Giovanna's Western Civ. Blog

What Cleisthenes did was a huge step forward - getting “regular folks” involved in governing. But this first democracy had its limits. citizens could participate - but only one-fifth of Athenians were citizens (free adult male property owners born in Athens) after several years, Athens practiced a direct democracy it’s where the state (or in this case, the city-state) is ruled by its citizens rule is based on citizenship majority rule decides vote in the agora , citizens argued, made speeches, then voted with white stones (yes) / black stones (no) it was first practiced in Athens under Cleisthenes by around 500 BCE

Hippias was a tyrant who ruled from 527 to 510 BCE his brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh eventually, he was expelled from Athens (this is called being ostracized ) in revenge, he began working with the Persian king Darius I , helping them invade Marathon with Hippias gone, Isagoras and Cleisthenes (both were aristocrats - surprise!) engaged in a power struggle Isagoras had support from some fellow aristocrats, plus from Sparta Cleisthenes had support of the majority of Athenians Isagoras becomes archon eponymous (tyrant) He ostracizes Cleisthenes Cleisthenes’ supporters - and the ordinary Athenian citizens! - revolt against Isagoras’ tyranny they trap Isagoras on the Acropolis for two days - on the third day he fled and was banished 508 BCE!  Yes! Cleisthenes - definitely a member of the elite very rich insulated from the “hoi polloi” but… a crafty politician saw the value of tapping into the talents, intelligence, and energ

posting this at 12:05 am on Sunday pls count it no women (except the “entertainment”) no middle class certainly, no slaves sometimes, even certain aristocrats (who didn’t have the right connections or who fell out of favor) were excluded what to do if you’re “on the outside”? sometimes aristocrats would form alliances with hoplites (well-armed soldiers), and set up an alternative form of gov’t called a tyranny tyrant: someone who rules outside the framework of the polis modern meaning of tyrant: an abusive or oppressive ruler the Greek meaning of tyrant: someone who simply seized power (usually with hoplite help) Draco (621 BCE) all Athenians (rich or poor) are equal under the law but death is the punishment for many crimes debt slavery is OK (work as a slave to repay debts) Solon’s reforms (594 BCE) outlaws debt slavery all Athenian citizens can speak at the assembly any citizen can press charges against wrongdoers more reforms (around 500 BCE): allowed all citizen

polis- a city-state agora- marketplace acropolis- fortified hilltop monarchy- a single person, called a king, ruled by a government aristocracy- a government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families oligarchy- a government ruled by a few powerful people tyrants- nobles or other wealthy citizens aristocrats- members of the ruling class democracy- rule by the people helots- peasants forced to stay on the land they worked phalanx- the most powerful fighting force in the ancient world persian wars- between Greece and the Persian empire in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia during the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece really?!? back then, rich people wielded much more influence in society and held much more governmental power than the middle class or the poor? Gee, what would THAT be like? aristocrats attended symposiums, meetings where the elite men would enjoy wine, poetry, and performances by dancers and singers

goats feasting travelling by ship strange land a giant monster man-mountain!! wine*** sharing gifts needed to be diluted flocks of sheep sacrifice to gods huge boulder blocking cave exit fire hospitality cyclops don't care odysseus is crafty he just ate 2 dudes!!! 2 more!!! his club is as big as a ship's mast odysseus: "my name is nobody" drills a burning mast into the cyclops eye escape: by clinging to sheep's bellies  trash talk (uh-oh) a fatal flaw? pride?  

around 1200 BCE the mysterious “sea people” began to invade Mycenae and burnt palace after palace so, the Dorians moved into this war-torn region, dominating from 1150 - 750 BCE Dorians were far less advanced the trade-based economy collapsed writing disappeared for 400 years talk about a culture in decline… except... Greek oral tradition - stories passed on by word of mouth Homer lived at the end of these “Greek Dark Ages” he composed stories (epics) of the Trojan War c. 750-700 BCE The Iliad - probably one of the last conquests of the Mycenaeans (the Trojan War) The Odyssey - Odysseus attempts to return home after the Trojan War, being thwarted by the angry god of the sea, Poseidon The Odyssey was 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter “Homeric question” - Homer may have been a mythical creation himself a blind wandering minstrel; a heroic figure Iliad and Odyssey may be the culmination of many generations of storytelling or…Homer actually

valleys cover one quarter of the peninsula 20% is suitable for farming Diet+ grains,grapes,olives, and fish lack of resources most likely led to Greek colonization pretty nice weather year round influence around 2000 bc  Mycenae is location on a rocked ridge on Peloponnesus protected by a 20 foot thick wall Mycenaen Kings domination Greece from 1600-1100 BCE controlled trade in region 1400 BCE - Mycenaens invaded Crete and absorbed Minoan culture Trojan War Greeks have fought in many wars Trojan war was fought in 12th - 13th century BCE part of Greek mythology- until the 19th century most historical thought it was fictional because gods and goddesses got invloved the goddesses Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera were given the "apple of discord" Paris judged Aphrodite as "the fairest" Aphrodite made Helen (married) fall in love with Paris, who took her back to Troy

cultural interaction- the roots of Greek culture are based on the interaction of the Mycenaen, Minoan, and Dorian Cultures Ancient Greece was not a united country separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived. mainly mountains 2,000 islands on Aegean and Ionian Seas mountains covered 3/4 of Ancient Greece ran northwest to southwest along Balkan Peninsula influenced political life  the mountainous peninsula skilled sailors, shipbuilders, farmers, metal workers, weavers shaped culture poor/limited natural resources so they needed to trade difficult to united Greeks because of terrain the sea shaped Greek civilization lived not on land but around a sea  sea travel and trade No single government small independent communities greeks gave their loyalty to the local communities -Never able to support a large population -varied climate, avg: 48 degrees in winter, 8o degrees in summer -men met in Greece to discuss issues, exchange news, take an active part in ci

Power and Authority: In the Greek city-state of Athens, a new form of government developed- democracy in which citizens exercised power. Cultural Interaction: Alexander the Great spread Greek culture throughout much Asia. Greek, Egyptian, and Asian cultures then blended to create Hellenistic. Empire Building: Athens assumed control of a defense, league, and eventually built it into an empire and beyond to create a vast new empire of his own. worlds great civilization ~all on water (usually rivers) Mesopotamia/ Tigris and the Euphrates rivers Egypt/ Nile river India/ Indus River China/ Huang the river Adriatic Sea Ionian Sea Aegean Sea Mediterranean Sea (middle of the Earth)

Today we had our final human geo class. We took a test on world leaders and I think I did pretty well. I struggled a bit with the facts about them but overall I think I did pretty well. I'm anxious to see my final grade for the semester as I'm hoping to get straight A's. I've learned a great deal in human geography this semester and I look forward to taking Western Civilization next semester.

Syria - Bashar al - Assad authoritarian regime worked as a doctor in the Army when older, his brother died and he became heir apparent succeeded his father, Hafez al - Assad ordered mass crack downs + military sieges on Arab Spring Protesters doesn't like his own people heartless leader Canada - Justin Trudeau  defended Canadian federalism  welcomed over 30,000 Syrian immagrants activist from young age Israel - Prime Minister Netanyahu  brother killed in July 1976 against terrorism USA - Donald Trump billionaire, reality tv, author oldest to be president at age 25 he was given his father's real estate + construction  248th wealthiest man in world worth $3.1 billion Kenya- Uhuru Kenyatta son of 1st president re-elected in August 2017 - 54 % popular vote election was challenged by opponent  "sham election" 98.3% votes South Korea - President Moon Sae - in  parents were refugees  committed suicide  lost 2012 election 

Mexico - Enrique Pena Nieto approval ratings - 28% teflon candidate - trouble slides off China - XI Jinping son of Revolutionary War veteran XI Zhongxum sent daughter to Harvard India - Narendra Modi engaged to be married as child OBC - "socially + educationally backward class" keen debater Russia - Vladimir Putin port of KGB ( security agency) ruthless, heartless Germany - Angela Merkel  Phd in quantum chemistry  Chancellor since Nov 2005 #1 Forbes list of most powerful women in the world #3 on most powerful people/ leaders in the world UK - Theresa May Brexit vote took over for David Cameron  Queen Elizabeth reigns for 65 years France - Emmanuel Macron no prior experience  wife is 24 years older than him youngest president in history of France Japan - Shinzo Abe  married daughter of prime minister elected September of 2012 head of imperial family + head of state symbol of the state + unity of people no powers related to

today for class we were assigned a world leaders assignment and worked on it during class

How is the world organized?  -country  -nation  -state Country an identifiable land area  Nation a population (group of people) with a common culture a group of people with a shared identity think of it as a culture group groups of people, larger than a single tribe or community, which may share a common language, institutions, religion, and/or historical experience. State (with capital S) a population under a single government  can be synonymous with "country" Institution a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or cultural A dependent state has space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries has people who live there on an ongoing basis has economic activity + an organized economy - regulates foreign + domestic trade and issues money has the power of social engineering, such as education has a... transportation system government sovereignty external recognition