Unit II

Originally created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

The Geography The Geography

Greek GeographyGreek Geography• Greece was divided into small self-governing Greece was divided into small self-governing

communities (city-states or polis). communities (city-states or polis). • The main reason for this was the geography The main reason for this was the geography

of the region: islands and valleys cut off by of the region: islands and valleys cut off by the sea or mountains.the sea or mountains.

• Warrior aristocracies developed with main Warrior aristocracies developed with main centers in Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Delphi, centers in Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Delphi, and Thebes.and Thebes.

• Each city-state controlled smaller areas and Each city-state controlled smaller areas and over time inter-city rivalry would give way to over time inter-city rivalry would give way to war between city-states. war between city-states.

Bronze Age Bronze Age

Minoan CivilizationMinoan Civilization

Crete: Minoan Civilization

(Palace at Knossos)

Crete: Minoan Civilization

(Palace at Knossos)

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Mycenaean CivilizationMycenaean Civilization

The Mask of AgamemnonThe Mask of Agamemnon

Greek “Dark Age” to ArchaicGreek “Dark Age” to Archaic

• The so-called “Dark Age” (1150 B.C.E.- 700 B.C.E.) The so-called “Dark Age” (1150 B.C.E.- 700 B.C.E.) was a time when Greece was largely isolated from was a time when Greece was largely isolated from the rest of the world.the rest of the world.

• Greek isolation ended when Phoenician ships began Greek isolation ended when Phoenician ships began to enter the Aegean and gave the Greeks a writing to enter the Aegean and gave the Greeks a writing system (phonetical) and aided in the development of system (phonetical) and aided in the development of civilization from the Eastern Mediterranean and SW civilization from the Eastern Mediterranean and SW Asia..Asia..

• While much of Greece remained primarily an oral While much of Greece remained primarily an oral culture, development of theatrical drama, culture, development of theatrical drama, philosophical dialogues, and oratory came from the philosophical dialogues, and oratory came from the interaction of speaking and writinginteraction of speaking and writing. .

Homer: The “Heroic Age”Homer: The “Heroic Age”• Greek religion encompassed a wide range of Greek religion encompassed a wide range of

cults and beliefs known as sky-gods.cults and beliefs known as sky-gods.• Some of the gods represented the forces of Some of the gods represented the forces of

nature, Zeus and Poseidon, and others beauty, nature, Zeus and Poseidon, and others beauty, war,etc.war,etc.

• The two great epic poems, the Iliad and the The two great epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, by Homer put these deities in Odyssey, by Homer put these deities in anthropomorphic form. anthropomorphic form.

• Greeks would seek out oracles for advice or Greeks would seek out oracles for advice or predictions of the future. The most prestigious predictions of the future. The most prestigious was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi in central was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi in central Greece.Greece.

• Many of the other gods were fertility gods.Many of the other gods were fertility gods.

Olympia: Temple to Hera

Olympia: Temple to Hera

The Arts & Sciences (Pre-Socratic)The Arts & Sciences (Pre-Socratic)

$ DRAMA (tragedians):

Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.E.)

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E.)

Euripides (480-406 B.C.E.)

$ THE SCIENCES:

Pythagoras (580-490 B.C.E.?) - father of mathematics

Democritus (460-370 B.C.E.)- all matter made up of small atoms.

Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.E.) “Father of Medicine”

Early Athenian LawgiversEarly Athenian Lawgivers

$ Draco (7th C B.C.E.)- “draconian”

$ Solon (6th C B.C.E.) - lawgiver; divided Athens into four classes based on farm yields; avert civil war

$ Cleisthenes (5th C B.C.E.) - created the first “democracy”

$ Pericles- Athenian democracy: Assembly, Council of 500, People’s Court; Parthenon

“Persian Wars”: 499 BCE–480 BCE“Persian Wars”: 499 BCE–480 BCE

Persian Wars: BattlesPersian Wars: Battles

$ Marathon (490 BCE)

26+ miles from Athens

$ Thermopylae (480 BCE)

300 Spartans at the mountain pass

$ Salamis (480 BCE)

Athenian navy victorious

Golden “Age of Pericles”:460 BCE – 429 BCE

Golden “Age of Pericles”:460 BCE – 429 BCE

Great Athenian PhilosophersGreat Athenian Philosophers

$ Socrates (470-399 B.C.E.)

Know thyself!

question everything; Socratic Method

only the pursuit of goodnessbrings happiness.

$ Plato (428-347 B.C.E.)

The Academy

The world of the FORMS

The Republic philosopher-king

Great Athenian PhilosophersGreat Athenian Philosophers

$ Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) The Lyceum

Collect and categorize a vast array of knowledge: politics, philosophy, ethics, logic, poetry, rhetoric, physics, astronomy, meteorology, zoology, and psychology;

Modern disciplines and the Scientific method.

AcropolisAcropolis

The Acropolis TodayThe Acropolis Today

The ParthenonThe Parthenon

Agora- “Gathering Place”Agora- “Gathering Place”

The Classical Greek “Ideal”The Classical Greek “Ideal”

The Ancient Olympics:

Athletes & Trainers

The Ancient Olympics:

Athletes & Trainers

Peloponnesian Wars- 431 B.C.E.Peloponnesian Wars- 431 B.C.E.

The Peloponnesian WarThe Peloponnesian War

• The emergence of Athens as an imperial power after The emergence of Athens as an imperial power after the Persian Wars led to open hostilities with former the Persian Wars led to open hostilities with former allies.allies.

• Mainly between the Spartans, financed by the Mainly between the Spartans, financed by the Persians and the Athenians, lasted three decades with Persians and the Athenians, lasted three decades with the victory of the Spartans. the victory of the Spartans.

• Persia regained much of its control and because of Persia regained much of its control and because of uprisings in Egypt, Cyprus, and Phoenicia, it did not uprisings in Egypt, Cyprus, and Phoenicia, it did not return to attack Greece.return to attack Greece.

• In northern Greece, Macedonians, Philip II and his In northern Greece, Macedonians, Philip II and his son, Alexander, would reshape the eastern son, Alexander, would reshape the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia in this vacuum.Mediterranean and western Asia in this vacuum.

Macedonia Under Philip II

Macedonia Under Philip II

Alexander the Great

356-323 B.C.E.

Alexander the Great

356-323 B.C.E.

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great• He saw himself as an He saw himself as an

Achaemenid ruler in the Achaemenid ruler in the tradition of the Persians.tradition of the Persians.

• Alexander, a Macedonian, Alexander, a Macedonian, defeated Athens but was defeated Athens but was welcomed by the military welcomed by the military to power.to power.

• Alexander and his armies Alexander and his armies would travel over 22,000 would travel over 22,000 miles and extend Greek miles and extend Greek influence from Egypt to influence from Egypt to the Indus River.the Indus River.

• Benevolent despotism but Benevolent despotism but don’t test him.don’t test him.

Alexander the Great in PersiaAlexander the Great in Persia

Building “Greek” Cities in the EastBuilding “Greek” Cities in the East

Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)

Alexander the Great’s EmpireAlexander the Great’s Empire

Pergamum:A New

“Hellenistic”City

Pergamum:A New

“Hellenistic”City

CosmopolitanCosmopolitanCultureCulture

Trade in the Hellenistic WorldTrade in the Hellenistic World

Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art

Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art

The Breakup of Alexander’s EmpireThe Breakup of Alexander’s Empire

The “Known” World – 300 B.C.E.The “Known” World – 300 B.C.E.

The Incursion of Rome into the Hellenistic World

The Incursion of Rome into the Hellenistic World

ConclusionsConclusions• Greek language and culture became the dominant culture Greek language and culture became the dominant culture

among the ruling intellectual and commercial elites from among the ruling intellectual and commercial elites from the Mediterranean, India, Russia, and Central Asia.the Mediterranean, India, Russia, and Central Asia.

• Local customs coming from the Persians, endured and Local customs coming from the Persians, endured and transformed the simplicity of earlier Hellenic culture into transformed the simplicity of earlier Hellenic culture into the more complex, elaborate, and cosmopolitan Hellenistic the more complex, elaborate, and cosmopolitan Hellenistic culture until the death of the last Macedonian queen, culture until the death of the last Macedonian queen, Cleopatra in 30 B.C.E.Cleopatra in 30 B.C.E.

• Buddhist art is also transformed.Buddhist art is also transformed.• Hellenistic ecumene- unified urban culture, encompassing Hellenistic ecumene- unified urban culture, encompassing

the vast lands and diverse peoples.the vast lands and diverse peoples.• Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Delphi and later cities Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Delphi and later cities

built by Alexander and his generals.built by Alexander and his generals.• Asia, Africa, and Europe begin to merge culturally.Asia, Africa, and Europe begin to merge culturally.