Athenian Political System Essay

For centuries, Greece has produced innovations and advancements that set an example and high standards for other societies around the world. City- states in Greece, such as Athens and Sparta, led the way with their military, political, and societal advancements. The Athenian’s political system differed from the rest of Greece at this time. At the beginning of the 7th century BCE, Athens was ruled by a monarchy, which soon fell out of thrown out control by aristocrats. After the monarchy fell, Pisitarious took over the Athenian political system and began to rule as a tyrant. He kept a strong grip on the Athenian’s trade, and in 1510 BCE, the citizens of Athens overthrew Pistarious. The Athenian’s created the council of 500 to supervise

This was the first time the Athenians tried to govern its own people. This council was controlled by all male citizens and held open debates on laws that were presented at the meetings. This council of 500 was created by Cleisthenes, an Athenian citizen, he set the foundation for democracy. Democracy gives the people authority over their own lives. (TALK MORE ABOUT DEMOCRACY) Along with the political system, Athenian civilization was unlike any other city state in ancient Greece at the time. Women, slaves, and foreign residents were treated as second class citizens to Greek males. Women stayed at home to bear the children, and were frowned upon by society if them could not bear a male to carry on the family name. Aristotle wrote about the Athenian’s view on women, claiming “a woman is, as it were, an infertile male. She is a female in fact on account by an inadequacy”. It was common for

Like the Athenians, women were expected to bear sons. Boys were taken away from their mothers at the age of seven and put under the control of Spartan leaders. The boys were taken to live in military camps and were “subjected to harsh discipline to make them tough and given an education that stressed military training and obedience to authority”. For most of the Spartan men’s lives, they lived in these camps, and trained for battle. Once the males turned 30, they were allowed to vote in an assembly. They were able to marry and live in their own homes, but had to remain in military service until the age of 60. Spartan women, unlike Athenian women had more control and power in society. Woman like men contributed in physical activities because it was “thought that is both parents were strong their children would be more