Athenian Democracy

CLAS 3030 Athenian Democracy

Midterm Examination, Fall 2022

Submit on Blackboard in either Word or PDF by 11:59pm, Friday 10/21

Instructions: Questions 1-4 each call for a short paragraph response, and each is worth 3 points. Questions 5-7 each call for a full paragraph response, and each is worth 6 points. Question 8 calls for a (minimum) 3-paragraph essay response and is worth 20 points. Be careful not to skip any questions. Consultation of course readings and notes is permitted. Be as specific as possible in your responses. Refer to ancient sources by name (e.g. Thucydides) and, where necessary, the title of the work (e.g. Aristotle’s Politics); if appropriate, provide parenthetical citations of book-and-chapter, line, or section numbers. Avoid lengthy direct quotations; instead, paraphrase and provide a reference.

 1.For the following passage,

(1) identify the author,

(2) describe the historical and socio-political context of the passage,

(3) discuss the significance of the author’s argument:

“So Athens flourished. Now, the advantages of everyone having a voice in the political procedure (isegoria) ... are plain to see wherever one looks. For instance, while the Athenians were ruled by tyrants, they were no better at warfare than any of their neighbours, but once they had got rid of the tyrants they became vastly superior. This goes to show that while they were under an oppressive regime they fought below their best ... whereas as free men each individual wanted to achieve something for himself.”

2. For the following passage, (

1) identify the author,

(2) describe the socio-political context, and

(3) explain the significance of the speaker’s remarks in terms of the constitutional development of Athens:

“The commons I have granted privilege enough, not lessening their estate nor giving more; the influential, who were envied for their wealth, I have saved them from all mistreatment too. I took my stand with strong shield covering both sides, allowing neither unjust dominance.”

3.For the following passage,

(1) identify the author,

(2) explain the significance of this passage and work in its historical and socio-political context:

“And write this in your minds together with the many other wise precepts from your father you have written there: when a company is unknown, it faces the test of time; and in the matter of an immigrant every man has his tongue ready for abuse, and is somehow easily prone to speaking his distaste.”

 4.For the following passage,

(1) identify the author,

(2) explain the reference to “political unification,” and

(3) discuss the significance of the passage for the study of Athenian society and politics:

“For long, then, the Athenians had lived in independent communities throughout the countryside of Attica, and this way of life continued after the political unification, with most Athenians of old and their descendants down to the time of this war still being born in the country and living where they were born.”

5.From the perspective of historiographical method,

(1) which source is more valuable,

(2) which poses greater difficulties for the historian of Athenian democracy, and

(3) why: Aeschylus’ Suppliants or pseudo-Aristotle’s Constitution of the Athenians (Ath. Pol.)? [N.B.: either answer could be persuasive–focus on identifying key criteria pro and con for both sources.]

6.Thucydides asserts that “it was in fact the mere circumstance of a love affair which drove Aristogeiton and Harmodius to their desperate act,” contrary to the “story which the Athenians themselves tell.” (6.54). How does the Athenian conception of tyranny and the development of democracy in Athens depend upon the ways in which this story is told?

7.What was ostracism (ostrakismos) and what was diapsephismos? In what way(s) is each of these expressive of Athenian democratic values?

8.Compose an essay response (3+ paragraphs in length) to the following prompt:In the debate on constitutions related by Herodotus, Otanes offers the following arguments: “What about majority rule, on the other hand? In the first place, it has the best of all names to describe it— equality before the law (isonomia). In the second place, it is entirely free of the vices of monarchy. It is government by lot, it is accountable government, and it refers all decisions to the common people.” (Hdt. 3.80).Choose two of the following figures–Solon, Aristotle, Socrates (as depicted in Plato’s Crito)–and discuss how each of these two would critique or defend Otanes’ words, so far as may be judged from the sources read and discussed in class. On what points would each agree, disagree, or offer some qualification or addition to Otanes’ remarks? Finally, based on our readings, discussions, and your own observations, how would you critique or defend Otanes’ arguments? Be sure to refer explicitly to specific passages from the sources in support of your views.

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