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Several important cities arose: Athens, Corinth, Sparta and Thebes.  Athens and Corinth were powerful economically, controlling maritime and mercantile trade.  Athens and Sparta were powerful militarily, and were rivals of each other for a long time.

Several important cities arose: Athens, Corinth, Sparta and Thebes.  Athens and Corinth were powerful economically, controlling maritime and mercantile trade.  Athens and Sparta were powerful militarily, and were rivals of each other for a long time.

The large cities dominated the areas around them.  Sparta, for example, exercised influence over the other cities of the Peloponnese.  It was also allied with Corinth and Thebes.  Athens instituted a semi-constitutional system of government run by aristocrats, most notably Pisistratus and his sons.  

The large cities dominated the areas around them.  Sparta, for example, exercised influence over the other cities of the Peloponnese (a large island originally that comprised southwest Greece; Athens was not part of the Peloponnese but was located on the mainland).  Sparta was also allied with Corinth and Thebes.  Athens instituted a semi-constitutional system of government run by aristocrats, most notably Pisistratus and his sons.  

Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C.  The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and '''the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C. in Athens''' The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

The city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens, rather than the separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the State because of this. (The United States did ''not'' invent democracy, and does not have a direct democracy as Athens did; instead, the United States elects representatives who make decisions for the citizens.)

The city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens and no president or court system, so there was no separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the State because of this.

Athens had a direct democracy:  every citizen (Athenian adult males) could propose laws and participate in their consideration and approval.  Nobles served as judges to interpret the law, but there was a right to appeal and citizens served as jurors for trials in court.

Athens had a direct democracy:  every citizen (Athenian adult males) could propose laws and participate in their consideration and approval.  Nobles served as judges to interpret the law, but there was a right to appeal and citizens served as jurors for trials in court.

Democratic Athens' main rival was the city-state of Sparta, which was not a democracy.  Instead, Sparta was a harsh military culture based on high military discipline.  Parents were forced to let their male children leave the house at age seven and receive training at a strict military camp — if the boys were lucky enough to make it to the age of seven, that is.  The Spartans had a cruel practice by which all male babies were examined by community leaders immediately after birth.  If the child appeared weak or deformed in any way, he was taken into a remote area and left to die from exposure or wild animals.  The Spartans did want any member of their military to be anything less than 100% fit.

Democratic Athens' main rival was the city-state of Sparta, which was not a democracy.  Instead, Sparta was a harsh military culture based on high military discipline.  Parents were forced to let their boys leave the house at age seven and receive training at a strict military camp — if the boys were lucky enough to make it to the age of seven, that is.  The Spartans had a cruel practice by which all baby boys were examined by community leaders immediately after birth.  If the child appeared weak or deformed in any way, then he was taken into a remote area and left to die from exposure or wild animals.  The Spartans did not want any member of their military to be anything less than 100% fit.

   

   

There were rigid social class structures in Sparta.  The aristocrats, called the "spartiates", were people descended from the Dorian invaders of the second century.  The second class of citizens, called "perioeci", consisted of landowners, artisans, and traders.  They were primarily relatives of the natives who had lived in the region before the Dorians conquered it.  The third class was comprised of conquered people who were basically serfs and were known as "helots", and lastly there were slaves in Sparta—usually prisoners of war.  The last two classes did not enjoy the rights of citizens.  At times it was even legal for citizens to kill the non-citizens (the helots) to reduce population!   

There were rigid social class structures in Sparta.  The aristocrats, called the "spartiates", were people descended from the Dorian invaders of the second century.  The second class of citizens, called "perioeci", consisted of landowners, artisans, and traders.  They were primarily relatives of the natives who had lived in the region before the Dorians conquered it.  The third class was comprised of conquered people who were basically serfs and were known as "helots", and lastly there were slaves in Sparta—usually prisoners of war.  The last two classes did not enjoy the rights of citizens.  At times it was even legal for citizens to kill the non-citizens (the helots) to reduce population!