Athens

__**ANCIENT ATHENS**__ 

**__LOCATION__** **Athens is located on Attica- the Greek mainland. With a great harbor and decent agriculture, Athens provides its people with an abundance of olives and wheat. Athens is approximately 1,000 square miles with 50,000 people living there. Its city is built around a hill called the //acropolis-// the citadel and strong-hold of Athens. The acropolis is also known as the, "Sacred Rock". (Marian) It is also one of the most important ancient monuments in modern Europe today. This historical monument was the military fortress of the Neolithic age.**  **__ATHENIAN CULTURE__ ** ** The Athenian culture was very //cosmopolitan,// a worldly cultural center. The Athenians valued education; their purpose was to make good citizens. The boys were trains by a tutor who were paid by the rich. As for the girls who ran the household, played music, and weaved. The //agora,// was also the center of the city and city life. It played the roles of a market place and an assembly place, where Athenians would exchange ideas and goods. Men had always played an important role in the Athenian society, being the head of the household. While women has very little rights and could not participate in government. Working outside of the home was greatly frowned upon and they were usually hired as servants or they would sell woven cloth. ** __**GOVERNMENT**__  The first king of Athens was Cecrops- kings ruled the city state until 682 B.C. Beginning that year elected officials called //Archons,// they headed the government and served one year terms. After the Archons served their term, they joined the Aeropagus who judged murder trials and prepared political matters. Aristocracy ruled over the most farmland, putting many farmers in debt. But in about 594 B.C. Solon, one of the Archons, cancelled all debts, thus freeing the people who had fallen into slavery. Solon's worked did not solve poverty in Attica, so around 561 B.C. Pisistratus seized power and made himself a //Tyrant-// an absolute ruler who governs without restrictions. (Baxevanis) **__THE BATTLE OF MARATHON__** **The Battle of Marathon consisted of two super powers. The Persian Empire and The Athenian civilian army. Persia wanted revenge for the major loss in 499 B.C. against the Ionian rebellion. The Ionians were a small group of independent farmers that were swallowed by the Persian Empire. Persia changed local leaders with their own leaders and the Ionians did not like that at all. They requested for help to go to war with Persia but all the Greek city states declined except for Athens. They felt they were a part of Athens because they immigrated over there. Athens sent a small number of troops and they fought back the Persians and burned one of their cities. (Sardis) ** **Persia wanted revenge and in 490 B.C. after building dozens upon dozens of ships they launched a attack against Athens. Athens asked for help but was declined by other city-states. They were outnumbered 30,000 to 8000. But the way the lined their troops up was genius. They did a horseshoe type shape and when the Persians broke through the front the two sides would collapse and crush them. Although the Athenians thought they would lose so they prepared to burn the city half way through the battle they sent their fastest soldier to run 26 miles and tell the city once he arrived he collapsed dead from exhaustion. That is why we call running 26 miles a Marathon.** ** (Sardis) ****This once again proves the Greek philosophy of "cunning and intelligence beats brute strength every time." This also gave Athens the belief they can do anything and Democracy was born.** media type="youtube" key="8gjRJa26ueg" height="315" width="420" align="center"

**Click play on the video above to see an explained diagram of the Battle of Marathon.** 

**1. Marian,. "Athens Acropolis." n. page. Print. <http://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/acropolis.htm>** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2. Baxevanis, John J. "Athens." 2008. 1. Chicago, IL: 2007. Print.
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