- According to Aristotle why did people with intermediate wealth not try to get more, especially property?
Because the fear of loosing what they had was greater than the desire for more.
- What do you understand by democratic inconsistency?
Democracy changing its mind – e.g. Mytilene
- Who was considered to be the founder of Athens’s constitution?
Solon
- What do you understand by the term ‘hybris’?
It refers to degrading arrogance.
- Write a few sentences about Kleisthenes.
He was remembered as the creator of the 10 tribes on which democratic structures of the classical period were largely based.
- What was the benefit of introducing a lottery to select assembly officials?
It stopped the wealthy taking all of the power. It evened distribution of power between rich
- What was ostrakism and what good points did t have?
It was the process whereby politicians were exiled after making a political mistake. It was good because it meant that the politician was allowed back into the city after 10 years and it also mean that they didn’t loose their land.
- When did Pericles die?
429 BC
15. Give an example of behaviour which was considered vulgar or bad manners among the rich.
Anyone who shouted abuse from the stand in the assembly was considered to be rude and vulgar.
- When was the revolution of the 400?
411 BC
17. What followed the 400?
The campaign of terror and assassination against democratic leaders due ti their foreign policies.
- Who were the 30?
Oligarchs installed in Athens
- What happened to the 30 and why?
They were prosecuted and injected by the army because they were violent and corrupt.
- How long did the Demokratia last after 403 and why did it fail?
80 years, because the Macedonians arrived.
21. What as the general assembly called?
The Ekklesia
- How often did the Ekklesia meet?
4 times in a prytany (36 days)
23. How were the days allocated for matters to be discussed?
1 day to take vote of confidence on the officials, then serving to deal with corn supply and defence of country, to hear the laying of certain important accusations and announcements which had become subject to transfer. 1 day to allow formal petitioners to address the subject.
24. How did they deal with emergencies with regard to the allocation of days?
The held back meetings towards the end of the prytany.
25. How do you account for the change in numbers attending the ekklesia?
People outside of Athens found it hard to get to frequent meetings. They were asked to attend in force as they had no jobs. Poor people couldn’t go because they introduced fees to go into the assembly.
26. Why was Pericles considered to be so different from other assembly members?
According to Thucydides he was not corrupt.
27. Were all of the members of the ekklesia thought to be honest? If not how were they considered to be dishonest?
They all took bribes.
28. What were the functions of the boulé?
To process news and prepare sensible motions. They filtered things before they went to the boulé.
29. How could people put forward a proposal to the boulé?
In writing only
30. What was the point of doing this?
To stop trivial complaints and to stop Chinese whispers. If things were in writing people could not retract accusations.
31. What was the connection between the boulé and tribute?
The boulé supervised the collection of the tribute.
32. How many members of the boulé were there and how were they chosen?
500, chosen by lottery, all over age f 30
33. How long could they serve on the Boulé?
2 years in their lifetime.
34. How did the boulé work?
?????????????????????????????
35. Who were the thetes?
Poorer class people.
36. What was the difference between election and lottery?
Lottery meant that people had equal chance and rich and poor got opportunity, election was usually swayed by how much money a person had.
37. What officials were not chose by lottery?
Military official, military treasures, and the superintendent of the wells (water supply was too important.)
38. Name one elective institution which was prominent throughout the classical period.
Panel of 10 generals.
39. What interesting pattern of behaviour does Xenephon note between the classes?
Poor of Athens asserted themselves, trusted their own judgement much more than the hoplite class did their own.
40. What is the reason given for the election of the wealthy to generalship?
Rich could afford armour, trusted their own judgement and wealthy people were trusted.
41. Do you agree that the continuation of wealth being elected to generalship helped maintain the democracy?
Yes – poor had say, poor recognised that the rich wee better leaders.
42, Explain how juries worked in Athenian courts.
Was very large, sentence was normally decided by a jury of the accused’s peers. It was left open for the public to decide when and who to prosecute guarded against improper influence of rich exerted by means of bribery-large group was harder to bribe.
43. How was bribery looked upon in Athenian society?
Accepted but not talked about.
44. Why were witnesses not cross questioned in court?
Took too long and they had already made written statements.
45. Name one way in which the poor might be discriminated against in court?
Couldn’t write own testament.
46. What was the Athenian name for a legal writer?
Logographs
47. Who could prosecute in Athens?
Anyone
48. Sycophants were hated in Athens. Why?
They sued rich with false accusations.
49. Why did defendants often talk about past deeds?
Sympathy vote.
50. Who tended to benefit most from this course of action?
The wealthy.
51. How may the wealthy gain public support for good deeds?
Festivals, sponsor ships.
52. What other reason was there for them to perform liturgy?
Please the Gods
53. Did Metics have same rights as Athenians?
No – not allowed to be on assembly etc
54. How were they represented by?
Polemarch
55. What was sum paid for slaves?
72 drachma for child
100-300 for adults
56. What did the slaves do?
Farm mine and domestic duties
57. Did everyone own slaves?
No
58. What could they not do?
Fight for Athens
59. Was it illegal to kill slaves?
Yes
60. Could they ever regain freedom?
Yes – buy it or earn it.
61. Why were they well treated?
So they wouldn’t revolt
62. What evidence s there that they weren’t happy with what they had?
20,000 escaped ecclesia when captured by Spartans.