On the Polis

Group : Alex Barker

• The general characteristic of the Polis (Greek city-state) was that it existed by a natural process, consisting of territory and population, where the latter counted more than the former. Since there was limited transportation at this time, both rural and urban centers needed to be self-sufficient, aka they needed to be small enough to know every individual in their fraternity to ensure loyalty. The polis was a vital institution because all the power lay within the Demos (people ...demos = soldiers) in a structure where the demos, council and magistrates constituted the Polis.
• The dynamic element of the Polis came into question as military tactics changed (calvary-military). The greeks needed a way to organize themselves to reach success in battle. The organization of the Polis greatly depeneded on the organization of their military, consequently leaders needed a way to include and compromise with their citizen-soldiers. The "Hoplite Reforms" solved this organizational dilemma promising those citizen-soldiers the right to vote and providing citizens with written laws/guidelines they needed to have a functional society. Since the Polis was small enough, each citizen-soldier knew their "brotherhood" band of other soldiers, securing their loyalty and promise to the army, so there was no threat of fleeing or abandonment in battle.

Group : Andy Jenson, Stephen Staley, Gabby Thompson

• The Greek polis was, in Greek eyes, the result of "natural processes...it is natural for man to live in a polis" (Aristotle). Much more than natural progression, though, there were tangible reasons driving the development of the polis. Clans and families coalesced, combining both urban and rural components, into cities, but not into poleis. This development was driven by the dynamic elements that made Greek poleis distinct in the ancient world, which led to its adoption across Greece.
• Central to the development of the polis is the hoplite reform. This military change would alter the political arrangement as the soldier body was increased. This growth of franchise is summarized by Draco, who said that "a share in the state had been given only to those who provided their own arms and armor." Direct participation, based on military service, dispersed political power, and would eventually lead to ideals of democracy. role of public discussion of going to war and of making laws
• Development of written laws also drove the development of the polis. This is tied into the development of the growing franchise of the army. As legal and political power was spread among a larger body, the demands of that body for written law grew. Hesiod stated that "justice in the end defeats violence."

Group : Anna Smith, Jordan Massinger, Doug McEwing

• The characteristics of the polis can be defined by the territory and population and the structure. The territory can be described by containing both rural and urban components which were the landscape and setting of the polis. Search for economic selfsufficiency. Each citizen had his own rural plot of land that provided their own needs. Evidence is presented in the outline of Athens. The polis were divided by family, clan, phratry and the ideal polis should have a population of 5,000. The structure had no sense of representative democracy rather of direct participation. Evidence is provided with the lack of public buildings and palaces.
• Change was seen in the fact that the demos had the right to vote if they could afford the equipment for battle. This devise used was the Hoplite reform. Another change was seen in the evolution of written law. Evidence suggests that it was created as a protection agains chaos seen in the writings of Hesiod. The law is superior to any man and any man was able to say what they wanted publicly which would eventually lead to ultimate freedom. soldiers debated impt issues, and debated laws.
• After this form of government was established the succession of tyrants allowed more people to be included in having citizenship. All of these changes promoted the adoption of the polis.

Group : Brie Bridegum, Desiree Brown, Chris Todd

• A polis is self-sufficient, with rural and urban elements, and according to Aristotle, exists for the purpose of the good life good. In a polis, the Demos (citizen soldiers) must have decision-making power, and ideally all citizen soldiers enjoy enfranchisement. In a polis, there is direct participation in governement and regular meetings of the assembly, as outlined in the Great Rhetra of Sparta.
• The dynamic elements that contributed to the rise of the polis centered on the increase of the "middle" as described by Aristotle. The Hoplite Reform made the Cavalry redudant. Equine warfare had formerly restricted battle to the artistocracy; however, the development of the plalanx and the increased role of the hoplilte enabled broader participation. The battle line, in turn, fostered a sense of communal obligation as opposed to individual clans that contributed to the success of the polis (Tyrtaeus). Increased economic prosperity through trade enabled more citizens to provide their own arms and armor, a condition Draco demands before a person is given a share in the state. Good

Group : Cleo Johnson, Shelley Adams, Madeline McKee

1.) Early phase--tyrants ally themselves and are more inclusive

2.) Tyrant is thought to be redundant and constitutional reform is needed

The polis began to protect and provide for those who lived in a particular geographical area. It was a Greek ideal, they felt that only in the polis could man truly be civilized, because only there was he protected and provided for. To this end, the polis required a transfer of loyalty from original clan and family loyalties to loyalty to the state. Geographically, a polis was composed of an urban center, with a surrounding rural population. Overall, this combined urban and rural population strived for self-sufficiency. Therefore, there was usually a maximum size of the polis, based on the ability of the land to provide for the people and the idealistic belief that there should be no anonymity in battle. Because defense of the population was the most important goal of the polis, the military became the most important part of the polis, and as infantry increased in tactical strength, it also increased in political importance. Their demands for political participation, rights, and written law were eventually met by a gradually weakened aristocracy, transforming the polis model from and oligarchic model to a democratic one. Role of public debate about critical issues.

Group : Desiree Gerner, Larissa Carlson

The polis is, in essence, a conglomeration of many oikoi, which has both urban and rural components. The cooperation between oikoi/villages was meant not only to sustain living, but to help ensure the "good life" and was seen as a part of the natural evolution of the state (per Aristotle). The creation of the polis was both inspired by and led to the increased economic success of individual members of society, who then had the ability to participate in the military. As numbers in the military grew, a change in methods of warfare followed, eventually leading to the Hoplite Revolution. This increased the sense of cooperation both in the military and the polis. As more people became involved in warfare, greater participation in government was demanded. With the growth of government participation came the institution of public spaces for administration, meeting places for councils, courts of law (and displayed, written codified laws) and a decline in private spaces such as palaces. good

Group : Matt Kaplan, Kevin Brown

Several factors led to the development of the Greek city-state, also known as the Polis, which was the most enduring political institution in Western history. The city-states were traditionally dominated by the oligarchy. With increased economic properity, more Greeks could afford armour and devote time to military training. These soldiers initially did not have political rights guaranteed to the traditional oligarchs. Often tyrants gained power through the support of these new soldiers by promising citizenship and participation in government. Tyrants relied upon notions of state loyalty superceding family loyalty. Therefore, a form of government was developed in order to break down the traditional notions of clan loyalty. However, inherent in tyranny is a suspension of the mechanisms of government. Therefore, tyrants were often expelled to give this newly created demos true representation and voice in government affairs. good, but perhaps too much focus on the role of the tyrant.

Group : Nate Benjamin, Steve Lorenzen, Brian Stamme

Some main characteristics of the Polis are: franchise for the demos- the middle holds political and social power rather than a small group of oligarchs, economic stability and prosperity- the "average" greek citizen is able to afford to support himself through military training and service, and loyalty to the Polis itself over tribal and familial allegiances. how did the loyalty develop? These three elements all rely on the hoplite tactics of the time. The average infantry, not the few wealthy calavrymen, came to be the fundamental factor in battle. As a result too vague, the military, and later society and politics as a whole, became more inclusive. The influence of the middle increased, leading to a period where tyrants, siding with the middle over the old oligarchs, would sieze power with the aid of massive popular support. These tyrants

Group : Ross A, Kenny D, Tim N

• By around 800, as Greece emerges from the instabilities of the Dark Ages, one finds the ubiquity of the polis--the political institution that would define Greek politics until the end of the Classical era.
• Aristotle considers the polis to be most self-sufficient political entity; it includes the town, or astu, and the surrounding countryside, or chora, to meet its needs. It would ideally consist of around 5000 citizens, who would both fight for the polis and participate directly in its politics. 'Those who fight, vote.' Structurally, the polis had magistrates, an assembly, and council of elders (gerousia boule), courts, and the demos, or general citizen body.
• Participation in the polis entailed responsibilities. Military service was gradually expanded, as military tactics shifted from cavalry forces to infantry--the dependence of each hoplite on his comrade for survival engenered a regard for the well-being of his fellows. This also led to the increased clout explain howof those who fight.
• The polis would gain its strength from inclusion and compromise.....

Group : michael d. kyle w. stephen o.

The characteristics of a Polis are based on the social and physical structure, including both urban and rural components. The landscape was based around an urban center to better serve the growing population which were ruled by the local families, clans, and phratries. With the development of the polis within the state, the necessity for structure and citizenship came responsibility to do what?. With those responsibilities came an increase in the army which protected the people. In return the people protected the army making the Polis a safe environment for its people. Could be developed more effectively.