• in Athenian schools, boys studied arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, and public speaking

• they participated in sports

• they believed their education produced strong minds and bodies

• boys finished school at 18, and took active roles in public affairs

• ​girls were taught spinning, weaving, and other household duties by their mothers

• ​girls from wealthy families learned to read, write, and play music

• women were expected to care for children and did not participate in business or government jobs​

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​An Athenian Education

• By 600 BC, most Athenian farmers owed money to nobles and were forced to sell themselves into slavery to pay debts

• Athenians began to rebel and to avoid an uprising nobles agreed to make changes

• a merchant named Solon took leadership in 594 BC and ended farmers' debts and freed those enslaved

• open the assembly and law courts to all male citizens

• assembly was responsible for passing laws written by council of 400 wealthy citizens

• many praised Solon's reforms but many thought he had done too much and not enough for all citizens​

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​Early Government Reforms

• In 560 BC, a tyrant named Peisistratus took over the government and made reforms that went further than Solon's

• he divided larges estates among farmers who had no land

• provided loans to help to help farmers buy equipment to work their farms

• gave citizenship to Athenians who did not own land

• hired the poor to construct temples and other public works

  ​religion was important in Athens and he build shrines to different gods

• encouraged the worship of the goddess Athena and festivals and athletic events were held in her honor​

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​Early Government Reforms

• a noble named Cleisthenes took power when Peisistratus died and he made the assembly the city-state's major governing body

• assembly members could now discuss issues freely, hear legal cases, and appoint army leaders

• he ​also created a new council of 500 citizens that were to help the assembly management daily govt. affairs

• council introduced laws and controlled the treasury

• managed relations with other city-states

• Cleisthenes's reforms made the government in Athens more democratic but many resident were still excluded from the political process​

• ​non citizens like Athenian women, foreign-born men, and enslaved people could not participate in the government

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​Greek Democracy

• Athenian citizens held a lottery to choose the council members

• they preferred the lottery system over election officials​

• terms on the council were limited to one year

• no one could serve on the council for more than two terms​

• Every citizen had a chance to be a council member​

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​How Were Council Members Chosen?