HIST 2001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Athenian Democracy, Polemarch, Basileus
Document Summary
Athens is the city state that we know the most about. It was the site of a mycenean citadel that escaped the destruction of the broader myceanean civilization. They regarded themselves as different - and likely better - than their dorian neighbours. They also traded with cyprus, especially for copper in which they could make bronze, which began in 1100 bce. Trade with the eastern meditterannian is evident as early as 850 bce. Unification of various territories took place by the 7th century bce, with athen in common. In myth, the unification was attributed to thesus. Because of the unification, the amount of territory controlled by athen was unusually large. The city declined somewhat in the 8th century, due to competition from other city states like cornith. Athens was developing a political structure that was thought of as more hellenic in the anchient period.
