[Lecture] Athenian Democracy pt. 1

Archaic Era & Rebirth
Classical Era & Radical Democracy
Change in Warfare 1: Hoplite Warriors as Landowning Middle Class
Drakon
Solon
Change in Warfare 2: Thete Rowers as Lower Economic Class
Direct Democracy Radical Democracy
Radical Democracy vs. Representative Democracy (Republic)
Removing Privilege in Government & Religion
Private Prosecution in the Law Courts
Sycophants & Athenian Democratic Juries
Limited Terms help prevent Corruption
The Assembly (Ekklesia) & Voting

450 DEAD BABIES FOUND IN ATHENIAN WELL SHED LIGHT ON ANCIENT GREEKS

Hundreds of children's bones fill an ancient Athenian well. Some might immediately recall the use of infant exposure among the ancient Greeks. But wait, the bones in the well are filled with the bones of children of all ages, not merely newborns. Also, the bones of the children are mixed with the bones of dogs. How does this tell us this was unrelated to infant exposure? And, what does this tell us about ancient Greek ideas about dog sacrifice? 

Here is my short segment inspired by the well archaeologists discovered on the side of the Athenian Acropolis. https://youtu.be/EMeY5ogvHuc

Here is an article by Newsweek on the same well containing the bones of children and dogs: http://www.newsweek.com/2015/06/19/discovery-dead-infants-athenian-well-sheds-light-ancient-greek-society-341681.html

Mine Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku

Mine Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]

 Life in the light deny

 Moving closer to Hades

 Inching day by day

There were ancient slaves who were like family members, but there were slaves whose youth were wasted away in the mines, extracting precious metals, usually for a king or city, who often hire a contractor to supply the labor. This contractor could harness and hire large amounts of slaves for major projects. In many ways, the ancient world was built on the backs of slaves.

Fresh Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku

Haiku & History Day Six "Fresh Slave"



Fresh Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]



 A pretty young thing

 Last Seen wandering the coast

 Father calls her name



Slavery could be a lucrative trade, even for those who do not specialize in it. One could kidnap a pretty girl and sell her for a pretty penny. The Greek classical tradition is filled with abduction scenes, often near the coast. Then again, ancient Greek life was hardly ever far from the sea. Those landlocked Arcadians might disagree.

Coward on the Front Line - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku

Haiku & History Day Five!

Coward on the Front Line - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]



Coward on the Front Line


 Blamed for all their deaths
 You could not hold the front line
 How do you still live?



Most Greek hoplite warriors were farmers. Spartans were an exception, they lived in the barracks, professional full-time soldiers. The front line of the phalanx, and the entire unit, would be fellow landholders in one territory. You would be serving with your fellow countrymen, people you have known your whole life, your neighbors and relatives. In phalanx style combat, the front line must hold against the enemy to prevail in the initial stage of battle. To break a unit, is to crash the front line and divide the unit in to smaller parts to be picked off of who will retreat in disarray. It is then that the cavalry often chase those fleeing, or the battle for that war season was over as the enemy fled back home to prepare for the harvest season. If the front line doesn’t hold, and a member of the front is alive while everyone else dies, this might be met with suspicion.

Captured City - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]

Haiku & History day four!



Captured City - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]



 A Morning battle

 Husband brothers, and sons dead

 Girls await shackle



After a battle, the victor would often slay all the men and haul off the women and children to sell into slavery.



War & ancient combat, slavery.



Hosted by Steve Dotson

Ancient Light #2 "Good Greek Wives Stay in the Attic" Ancient History & ...

Ancient Light Episode "Good Greek Wives Stay in the Attic" Ancient History & Classics

Ancient history themed podcast presented by Steve Dotson, history professor. 

Recorded Live at Cafe Blackadder in Warrensburg, Missouri during a SpoFest spoken word event, April 1, 2016. Event photo courtesy of Faith Benson-Bemiss. 

Keywords for this episode: Attica, Athens, Greece, Circe, pharmakos, Helios, architecture, Athenian law, slaves, weaving, looms, white-armed, Vestal Virgins, Rome, gender roles, infidelity, purity, gender roles.