Geography of GreeceThe Seas• The Aegian, Black, and Ionian seas shape Greece like the rivers

shaped RVCs• Trade to the Greeks is important because they lack natural

resources such as timber, precious metals, and fertile farmlandThe Land• Mountains cover ¾ of Greece (they also divided Greece into

regions that are important for politics)• Instead of a central gvmt, individual communities rule their

land• Mountainous terrain makes transportation difficult• Little arable farmland limits food production which prevents

Greeks from growing as a group

The Climate• Greece has a varied climate (48-80 degrees)• Creates outdoor lifestyle—men often meet to discuss

public issues, exchange news, and be civil

Mycenaean Civilization • One of the migrant Indo-Euro. Groups arrives in

Mycenae (southern Greek city that was fortified)• Wall prevented nearly any attack• The Mycenaeans come into contact with Minoans and

begin to value trade. Minoans also share their writing system and art with Mycenaens

• Minoans influenced Greek religion, art politics, and literature

• Westernized civilization begins here!

The Trojan War• During the 1200s BC, the Mycenaeans fight a

decade long war against Troy (pg. 124)• Legend says Greeks attack Troy because Trojan

prince kidnaps Helen, the wife of Greek king• One of the last Mycenaean battles

Greek Culture Declines under Dorians• Shortly after Trojan war, Mycenae falls due to

attacks from sea raiders (around 1200 BC still)• The Dorians move in, but are fall less innovative

than Mycenaeans causing its fall… it’s important to know that they lost the ability to write! (pg 125)

Epics of Homer• Without writing, Greeks (Dorians) are forced to tell

stories by mouth. One story-teller is Homer.• The Iliad is one epic poem that Homer tells and it’s

about the Trojan War. (around 750-700 BC)• The heroes of the poem are Achilles (Greek) and

Hector (Trojan)• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ62frK74u0

Greeks Create Myths• The works of Homer and Hesiod (Theogony) seek to

explain the mysteries of nature and power of human passions (changing of seasons, etc.)

• Greeks attributed human qualities (love, hate, jealousy) to their gods, but their gods were immortal

• Zeus-ruler of the gods. Wife is Hera, daughter is Athena (ruler of the cities; names Athens)

Warring City-States• Rule has changed by 750 BC from tribal/clan rule to

rule of the city-states (polis)• Typically home to fewer than 10,000; control 50-500

square miles; and the acropolis is the market where citizens discuss gvmt

Greek Political Structures• Different city-states used different gvmts.1. Monarchy- ruled by one king2. Aristocracy- rule by small group of noble families

who previously served a king3. Oligarchy- rule by various powerful people

Tyrants Seize Power• Tyrants emerged as a result of clashes between

rulers and common ppl. Not looked as they are today, and built programs to provide jobs and housing for their supporters.

Athens builds a Limited Democracy• In Athens people directly participate in government,

moving towards a democracy

Building Democracy• Draco takes over in Athens, and est. his legal code in which rich and poor

were equal (harsh toward criminals)• Solon comes to power thirty years later (594 BC) and gets rid of Draco’s

debt slavery idea. He organizes people into four classes, and only four from the top can hold office. All can participate.

• 100 years later (500 BC), Cleisthenes breaks up four classes of wealth into ten classes based on where you live. Created the Council of 500, who counseled the assembly. In addition, he allowed citizens

• to propose laws to the assembly• *only free adult male property owners were considered citizens

Athenian Education• Only sons of nobility were formally educated• Began around age 7• Studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, math and

music. (also public speaking and athletics)• When older, boys went to military school • Girls educated @ home about giving birth, weaving

cloth, cooking, and skills to be wives/mothers• Women were essentially restricted to the house

Sparta builds a Military State• Located in Peloponnesus (pg. 121)• Polar opposite of Athens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogc1FMgpoo4

Sparta Dominates Messenians• Around 725 BC, Spartans invade Messenia and

defeat Messenians and make them helots (took ½ their crops annually)

• Messinians revolt and almost win. Spartans realize their need for more strength.

Sparta’s Gvmt and Society• Made of several branches (all Spartan “citizens”)• Assembly elected officials who vote on issues• Council of Elders- propose laws to the assembly• Five men carried out the laws passed by assembly,

and two kings controlled the military of Sparta• Social Classes1. Ruling families who owned land (original inhabitants)

2. Noncitizens who were free3. Helots- captured Messenians (worked in fields or

as servants)

Spartan Daily Life• Forms of expression discouraged (no arts, literature,

or music). • Spartans valued discipline, strength, and duty rather

than freedom, beauty, and learning• Children begin army training at 7 and serve until

they’re 60. Their life was the military.• Girls even trained and wrestled, and ran the homes

while men were fighting (more freedoms than Athens)

• Sparta was more valued than family and anything else.

Persian WarsNew Army Emerges• Iron replaces bronze and allows lower classes to fight

alongside wealthy. These fighters develop idea of a phalanx

Battle at Marathon• Ionian Greeks and Athenians join forces against Persia• Darius the Great defeats them and vows to destroy

Athens• 490 BC- a Persian fleet of 25,000 men cross Aegean Sea

in Marathon. 10,000 Athenians defeat Persians because they’re discipline and use phalanx. (Persians retreat after losing 6,000)

Pheidippides Brings News• With the Athenians in Marathon, Athens is

defenseless. Army leaders choose Pheidippides to run back to Athens (26 miles away) and spread the news. He gives the news, collapses and dies. The Greek army hurriedly moves to Athens, and their preparedness forces Persian fleet to retreat once again when they arrive in Athens harbor.

Thermopylae and Salamis• Decade later (480 BC) Darius the Great’s son Xerxes

invades Athens. Division among Greeks makes moving down the coast of Greece easy.

• Xerxes meets opposition at Thermopylae- 300 Spartans are blocking a mountain pass. Spartans held off 7,000 Persians for three days, allowing other Greek forces to retreat. 300 die, but make a valiant effort.

• Athenians decide to burn Athens and resort to sea warfare and were successful even though out numbered once again. Ships with battering rams puncture the hulls of Persian ships

Golden Age in Greece• Pericles leads Athens with three goals1. Strengthen Athenian democracy2. Hold and strengthen the empire3. Glorify Athens

• Increases # of ppl who are paid salary• Est. a DIRECT DEMOCRACY• Strengthens Athenian navy • Uses $ from Delian League to beautify Athens

(marble, gold, ivory)

Art and Architecture• Phidias is hired by Pericles to build the Parthenon• Art idealized the human body in motion (idealism was more

important than realism)

Drama and History• Tragedy (Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus) and comedy

(Aristophanes) plays• No written records• Thucydides uses past events to understand the present

Athenians and Spartans go to War• 431 BC the two go to war because Athens’ prosperity

created hostility

Peloponnesian War• Athens has best navy, Sparta is better with the army• Spartans burn food supply, and Athenians have to import

food.• Plague hits Athens and kills Pericles… Both sides sign a

truce in 421 BC• 415 BC Athens invades Syracuse, Sicily (Spartan ally) and

Spartans completely devastate Athenians. They lost all money, power, and the empire itself

Philosophers search for Truth

• After the war, Athenians question their values • Great thinkers emerge (philosophers)• Sophists- groups of thinkers who thought “man”

was the measure of all things (no absolute standard)1. Socrates- believes in universal order; found guilty by the

court of “corruption” and forced to drink hemlock2. Plato- student of Socrates; believed in a social system

comprised of artisans/farmers, warriors, and rulers3. Aristotle- invented a method of arguing according to rules

of logic. Competitor to Plato

Alexander’s EmpirePhilip Builds Macedonia• King Philip II rules in Macedonia 359 BC (pg 142)• Philip (23 years old) uses phalanx to conquer

opponents, and envisions conquering Greece• Philip defeats divided Greece @ Battle of

Chaeronea---Greece under Macedonian rule• Never got chance to conquer Persian because he

was murdered by former guard @ daughter’s wedding. His son, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, takes over the kingdom

Alexander defeats Persia• Takes over empire @ 20, but is well qualified• Thebes (Greek) rebels, he burns the city killing 6000• Alexander leads 35,000 into Anatolia– defeats

40,000 Persians• Persian King Darius III raises an even larger army…

Alexander has to change game plan and controls Anatolia (ends up forcing Darius to flee)

Spread of Hellinistic Culture• Hellinistic Culture is Greek (Hellinic) culture infused

with Persian, Indian, and Egyptian culture• Alexandria emerges as the center of Hellinistic

culture and trading (location on the Nile)• Alexandria was attractive physically. The library and

museum brought in visitors• Pharos Lighthouse- lighthouse over the harbor that

mirrored a burning fire from the top

Science and Technology• Astronomy- Aristarchus concludes that the sun is

300 times larger than Earth, and also that the planets revolve around the Sun. Eratosthenes calculates the circumference between 28,000-29,000 miles (actually 24, 860)

• Math- Euclid comes up with Elements. Archimedes estimates the value of pi and law of lever.

• Philosophy/Art- 1. Stoicism- ppl should live virtuous lives in harmony

with God2. Epicureanism- live in harmony with the mind and

body (no account for deities)