Illustration of how the Polis was the center of Athenian Life Essay

IntroductionThe word Polis (poh-lis) referred to the metropolis- cite, to the fortress, and to the community as a whole.  Greek city-states practically grew up around forts on the hills or mountaintops for their protection. These city-states were indep hold onent states (a nation of its own) that controlled a extra amount of farmland surrounding the territory .The Greek city states were small of which the standard size was a community of more or less 5,000 manful citizens, who were the hardly spate counted in official records.Of all the polis, capital of Greece had the sizeablest population, arrival to near 35,000 male citizens in the mettle of the fifth century B.C. Because of its small size, the plenty (citizens) had the opportunity to interact closely with for for separately one wholeness other.  When there is no war, Athenian smell rotate around the state1.This paper allow illustrate how the polis was the warmheartedness of Athenian life. The lesso n will be derived from examples of the policy-making and heathen activities of its citizens.Political sprightliness Political conjunctionLike near Greek city-states, the Athenians positive policy-making units that were centrally based on a single city (capital of Greece). Athenians were the prototypic people in history to deal the establishment of a g eitherwherening in which free citizens command themselves. This type of presidential term was called democracy meaning rule by the people.2 Previously, Athens was ruled by powerful noble officials known as archons who tended to favor the upper class of Athens exclusively because of lower class Athenian protests, the leadership was transferred to solon in 594 B.C.Solon was a statesman, poet and merchant who was widely regarded as wise and just. Solon do governmental reforms that decreased the power of the nobles. He dual-lane Athenian citizens into four classes based on wealth, non on noble birth. This gave the merchant s a voice in the g anywherenment, for citizens in the trine highest classes could hold frequent office and subsequent all male citizens were expected to go in the government.3About 510, Athens was ruled by Cleisthenes. After consulting with the collection he reformed the political organisation by dividing Athens into ten field of studys called demes.4 To safeguard the late parliamentary government, Cleisthenes started a vernal practice. formerly a year the Athenians voted out a person who they suspect will get under ones skin a tyrant leader.  If 6,000 votes were cast against a particular person, he was forced to sully the farm Athens for ten years. Because votes were written on a piece of broken pottery called an ostrakon, this practice became known as ostracism. fewer people actually were ostracized but the wont gave citizens more power.Pericles, who ruled Athens in 460 B.C., increased the participation of Athenians in politics. He assailable government jobs to all classes and government officials were paid salaries so that even measly citizens could sue as officials.  Citizens were addicted the license to criticize leading generals or statesmen without creation punished. The duties of government were performed by ordinary citizens.They took mete out of the normal creates, kept the waterfront safe for ships, and watched over the citys food supply. They actd in the army and rowed ships in the navy. Rather than macrocosm elected, officials were chosen by lot (a make similar to having ones create picked out of a hat). They held office for one year and could not hold the want position again. This gave every male citizen a chance to serve the community.5 In fact, the Athenian political system of apportionment made it possible for every male citizen to be liable for executive government duties. club in the AssemblyThe number of Athenian citizens was small enough for them to govern themselves in a direct democracy. on tha t point was no need to elect representatives as most modern democracies do. About forty propagation a year all citizens met in the Assembly (supreme-decision making body in Athens) in an open area on a hill called The Pnyx. The Assembly meetings were opened for every male citizen over the historic period of 18.6 There they debated, voted all matters of domestic and outside(prenominal) policy and made the laws. They themselves decided whether to shrink a trade treaty, build a navy, or make peace.Although every male Athenian had the right to attend, due to express mail space and other practical reasons, not all of them were able to attend every meeting. With a total male population of 30,000, the Phynx can only accommodate 6,000 of them. Nevertheless, Assembly meetings were events that most Athenians look ship to.normally Assembly meetings were scheduled just by and by dawn, delayed only when citizens and presiding officials were late. It is significant to tubercle that any c itizen, whether he held a public office or nor, had the right to tattle or voice his opinions onwards thousands of his sheik Athenians. Before or after the speech, each citizen was expected to openly show their nourish or disagreement for it was assumed that each Athenian citizen could think intelligently well-nigh community affairs.7           C. Participation in the Council (Boul)The Athenian Council was composed of 500 extremitys. These members were chosen by lot from 50 citizens of the 10 Athenian tribes.  Any male with an age over 30 had the opportunity to serve in the Council although not all are take to do so. Usually eligible males in each deme (local municipalities) would volunteer themselves and 50 of them were selected by lots to serve in the Council.  Athenian citizens are allowed to serve twice in the Council.Unlike the Assembly, the Council met every mean solar mean solar twenty-four hour period, except for festiv al age and certain other forbidden days, in the Agora. If there was an Assembly meeting, the council would meet in the afternoon for normally Assembly meetings end at noon. The Councils primary responsibilities admit the preparation of an agenda for the Assembly, drafting of bills and the command of the public officials.8 The Council would give an account of its actions and activities before the Assembly (meaning before all the Athenian males) at the end of its year of service.What was provoke about the Council was that their activity was supervised effortless by each different member of the Athenian tribes. In other words, finished the casting of lots a new chairman was elected every day and was entrusted with the keys to the temples that kept the state bidds, records and state seal. The day-to-day multifariousness of Council leadership   means that the reins of the Athenian government were in the hands of a different Athenian citizen every day of the year.9 This w as a remarkable management of managing political affairs where competency and efficiency does not make one hold on to a government position.Women and slaves in Athens were excluded from government service however. But in spite of that they found other things to do in Athens like bringing up the family and participating in festivals. 10           D. Participation in the Law CourtsBecause of their democratic form of government, every accused Athenian were tried in the Athenian motor inns. Every year 6,000 generally poor Athenian citizens were chosen by lot to serve in the control panel. They were not forced to serve in this blend but voluntarily put themselves onwards because of the prospect of receiving salary. The Athenians were eager juries who would show up in the courts early in the sunup for daily sessions.The numbers of juries needed for that day were selected with the use of a mixed apportionment machine. The allotment process takes two steps, early to select the juries and second to select the court rooms where they will be assigned.  Because allotment occurs daily, there was a constant change of jurywoman for all cases. The reason for this complicated behavior was to prevent the occurrence of bribery. There was no way of knowing in advance whether a certain juror will serve that day and if he does what case he will be assigned.As mentioned earlier the court system was run by non-professionals. There were no professionally trained judges and lawyers to affirm upon. Unlike today, public prosecutions in antiquated Athens were not represented by assigned district attorney to serve as prosecutor and there was no lawyer assigned for the defendant.  In close cases, both the accuse and the plaintiff defended themselves. closing decision for court cases was obtained after the jury (without discussing with each other) voted. Private prosecution only last 9 hours while reclusive ones took about only two hours. justice was rather quick for the Athenians. 11Cultural Life Love of LearningThe Athenians love to nurture themselves. There were so many things that they treasured to know and learn. That is why they produced great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The Athenians discussed their ideas in the Agora or market place daily.12 There they argue, discuss or stock-take some new knowledge The Athenians considered teaching method necessary for good citizenship. Boys were enrolled in privy schools or taught at home by tutors, often educated slaves. They learned reading, arithmetic, and the work of Homer and other great poets. one-year-old men studied public speaking, geometry, astronomy and poetry and were en enduranced to discuss their ideas about politics and questions of right and wrong.The Athenians were very tippy of the athletics. All schools of Athens had physical nurture as part of their curriculum. An Athenian ism was that an ideal citizen is a product of cause and morality.   There were many athletic events in and around Athens that the Athenians look forward to.The underlying purpose of   all the sacrifices of self-renunciation and learning were for each Athenians to be hailed      quotable of Athens and to bring honor to its have especially by winning in the Athletic games against other Greek-states. Pre-occupation with Arts and literary productions Athens was the ethnic nubble of Greece. The Athenians believed that a mans life was resign if he failed to use his mind and break off his talents. Because of that philosophy the Athenians made extraordinary achievements in art, literature, science and philosophy. In these fields, they set standards for posterior Western civilization. Because they placed high note value on individual excellence, Athenian cultural heritage continue to awe and jolly up modern men.Athenian poets and playwrights wrote enduring masterpieces. meter play ed an important part in expressing the Athenian view of life. Their poems vividly showed people striving to live up to standards of courage and honor. Poems were also written to honor victors in athletic games and heroes killed in battle, which of course boost the Athenians to refine further their talents and win victories for Athens.Plays were universal entertainment for all Athenians.  The Athenian swayer Pisistratus sponsored the first drama festivals in 534 B.C Because. Greece had a mild climate, the dramas were performed outdoors, in a large theater built into the side of a hill. The theater held as many as 20,000 people. Opening day was a public holiday. The poor were given money to buy seats, and prisoners were even released from jail to watch the performances. many another(prenominal) people brought food, for performances often lasted from sunrise to sunset.13 As in some modern theaters, audiences in ancient Athens sat in half-circle around a circular area where the a ctors, dancers, and musicians performed. Athenian playwrights also wrote comedies that made fun of Athenian politicians, generals, philosophers and other playwrights.Also Athenian artists and architects created simple and beautiful styles that continue to serve as models. The style of Greek architectural style had been used in thousands of public buildings in the United States and Europe. Practice of devotion Athenians were firm believers of gods and goddesses which they honored in shared out community rituals and festivals. Processions, music, animal sacrifice and common dining were come ind by all Athenians. Athenian arts not only express the Athenian love for what is beautiful but also to honor their gods by building shrines and temples for them around Athens. 14An example is the pillared temples on the Acropolis, a hill in the center of Athens.The largest is the Parthenon, the temple of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. The Parthenon exposems to have handsome out of th e rocky hillside in the center of the city. It is simple, but perfectly proportioned, built of smock marbles. It originally held a 40-foot-tall ivory and capital statue of Athena. Athenians also made statues of their gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses were pictured in the form of beautiful human beings, for that was the way the Greeks imagined themConclusionAthenian life revolved around the city-state (polis) of Athens. Its small size and democratic form of government had enabled the citizens to actively participate in all of its affairs and to operate its stability.  They collectively participated in the management of the state with all male being given the opportunity to lead their communities. Their rich purification boasts of storied philosophers, beautifully designed shrines and temples and ghostlike fervor with gods and goddesses that are as famous as Athens itself. It is clear to see that with the time and devotion that they had given to their political an d cultural life within the walls of Athens, the city was an important part of their lives.BibliographyAthenian Life. Brooklyn College untainted Homepage 2008 .Retrieved February 1, 2008 from  http//depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htmLang, Mabel L. The Athenian Citizen. Princeton, impudently Jersey American School of unmixed Studies at Athens,1960.Parker, Robert. Athenian Religion. Oxford Clarendon Press, 1997.Perry, Marvin. A History of the World. rising York Houghton-Mifflin, 1988.Stockton, David. The Graeco-Roman Athenian Democracy. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1990.1 Marvin Perry, History of the World, new-sprung(prenominal) York Houghton-Mifflin, p. 692 David Stockton The unsulliedal Athenian Democracy (Oxford Oxford University Press, 1990), 1.                                        &nb sp                                13  Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 71-80.4 David Stockton, The neoclassic Athenian Democracy (Oxford Oxford University Press, 1990), 574  Perry, 73.6 Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey American uprightal Studies at Athens), 3-4.7 Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2008 from  http//depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm8 Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey American Classical Studies at Athens), 10.9 Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2008 from  http//depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm10 Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 75.11   Athenian Life, available from Brooklyn College Classic Homepage, 2 008 from  http//depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/index.htm12  Mabel Lang, The Athenian Citizen (New Jersey American Classical Studies at Athens), 67.13 Marvin Perry, A History of the World ( New York Houghton-Mifflin, 1988), 82-86.14 Robert Parker , Athenian Religion ( Oxford Clarendon Press ), 67-80.