Cleisthenes


Today in Western Civilization we learned a lot about Cleisthenes. Who was born in 570 BCE and died c. 508. We learned that he is the founder of Athenian. Cleisthenes successfully allied himself with the popular Assembly against the nobles and imposed democratic reform. For all one knows his most important alteration was the form of individual political responsibility on citizenship of a place rather than on membership in a clan. Most of the Athenians had backed him up as well against Isagoras. Isagoras is the leader of the more reactionary nobles, was elected chief archon. It was at this point, according to later tradition, that Cleisthenes took the people into partnership and transformed the situation

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

pottery

Today in Western Civ we worked on our projects during class, I learned a lot about pottery. Greek pottery developed from a Mycenaen tradition, borrowing both pot forms and decoration. The earliest stylistic period is the Geometric, lasting from about 1000 to 700  BCE . This period is further broken down into a Proto-Geometric transition from Mycenaean forms. In this period the surface of the pot was completely covered with a network of fine patterns in which circles and arcs predominate. This abstract decorative vocabulary was later enriched by such devices as the meander (key pattern), checker, triangle, herringbone, and swastika. The succeeding true Geometric Pattern is characterized by these forms and by the gradual appearance of animal and finally human figures. These too were geometrized, being given angular silhouettes and arranged symmetrically, usually in strips around the pot. Figures were invariably portrayed from the side, i.e., in profile. The pots made ...
Read more

Romulus and Remus

Today in Western Civ we learned more in detail about Rome and the “founders” of Rome. One of Rome’s most famous legends is the Romulus and Remus story.  Romulus and his twin brother Remus were the founders of the  city  of Rome. They were the children of Rhea Silvia and  Mars  (or in some variations the demi-god her  Hercules ) and their story is recorded by many authors including  Virgil  who claims their birth and adventures were fated in order for Rome to be founded. There is much debate and variation as to whom was the father of Romulus and Remus. Some myths claim that Mars appeared and lay with Rhea Silvia; other myths attest that the demi-god hero Hercules was her partner. Though when they were babies they were founded abandoned and was taken cared for by a she-wolf. 
Read more

Punic Wars

Today in Western Civ we learned about all the three Punic Wars. The first Punic War was Rome vs Carthage fighting for control of Sicily. Naval battles for control of the strategically located island, Sicily. Though Rome wins the first battle Carthage comes back and fights for the Second Punic War. The 29 year old general Hannibal for Carthaginian almost does the impossible: taking Rome. Carthage attacks Rome from the north after crossing Iberia and the Alps. They lay siege to much of the peninsula for 15 years, but he never can get to Rome. The third and final Punic War was when Rome attacked Carthage because they were tired of the fact that they had to wait for the next attack. 
Read more