The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization

1. What was the situation in Athens in 508 BC? 

   Athens became one of the first societies in ancient times to establish democracy. 

2. What class did Cleisthenes come from and what kind of power did this group exercise over Athenians? 
   He brought up to be a ruler, born in 570 B.C., he was an aristocrat which was the ruling class aristocrats ruled Athens

3. How did Aristotle describe life for most Athenians in the 6th century BC? 
   The country was in the hands of a few people, which was better, no reading and writing, common people had no say, often injustice

4. Where were the great civilizations in Cleisthenes day and how was Greece geographically different than these?
   They had many mountains and small islands south and east to Egypt and Persia, divided into independent "city-states" 

5. What Greek city seemed the most likely to dominate all others politically during Cleisthenes's lifetime? 
   Sparta

6. What specific stories inspired Cleisthenes and his fellow Greeks? 
   Ancient tales and myths which was Homer's The Iliad and the Odyssey included heroes and struggles

7. Describe Arete, the Greek ideal or vision of a hero. 
   Cleisthenes brought up to be this pursuit a life of greatness and glory through strength and valor. Also, seize power for oneself and be a real-life hero

8. What surprising political move did the ruler Pisistratus make in order to consolidate power in Athens? 
   He turned to the commoners for support rather than the elite like lower taxes and free loans

9. What was Athens' most valuable trading commodity? 
   Olives for cooking oil, moisturizer, soap

10. What Athenian product that was almost worthless at the time now commonly fetches millions of dollars on the Antiquities market? What were the artisans who made these products' main motivation in doing such good work? 
    The vase and their main motivation came from doing each other

11. How was Hippias a different ruler than his father Pisistratus? What did he do to his father's reforms? 

12. What did Cleisthenes do in 510 BC? How was Greek society in Athens changing at this time? 

13. How had the Olympics changed from their founding to the days of Cleisthenes and how did this festival influence ordinary Greeks? 

14. Who did Isagoras turn to in 508 BC to help him overthrow Cleisthenes? 
    Military of Sparta

15. What happened in Athens while Cleisthenes was in exile? What did this do for Cleisthenes?

16. What did Cleisthenes carve-out from the hillside that was near the Acropolis and why did he do this? What was this the beginning of?