Classical Greece Western Civilization I. Classical Greece 45,000 sq. miles Distinct regions &...
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Transcript of Classical Greece Western Civilization I. Classical Greece 45,000 sq. miles Distinct regions &...
Classical Greece
45,000 sq. miles
Distinct regions & city-states:
Peloponnesus – Sparta, Olympia
Attica - Athens
Boeotia - Thebes
Thessaly
Macedonia© 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning
Early Greek Civilizations
Minoan (2800–1450 B.C.) – CreteSea-faring people with trade empire
Basis for Herodotus’ description of Atlantis
Knossos had no fortifications
Linear A has never been deciphered
Mycenaean (1600-1100 B.C.) – mainlandTholos tombs
Linear B
Agamemnon may have led attack on Troy around 1250 B.C. described in Homer’s Iliad
Classical Greece
Polis = small, autonomous political unit.Adult males = citizens with rightsWomen & children = citizens without rightsSlaves = non-citizens with some rights
Hoplites = heavily armed infantry, organized into phalanx.Tyrants – seized power unconstitutionally, but often popular.Colonies = independent poleis established by metropolis for trade & to relieve overpopulation.
Sparta
Ruled by 2 kings along with council of 28 elders (Gerousia)
Elders & 5 judges (Ephors) elected by assembly of all male citizens (Apella)
Turned conquered peoples into serfs (Helots) who farmed land
Peloponnesian League formed by 500 B.C.
Martial society reinforced by military state
AthensOriginally ruled by Areopagus (council of nobles) & 9 ArchonsEcclesia = adult male assemblyCliesthenes’ democratic reforms:
Created 170 new Demes – organized into 10 “tribes,” each representing a cross-section of the populationEach demes elected 50 representatives to Council of 500Ecclesia could vote to ostracize (exile) unpopular leaders for 10 years – voted using ostracon (potsherds)Strategoi = 10 general officials who ran daily affairs
Reached height under Pericles (461-429 B.C.)
The Persian Wars
Persians conquered Ionia in mid-6th century B.C.
Darius crossed Aegean Sea to invade Greece in 490 B.C.
Miltiades led Greeks to victory at Marathon
Revolt in Egypt & Darius’ death in 486 delayed Persians’ return
© 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning
The Persian WarsThemistocles led Athens to build strong navy Xerxes invaded in 480 B.C.
Conquered Thrace & MacedoniaLeonidas & 9,000 Greeks held pass at ThermopylaeAthens evacuated & sackedGreek fleet defeated Persians off Salamis
Mardonius defeated at Plataea in 479
© 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning
The Peloponnesian Wars(460-404 B.C.)
Athens formed Delian League in 478-77 B.C.1st Peloponnesian War (460-445) ended in stalemate2nd Peloponnesian War ended in Spartan victory in 404 B.C.Spartans’ harsh rule prompted revoltsCorinthian War (395-86) ended in peace dictated by Persian Emperor
© 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning
The First Historians
Herodotus (484-425 B.C.) – History of the Persian Wars
Thucydides (460-400 B.C.) – History of the Peloponnesian Wars
DramaSophocles (496-406 B.C.) – Oedipus Rex
Euripides (485-406 B.C.) – The Bacchae
Aristophanes (450-385 B.C.) – The Clouds, Lysistrata
Philosophy
Metaphysics – search for unifying force in nature
Ethics – search for moral standards
Aesthetics – search for beauty
Logic – search for connections between things
Epistemology – search for learning process
Socrates
Pre-Socratic Philosophers
Thales of Miletus (c. 600 B.C.) argued water was the basic element
Pythagoras (580-490) believed music & mathematics = essence of the universe
Empedocles (493-433) postulated four elements: earth, water, fire & air
Democritus proposed atomic theory
Hippocrates = said body was regulated by four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile & yellow bile
The “Big Three” of Philosophy
Socrates (469-349) – “Knowledge is virtue”
Plato (429-347) – The RepublicProducers
Warriors
Philosopher-Kings
Aristotle (384-322)Monarchy becomes tyranny
Aristocracy becomes oligarchy
Constitutional republic becomes democracy (anarchy)
Religion
Zeus = king, Hera = queen
Poseidon = god of the sea
Ares = god of war
Apollo = god of the sun
Artemis = goddess of hunting
Athena = goddess of wisdom
Hephaestus = smith of the gods (volcanoes)
Hermes = messenger of the gods
Pan-Hellenic Games
Four sets at four different locations:Olympia – dedicated to Zeus (776 B.C. – 5th cen. A.D.)Delphi – dedicated to ApolloNemaea – dedicated to HeraclesCorinth – dedicated to Poseidon
Events included:RunningChariot racesBoxing & wrestlingPentathelon (running, wrestling, boxing, javelin toss & long jump)