaean period, where do we get information about politics and administration?
From Tablets, such as the Pylos tablet, which revealed much of the day-to-day administrative details,
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What did scholars use to believe about how Greece was ruled?
They used to believe in a united "kingdom of Greece" which was ruled by the King of Mycenae,
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However, what is understood now about how Greece was ruled?
There was the formation of small regional Kingdoms under a singel centre,
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Give an example of this?
King of Pylos in Messenia,
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However, is this right to say for all Mycenaean Kingdoms?
Other strongholds were semi-independent settlements who leaders acknowledged the ruler of Mycenae as their superior and pledged their loyalty to him
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Give an example of which palace towns may have been in this position in what regions?
Athens and Thebes, -Regions of Attica and Boeotia,
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Describe the relations between these palace settlements?
From 1600 to 1200 relations both within and between regions were generally stable. Undoubtedly there were battles as they fought for heemony,
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For the Myceneaen ruling hierarchy, who was at the top?
The Wanax- Which meant "lord" or "master"
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Who was next in rank? What is commonly believed to be his role?
Lawagetas, which is a combination of 'people' and 'leader, and is commonly believed to have designated the commander of the army,
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What is another high ranking group who recieve the same amount of what as the Lawagetas? What is believed to be their role?
-Telestai, -Same allotment of land, -Their function is unknown although some believe they were priests,
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FOr the Kingdom of Pylos, how large was its influence and contained how many towns/ villages?
1400 square miles, -Over 200 villages and towns
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How was the Kingdom divided into sections to ensure efficient ruling? Use the example of the Kingdom of pylos?
It was divided administratively into two 'provinces', each subdivided into several 'districts', named after the principal town in the district,
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What title name was found on tablets and what could this mean in relation to districts?
-Korete, -Governor of a district,
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What is the name of a large group of officials who were in charge of affairs at what level?
-Pasireu, -Town and village level,
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However, at the collapse of the Mycenaean period, what happened to these systems?
The centralised political organisation had disappeared along with the palaces, and the Wanax,
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For the Dark Ages, what did the pasireu title, which belonged to a "mayor" adapt to and what was their role when the Myceanaeans collapsed?
-Basileis, -The separate components of the Kingdoms such as villages, continued to be headed by thes men,
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What is the basileus? What is his role in the Dark Ages?
It is the local chieftain, or tribal leaders,
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Why is Basileus often referred to as the role of 'king'? Is this an appropriate description of their role in the Dark ages?
AS it is translated as such when it apepar in literature such as the Odyssey, -No it is misleading- They had less power,
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Where was evidence found for the basileus?
On the site of Lefkandi on the island of Euboea,
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In archaeological findings, how was the basileus' housing noticeable and separate to the rest?
Easily identified as the 'Chief's' house due to it being much larger and better constructed than the rest- it had an overhanging steep thatched roof, so showing their importance
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Later in the Dark Ages, classed as tge Homeric perid, what role develops which is above the basileus and how does it differ?
The 'Paramount' chief- He is superior in authroity to the local chiefs of the villages and acknowledged leader of a certain region,
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However, is this role similar to the Bronze Age Wanax?
No- The essential difference was the paramount Chief had only limited control over the local districts of the demos- The local chiefs were essentially independent of him, and they is simply referred to as the basileus,
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Describe the Government institutions in the Dark Ages?
They were few and simple,
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What 'Government' or institution was there for local chiefs and the paramount chief? Where was it held and what did it discuss?
A council, or Boule who met in the paramount chief's Great hall, Megaron, where they met to formulate the policy of the demos,
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How much power did the Paramount Chief have in decisions?
He presided and had th determining voice in discussions, but usually heeded advice from the "elders" or members of the Demos community,
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For Archaic Greece,during the 8th century, what form of government was created?
City-state form of government, called the Polis,
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What is a city state?
It is a geographical area compromised of a city and its adjacent territory which together makes up a single, self-governing political unit,
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What is the focal point of the polis? Although what areas does it also include?
The city, -Although it also includes its adjacent territory as well
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What were all the members of the poleis, those who lived in the city and surrounding areas called?
THe politai, members of the poleis,
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What was the population size in Athens and Sparta?
Athens- 250,000-275,000. Sparta- 30,000
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What is the Greek term used to show the process of when every village and toen accepted a single political centre?
Synoecism
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How large was the synoecism of villages and towns when creating the poleis?
Different forms- Some were made up of a single town and its adjacent plain, holding a couple of villages, while others were regional and contained a number of towns and villages beside the central one,
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However, did all villages and areas become Poleis?
No- Those areas Of Greece who had differing political organisation systems were referred to as 'ethnos'
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What does 'ethnos' mean and who were they?
Ethnos means 'tribe', 'nation' or 'people', -It was a regional territory and people without a single urban centre,
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How were they views by other Greeks?
Looked down upon and seen as agriculturally backward, especially religiously with their worship of the God of Ethnos,
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What was constitution of Sparta and what does it need?
Diarchy, which is a mixed constitution with 2 Kings, but they aren't allowed to make decisions without the gerontocracy, who are people over the age of 60 chosen each year,
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What was the Corinth constitution?
An Oligarchy- WHen there is an aristocracy in rule,
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What was the Macedonian constitution?
A Monarchy,
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What was the Athenian constitution?
Athens was a monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny and then a democracy in the 5th century,
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Who was the tyrant of Athens and when did he come to power?
-Peisistratus, -546BC
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WHat was the next type of constitution to come into power? When and who?
Oligarchy, -528, -Hippias and Hipparchus
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Who leads the democracy in Athens and when?
508- Democratic reforms introduced, -Cleisthenes,
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How does each constitution inter-related with one another?
Each is independent and governs themselves- THey always have a form of self-sufficiency but needed alliances and trade with other poleis,
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However, in Athens, why was their tension among the Politai, or the people?
As while men were free, they couldn't do whatever they wanted- Some believed everyone part of the state should have a say in its running,
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Why was their tension in Athens in the Archaic period particularly due to inequality?
There was a large gap between the rich and poor- There had to be some way to settle the gap,
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What were thre three political ideals circulating in Athens?
-Eunomia, -Isonomia, -Demokratia
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What was the Eunomia political ideal?
Good order, based on old ideals e.g. Reasons why aristocracy should remain in power,
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What was the Isonomia political ideal?
Equality for all e.g. Athens- It wasn't just the ruling elite who made decisions but everyone,
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What was the Demokratia political ideal?
Rule by the people
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For the Early Classical period and Sparta, what was their main constitution?
Dual Kingship- Both were co-operative and competitive with each other, and were equal in authority, -Hereditary role,
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Who did they share their judicial functions with?
Gerousia, -A council of elders
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Who did the Gerousia compromised of?
In addition to the 2 Kings, it was composed of 28 men over the age of 60 who served for the rest of their lives,
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How was the election determined?
Most of the male citizens were wealthy influential men, -THe winners were those determined by lot, so those who recieved the largest shouts were considered elected,
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What was another institution which was elected yearly?
The Ephors
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Who were the Ephors and how many were there in one year?
They supervised the Kings ("supervisors" and represented the principle of law,
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What is another insitution which was the democratic organ of Sparta?
The Ecclesia, the Assembly,
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Who was part of the assembly and how often did they meet?
All Spartan citizens could attend if male and over 30, -They met once a month
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What was their role in the Assembly?
Citizens listened to a proposal made by the gerousia and simply voted to accept it or reject it, without discussion,
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For Athens, what institution was in name the same as Sparta?
Ecclesia, or the Assembly,
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Who can attend the Assemvly?
Whoever turns up to the Assembly that day represent the people, and their vote shows their decision, which si final and recognised as law,
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How much of a role did the demos have in the assembly?
Everyone in the assembly can add their case and suggest their own amendments to the laws- Everyone id eligible to change the laws,
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Which ruler created the Council of the 500 an how did it work?
-Cleisthenes, -Everyone's names from the 10 tribes and and 50 are pulled out from each one, leading to the 500,
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What is another name for the council?
Boule
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How often were re-elections and what were the conditions?
-Re-elected every year, -You couldn't be on the Council more than twice in your entire life,
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What was their role?
They would investigate and debate into laws and do the research work for the ecclesia for debate,
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What is another Athenian institution which involved what when creating a jury?
-Courts, -6,000 names and 501 pulled out to create a jury,
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What is another name for the Generals? How many were there elected at a time?
Strategoi, -10
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Was there any restrictions on elections?
No- You could be elected year on year
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What was their role?
They were in charge of military decisions and the military was delegated to them,
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What is another name for the officials and what was their role?
-Archons, -The bodies who would run events for when the ecclesia met and the general running of political events,
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Who was the creator of the Athenian democracy and how did he split the Athenian polis?
-Cleisthenes, -Split the polis into 10 tribes, each with a certain number of demes (A small area of land, or a small group of people) within that
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What did he replaced in terms of naming?
He abolished patronymic names (Named after their father) and replaced them with demonymic namd (Named after the place),
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What system did he reintroduce about ostracism and what did it involve?
System of ostracism, -Every year, the Athenians would vote for one person who they don't like and the one with the most votes would be exiled from Athens for 10 years,
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Where were meetings in the ecclesia held?
On Pynx Hill,
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Continuing the early classical period/ classical period, what group led to a change in constitution in Athens after the Pelopennisian War
The Thirty Tyrants
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Who were the Thirty Tyrants led by? What did they believe in constitution wise?
-Led by Critias, Uncle of Plato and follower of Socrates, -Pro-Spartan Oligarchy
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How did they change Athens?
Demoncratic leaders were put in jail and many were put to death via hemlock, -The amount allowed to vote and allowed to have a free trial was reduced,
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For the Hellenistic period, who was Alexander the Great's sucessors and why?
Both Alexander IV, Alexander's unborn child, and Philip III would rule together with regent in charge until they would turn to age,
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Who was regent of the Empire and how did he carve the power?
Perdiccas, -He carves up the EMpire between all hs friends, such as Persia despite Alexander already setting up another King for lands in the East,
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For example, who was the King of Egypt and the King of Macedonia and Babylonia?
Egypt- Ptolemy, Macedonia- Antipater and Craterus, Babylonai- Seleucus,
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However, when does Perdiccas die and how?
321 by his own soldiers,
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When is Philip III murdered and by who?
316 by Alexander's mother Olympias,
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Who executed Olympias and what is his role? when was this?
Cassander, regent of Alexander IV, -315
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Hwever, when is Alexander IV murdered and by who?
310 by Cassander
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Who becomes rulr of the whole of the Greek Empire? However, is this a smooth ruling?
Antigonus, -No there is a power struggle against Ptolemy which goes on for 40 years,
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However, when does Antigonus die? Who succeeds him?
301, -Cassander,
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However, what happens to Cassander in 298 and who succeeds him?
He dies and ptolemy succeeds,
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When does Ptolemy die and who succeeds him?
283, -Ptolemy II,
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What happened to the Poleis?
The Independent states running themselves didn't work in this time of difficulty and political sturggles,
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Who was the last ruler of the Hellenistic Kingdom and when did it end?
Cleopatra VII, -31, defeated by Octavian,
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Who does the final Kingdom fall to?
The Romans who had begun to create their Empire in the 250s,
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What did scholars use to believe about how Greece was ruled?

Back

They used to believe in a united "kingdom of Greece" which was ruled by the King of Mycenae,

Card 3

Front

However, what is understood now about how Greece was ruled?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Give an example of this?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

However, is this right to say for all Mycenaean Kingdoms?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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