We get Friday off. WHOOT WHOOT!

Yesterday in Western Civilization we continued our PowerPoint on Ancient Greece. We got into the section on warring city-states. First, some vocabulary. Polis; meaning city-state or political unit, monarchy; meaning a government with one ruler, aristocracy; a government ruled by the rich, oligarchy; the rich who didn’t like aristocracy and tried to overthrow it with the help of military hoplites, a tyrant; a person who seized power through the common people’s support. During the sixth and seventh centuries, Greece was ruled by aristocrats, who while making political decisions together basically had an endless party called a symposium. There was entertainment, drink and food, and no middle class. This government was self-appointed, and occasionally would exclude or ostracize one another when someone was not in favor. Excluded aristocrats sometimes formed an oligarchy, and tried to overthrow the current aristocrats or take control of a different city-state. Draco, who ruled in 621 BCE, made the first steps toward democracy. All Athenians were declared equal under the law; however, death was the punishment for most crimes and debt slavery was allowed. Solon reformed some laws in 594 BCE by making debt slavery outlawed, made it so all castes of Athenians could speak at an assembly, and that any citizen could press charges against wrongdoers. Cleisthenes in 500 BCE allowed citizens to submit laws for debate at the assembly, and started the Council of five-hundred. However, only free adult males who owned land and were native to Greece could join. Hippias, who lived from 527-510 BCE was an okay leader at first, but then his brother was murdered and his ruling became harsh and cruel. Anyone who he thought took part in the murder was killed, along with their families. He was eventually ostracized, but in revenge teamed up with a Persian king named Darius I to take over Marathon. Isagoras and Cleisthenes in the meantime are in a power struggle for who will be ruler of Athens. Cleisthenes had major support from the lower class, and surprisingly Sparta. Isagoras wins and becomes archon emponymous and ostracizes Cleisthenes. However, Cleisthenes supporters in Athens revolt against Isagoras. Isagoras is trapped on the acropolis for two days, and on the third day he leaves and is banished. This happened in 508 BCE, and was the first time the common people overthrew a government.