CLASS280 Lecture 12: Early Athens
5 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Late bronze age: athens major palace is the centre of the mycenaean world. Early dark ages: small independant communities fuse together as one political unit with athens at head: synoecism. Corinth leading power in greece; overseas settlement, commerce, pottery. Athens: larger territory less pressing need for overseas settlement, commerce develops but more slowly. By the 7th century, corinth loses foremost position in craft production and trade because of downfall of the tyrants. According to traditions, kings replaced by 3 archons (rulers) who take over 3 main functions of the king. By 681-2m archonships became annual, addition of 6 additional archons who were lesser. Areopagus council (all living ex-archons) only deliberative and main judicial body, only members of aristocracy. Social crisis at athens had expand due to slower economic develop arose suddenly in the mid 7th century. Olympic victor who tried to seize acropolis and became tyrant of athens failed to obtain popular support; besieged on acropolis.
