Chapter 4: Ancient Greece

Poets and Heroes

Role of Geography Covers an area the size of Louisiana (50,000 square miles) Greece’s mainland is made up of 2 peninsulas 1. Ithmus of Corinth 2. Peloponnesian Peninsula80% of Greece is mountains

Caused a division among the civilizationsEach one developed at a different rateEach one was incredibly independent and willing to fight for its land

Role of the SeasEast: Aegean SeaWest: Ionian SeaSouth: Mediterranean Sea

Greek Isles became homes to civilizations as well

Map of Greece

The Mycenaeans (1900-1100 BC) Mycenae Fortified site found on the Greek coast by Heinrich Schleimann

Mycenaean Monarchies Lived in fortified palaces on top of hillsEach one controlled a certain areaLoosely created an allianceUnique sight: bee-hive shaped tombs for royal family

They were warrior peopleMuch of their artwork depicts victory in battles

The Mycenaeans (Cont.) Mycenaean Influence Economy Pottery can be found in areas such as Syria, Egypt, Italy, and Sicily Military

AgamemnonKing of Mycenae

Conquered the Minoans on CretePlundered the city of Troy (Accounted by the poet Homer)

Fall of MycenaeansConstant fighting between city-statesEarthquakes causing major damageInvasions from new Greeks

The Dark Age (1100-750 BC) Period of decline Drop in population and food production for some reason

How did Dark Age change Greece?Use of iron tools instead of bronzeChange in language/writing (Phoenician alphabet)Greeks sailed to the isles and Ionia (now in Turkey)Establishment of Aeolian Greeks( North and central Greece and

Island of Lesbos)Establishment of Dorians (Southwest Greece in Peloponnese and

Aegean Islands)

The Dark Age (Cont.) The Works of Homer (800-701BC)The Iliad and the Odyssey

Epic Poems: Long poems that tell deeds of a heroComposed based off of stories of the Trojan WarParis, Prince of Troy, kidnaps Helen, wife of king of SpartaThe Iliad

Story of the warrior AchillesThe Odyssey

Story of the Odysseus’ return home after the Trojan WarValues taught were courage and honor

Arete: Qualities of excellence in a heroWon in a struggle of conquest

Chapter 4: Ancient Greeks

Greek City-States

What is a Polis? Polis: Greek city-state. Consisted of a city and the surrounding countryside

Acropolis: A hill in the middle of the town Fortified area that served as a sacred place during attack Central meeting location for business, political, and social gatherings Agora: Central open market at the base of the acropolis Served as a community for people with a common goal or common beliefs Classification in a polis:

Citizens with political rights (adult males)Citizens with no political rights (women and children)Noncitizens (agricultural laborers, slaves, and resident aliens)

Devout loyalty to city-states led to patriotism and violence between city-states

Greek Military As city-states evolved, so did military Olden days was fought by nobles on horseback Hoplites Heavily armored foot soldiers Weapons (short sword, long spear, and shield) Phalanx Style of fighting Wall shields created by foot soldiers Fought shoulder to shoulder Shields lined up and created a barrier Order brought protection

Types of Governments in Greece Tyranny (Athens: 594-510BC) Rulers seized control from the aristocrats Not necessarily evil rulers In many cases, they were supported by both rich and poor

Democracy (Athens:510-End of Civilization ) “The rule of many” Government by the people either directly or through representation

Oligarchy (Sparta and Athens:700-600BC ) “The rule of a few” Government in which a select group are given authority to run civilization

Sparta 800-600BC Military State: Rigidly organized and tightly controlled Males Childhoods were spent learning military tactics By age 20, they enlisted in the military Enlistment lasted until the age of 60 or death By age 30 they could marry and vote in assembly but continued to live with the soldiers Spartan military meal: boiled pork in animal blood with salt and vinegar Females

Expected to remain fit and bear children Were expected to stay strong by preaching military law to the males Had more freedom than any other Greek women Ideals

No visitors and no travellingNo studying of philosophy, arts, or literature. Only the Art of War

Spartan Oligarchy The Ephors

Council of 5

Elected Yearly

Responsible for: 1. Education of Youth 2. Code of Conduct

The Elders 2 kings and 28 men over age 60

Decided on issues to be brought up before the assembly

Assembly had no power to debate issues

Assembly merely voted

Athens A city-state constantly changing political ideals Oligarchy Aristocrats owned the best lands and ran the politics of Athens Assembly of citizens had little powerTyranny (due to economic problems)

Draco: Created harsher law that included penalties of slaveryThis led to many farmers becoming slaves for debts

Solon: Cancelled all debts and freed slavesTyranny actually began after him but he and Draco acted like tyrants

Peisistratus: Gave aristocratic lands to peasants to gain favorIncreased trade among the merchants

DemocracyCleistenes: Created a council of 500 to look after foreign affairs

Assembly allowed to pass laws and debate potential laws

Chapter 4: Ancient GreeceClassical Greece

Challenge of Persia As Empire expanded, the Ionian Greeks came into conflict with the Persians

King Darius, vowed revenge after Ionian Greeks revolted against Persian control

490 BC Persians landed at Marathon, Greece (26 miles from Athens) Athenians were outnumbered Defeated the Persians anyway Pheidippides The messenger that ran the news from Marathon to Athens of victory Died from exhaustion after delivering message Where we get the idea of a marathon race from Showed that the “invincible” Persian army could be defeated

Xerxes and the Persian War Xerxes Reign began in 486BC after Darius died Vowed revengeGreek city-states create alliance in defense (Spartans led it) Athenians, did not join, but in process created a navy of 200 shipsBattle of Thermopylae (480 BC) Persian forces of 180,000 troops and thousands of ships Greeks had 7,000 troops including the infamous 300 Spartans Betrayal cost the Spartans their lives Athenians retreated and abandoned city 479 BC, Greeks amassed army larger than ever to defeat Persians

Athenian Empire Defeat of the Persian Empire allowed Athens to become the controlling Greek city-states

Delian League (478BC) Defensive alliance with all territories it controlled Under this league, they freed all Greeks under Persian control Controlling the Delian League means controlling Greece Had complete control of treasury as well

Age of Pericles (461-429BC) Direct Democracy The people directly participate in decision making. No

representation Every male citizen had a vote participated in meetings for laws 43,000 were part of direct democracy but only a small percentage

actually attended All could speak, although only the respected usually did

The day to day operations were run by a group of 10 officials/generalsOstracism

Ability to ban politicians that were deemed dangerous by the people

Required 6,000 signatures and ban lasted 10 yearsUnder Pericles, Athens became the center of culture

Athenian Economy and Society Economy Based on Farming and Trade Grew Fruits, Grains, and Vegetables 50-80% of grains were imported due to a lack of land Sheep and goats provided wool, milk, and dairy products

Society Family was considered parents and children but did extend to grandparents and slaves sometimes Women Could only participate in religious ceremonies

Main job was to bare children and take care of house Required to always have a male guardian Were housed in special quarters and remain out of sight

Great Peloponnesian War (431-404BC) Athenians and Delian League Battle Strategy Rely on superior navy Use colonies to supply them Stay hidden behind city walls Plague broke out in 430 BC

Killed one-third of populationPericles died in 429BC

Spartans and Peloponnesian League

Battle Strategy Use superior army Draw Athenians out beyond city

walls

Defeated Athenian navy at Aegospotami

405 BCDecisive battle that caused

Athens to surrender.

Following Great Peloponnesian War War created city states of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes Each fought for next 67 years Each state weakened the other None ever able to gain control of all Greece Constant fighting kept them occupied with internal affairs Macedonia and Alexander the Great would take advantage of this

Chapter 4: Ancient GreeceClassical Greek Culture

Greek Religion Religion considered necessary for well-being of the state 12 chief gods and goddesses in religion Festivals dedicated to each god at specific locations Ex: Zeus @ Olympia Apollo @ Delphi

The Olympics were designed to honor the gods (776BC were first)The Oracles

Priests/priestesses thought to be connected to the godsGave answers to questions and most were mysteriousCould be interpreted in many ways

Greek religion is dead but it continued to influence others including Romans, and literature in both Europe and America

Greek Art Architecture (Balance, Harmony, Moderation, and Reason) Temples were most important Marble columns surrounded central room making them open structures Central rooms had statues of deity along with treasures being offered Ex: Parthenon Built between 447 and 432 BC Dedicated to Athena, goddess of Athens Principles of Classic Architecture: calmness, clarity, and freedomSculpture Most popular was the male nude in a lifelike form Not a statement of realism but rather what they considered beauty Polyclitus

Doryphoros: Showed that proportions using math were basis for perfect form

Greek Drama Tragedies Greek plays presented as a trilogy with a common theme Aeschylus Oresteia: Only complete trilogy of tragedies that we posses Story of Agamemnon and his family Sophocles

Oedipus RexStory of Oedipus falling in love with is mother and killing his fatherOedipus Complex

EuripedesCreated real life situations with real charactersPortrayed things in a controversial manner against traditional views (Ex: War)

Comedies came from tragedies which made fun of politicians

Greek Historians Herodotus History of the Persian Wars First real history in western civilization Theme: Conflict between Greeks and Persians

Struggle for Greek freedom

Thucydides Greatest of all Greek historians General during Great Peloponnesian War His story of the event Unlike Herodotus, he was not one sided and was fair with assessment War and Politics caused by humans and not the gods

Greek Philosophy Socrates (469-399BC) Began life as a sculptor Very little actual written by him Socratic Method Style of Teaching

Question and Answer basedUse of reasoning skills

Questioned Authority Open debate used to be tradition but after defeat in war it vanished

Socrates accused of corrupting the youth of AthensSentenced to death by poison

Greek Philosophy Plato (429-347BC): Established the Academy Considered greatest philosopher in western civilization How do we know what is real? His great question A higher world of eternal unchanging Forms These make up reality The things we see are a reflection of reality The Forms are actually reality The Republic

His distrust of democracyMust live in a just and rational state. Equality of men and women in

education and positionsHis idea of Republic: 1. Philosopher-Kings 2. Warriors 3. All producers

(artists and merchants)

Greek Philosophy Aristotle (384-322BC) Went against Plato’s idea of the Form Defined areas of study (biology, logic, and physics) Went against Plato in a few ways Did not believe in the world of Form Did not believe in creating an ideal state Although he did believe in looking at current gov’t to create the best gov’t

possible Politics: His writing on Government.

3 best forms of Gov’t 1. Monarchy 2. Aristocracy 3. Constitutional (Democratic)

Chapter 4: Ancient GreeceAlexander the Great and Macedonia

Macedonia Invades Greece Philip II (359-338 BC) King of Macedonia Built powerful empire while Greek city-states fought

each other 338 BC: Battle of Chaerona (Thebes) Desire to unite all Greek states together Defeated Athenian led army Wanted to form alliance with all Greeks to battle Persia Assassinated before he could do it

337 BC: Son, Alexander, at age 20, becomes King of Macedonia

Alexander the Great Alexander’s Conquests 334BC: Entered Asia Minor with 37,000 Defeated Persians at Issus and frees Ionian Greeks 332BC: Macedonia controlled Syria and Egypt

Alexandria is established as capital 331BC: Defeats Persians near Babylon

Gives him control of whole Persian Empire 328BC: Controls Pakistan 326BC: Controls India

Soldiers told him they did not want to go farther eastAlexander agrees and starts his journey home

323BC: Dies from combo of exhaustion, wounds, and alcohol at age 32

Alexander the Great Legacy Master of skills and tactics Brave and Reckless Willing to risk his own life Sought to imitate Achilles and kept a copy of Iliad under bed Creation of monarchies which eliminated city-states Spread Greek culture to world

Art, architecture, literature, religion

Hellenistic Era Hellenistic: Imitate the Greeks 4 kingdoms created: Macedonia, Syria, Pergamum, and Egypt All eventually conquered by Romans Alexander wanted to untie Macedonia, Greece, and Persia

Persians would act as officialsSoldiers would marry Persians to create new raceNever came to be

Hellenistic Science Aristarchus Developed the theory that the sun was the center of the universe Earth rotates around the sun Not accepted until the 1700’sEratosthenes Calculated Earth’s circumference at 24,675 miles Established that the Earth was roundArchimedes Master of geometry Allegedly discovered gravity while taking a bath Screamed “Eureka” and ran down the street naked after it

Hellenistic Philosophy Epicurus Epicureanism School of thought in Athens Humans free to follow own self interests Happiness is the ultimate goal Pleasure is not a physical sense but a state of mind Freedom from emotional turmoil and public activityZeno Stoicism

Happiness found by living in harmony with will of God Public service was noble. Be a good citizen

Don’t separate yourself from the world