ATHENS (Sept. 11) (discussion of Xenophon)
It’s easier for Americans to identify with classical Athens.
If Sparta was the Soviet Union of classical Greece, Athens would be the United States.
Athenians believed in freedom of speech; Sparta in censorship
Athens was rolling in wealth - esp. wealth brought by trade; Spartans didn’t even allow the use of coinage.
Athens expected its citizens to earn their living or go hungry if they failed to (“capitalist”); Spartan citizens were supported by the state.
Athenian government: first democracy
Athenian democracy didn’t spring fully armed from the head of Zeus - it was developed over time.
Successive reforms changed Athens from a polis ruled by aristocrats, into a democracy (Lerner 164) Solon ca. 594 BC – took power from aristocrats; gave to rich, with veto power to whole assembly; Clisthenes ca. 507 BC – voting by tribes
Important thing is to know the shape of Athenian democracy at its Golden Age - mid 5th century
1. Assembly: All adult male citizens voted in Athens - even if they didn’t have any property and even if they lived in the countryside (city-states included the country-side as well as the urban core); more citizens than Sparta (40,000 vs 8000)
Military service entitled them to a vote: All adult male citizens also served in the army in Athens - there was no way of avoiding active military service (what entitles us to a vote?)
These male citizens were subdivided into 10 regional tribes (100 demes) – often voting done in the tribes – locally – not in Athens
2. Council of 500, the Athenian Congress: member chosen by lot from citizens over 30 years old
The Athenians elected councilmen by lot to prevent wealthy and influential men from dominating their Council; every citizen, no matter how insignificant, had shot at serving in the government.
(Councilmen were paid a salary - a small one - so that even craftsmen or peasants could afford to take off work to serve.)
3. Athenian juries were also chosen by lot - at the last minute - the very day of the trial, to prevent bribery.
Juries of several hundred men decided most important court cases - without the participation of a judge or lawyers - the plaintiffs and defendants had to speak on their own behalf before a group of their peers.
4. Executive branch
Magistrates chosen by lot
However, 10 annual “generals” - who ran the army – elected by citizens
Despite the safeguards, Athens still had its rich powerful politicians, who would be elected again and again to a generalship
Ostracism
The technique of ostracism was invented to keep these politicians in their place -
Every year all Athenian citizens would put a name on ostracon of someone they wanted to exile for 10 years; the man whose name appeared on the most ostraca (more than 5000) was exiled
This was a sort of state-wide vote of impeachment.
On the whole, no more democratic form of government has ever been designed - one where all citizens not only voted (and fought), but had opportunity to serve in government
Egalitarianism in
material culture (houses of
Olynthus – handout)
Excluded members of Athenians society
Democracy coincided with the increased subordination of women and increased numbers of slaves
Acquired by trade
Status of Athenian women: you will discuss from Xenophon’s readings
demographics - early age of marriage, high death rate in childbirth
confinement in the home: respectable Athenian (indeed Greek women in general) did not go out in public esp. without veil, eat in company of men who were not their husband / relatives.
arranged marriages
hetairai: professional mistresses, generally, free Greek (non-Athenian) residents of Athens, allowed to dine with (and entertain) men, often well educated. Their male “friends” would set them up in houses; often shared by more than one man. Their children were not legitimate – not citizens, restricted legal rights