Discovering Our Past: Ancient Civilizations

Chapter 7: The Ancient Greeks

Chapter Overview

Greece's geography played a major role in the lives of the Greeks. The mountains, climate, and seas determined where people settled and what they did. Geography shaped Greece's government as well, dividing the people into distinct communities. The concept of citizenship was developed by the Greeks. The citizens ran the city-states. People could meet and debate issues at the agora. Greek citizens could also choose officials, pass laws, vote, and hold public office. In exchange for these rights, Greek citizens were required to serve in government and fight as soldiers.

With the support of Greece's common people, tyrants were able to seize power from the nobles. The majority of the city-states replaced tyrants with new forms of government. Eventually Athens established a democracy and Sparta formed an oligarchy.

At the same time, Cyrus the Great united the Persians and built a vast empire. Persia paid men to be full-time soldiers. As a result, its army became powerful. Beginning around 490 B.C. the Persians and the Greek city-states battled over control of Greece.

The Athenian democratic system was a direct democracy. Under the leadership of Pericles, the Athenian government became more democratic and Athens became powerful. Although Athens grew wealthy from trade, other city-states became suspicious. In 431 B.C. Athens went to war with Sparta and the other city-states for control of Greece. Sparta defeated Athens in the Peloponnesian War with the help of Persia.