Lecture 5: Lecture 5: Archaic Greece (800-479 Archaic Greece (800-479

BCE)BCE)

1100-750 BCE: Dark Ages1100-750 BCE: Dark Ages Political and economic Political and economic

decline of Mycenaean decline of Mycenaean CivilizationCivilization

Urban life disappears, Urban life disappears, villages are abandonedvillages are abandoned

Writing, crafts, and Writing, crafts, and commercial network of commercial network of trade disappearstrade disappears

Migrations to islands of Migrations to islands of western Anatolia and western Anatolia and region of Ioniaregion of Ionia

850 BCE: Economic life 850 BCE: Economic life in Greece improves; in Greece improves; urban life reappearsurban life reappears

Literary Achievements Literary Achievements of the Archaic Ageof the Archaic Age

1.1. Importation of the Importation of the 22 letter Phoenician 22 letter Phoenician alphabetalphabet

2.2. Rise in recording of Rise in recording of oral traditions, oral traditions, legends, and songslegends, and songs

Homer’s Homer’s IliadIliad and and OdysseyOdyssey: :

Dates to the 8Dates to the 8thth C C BCEBCE

Epic poem tells story Epic poem tells story of Trojan Warof Trojan War

Cultural Developments in Cultural Developments in Greece: Panhellenic GamesGreece: Panhellenic Games

Fostered common Fostered common Greek identityGreek identity

Central part of Central part of aristocratic culturearistocratic culture

Chariot-racing, Chariot-racing, discus-throwing, discus-throwing, wrestling, and wrestling, and foot-racingfoot-racing

Olympic GamesOlympic Games

Political Developments in Political Developments in Greece: The Greek PolisGreece: The Greek Polis

PolisPolis, “City-state”, a , “City-state”, a self-governing self-governing communitycommunity

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the polis:polis:

AssemblyAssembly Council of male eldersCouncil of male elders AgoraAgora Centrality of temples to Centrality of temples to

GodsGods Individual: citizenship to Individual: citizenship to

1 polis only1 polis only

Political Developments in Political Developments in Greece: The Hoplite RevolutionGreece: The Hoplite Revolution

725-650 BCE: changes 725-650 BCE: changes in military equipment in military equipment and tacticand tactic

HoplitesHoplites: units of well-: units of well-armed foot soldiersarmed foot soldiers

Arranged as large Arranged as large infantry units (infantry units (phalanxphalanx) ) = most effective= most effective

Sparta: OverviewSparta: Overview

Geographical Geographical isolationisolation

Powerful polis in Powerful polis in Archaic/Classical Archaic/Classical periodsperiods

Patriarchal + Patriarchal + Polytheistic (typical)Polytheistic (typical)

Unique Spartan Unique Spartan system: credited to system: credited to Lycurgus. Lycurgus.

Sparta: Social ClassesSparta: Social Classes

1.1. SpartiateSpartiate - citizens - citizens2.2. PerioeciPerioeci – free – free

subjectssubjects3.3. HelotsHelots – serfs, – serfs,

limited freedom limited freedom (central)(central)

Degree of equality Degree of equality for free menfor free men

Citizenship: Citizenship: limited to those limited to those born in Spartaborn in Sparta

Sparta: Political StructureSparta: Political Structure Elements of Elements of

monarchy, monarchy, oligarchy and oligarchy and democracy democracy

1.1. Dual monarchy Dual monarchy 2.2. Council (Council (gerousiagerousia) )

of 28 elders of 28 elders 3.3. Assembly (Assembly (damos)damos) Emphasis on Emphasis on

service to the service to the statestate

Formation of Formation of Peloponnesian Peloponnesian LeagueLeague

Spartan ValuesSpartan Values Militaristic state: Militaristic state:

height after 700 BCE, height after 700 BCE, need to control need to control Messians (helots)Messians (helots)

Education: emphasis Education: emphasis on discipline, on discipline, endurance of pain, endurance of pain, survival survival

Virtues of self-denial, Virtues of self-denial, simplicity, obedience, simplicity, obedience, couragecourage

Emphasis on serving Emphasis on serving state; denial of state; denial of individualityindividuality

Spartan MenSpartan Men

1.1. Left home at the age of 7 Left home at the age of 7

2.2. Organized into troops and Organized into troops and played competitive games played competitive games until age 18until age 18

3.3. Underwent four years of Underwent four years of military trainingmilitary training

4.4. Age 30: became citizens, Age 30: became citizens, allowed to live with wivesallowed to live with wives

5.5. Age 60: End of military Age 60: End of military serviceservice

Goal: Fulfill military needs of Goal: Fulfill military needs of statestate

Spartan WomenSpartan Women Taught to read and Taught to read and

writewrite Centrality of physical Centrality of physical

educationeducation Domestic freedomDomestic freedom Interactions with men: Interactions with men:

less restrictedless restricted No share in governmentNo share in government Had children, but did Had children, but did

not raise themnot raise them Polygamy commonPolygamy common Married at 18: abductionMarried at 18: abduction

Athenian Government: Athenian Government: IntroductionIntroduction

Athens: Largest Athens: Largest territory/population of territory/population of any Greek polis in 8any Greek polis in 8thth/7/7thth C BCEC BCE

Conquered people did Conquered people did NOT become helotsNOT become helots

Power of Power of basileus (basileus (king) king) fadesfades

Rise of Rise of AreopagusAreopagus, , council of noblescouncil of nobles

Election of 9 ArchonsElection of 9 Archons 66thth C BCE: Growing C BCE: Growing

tension of aristocrats and tension of aristocrats and peasantspeasants

Solution?Solution?

Reforms of Solon (640-559 Reforms of Solon (640-559 BCE)BCE)

Freed all slavesFreed all slaves Cancelled agricultural debtsCancelled agricultural debts Created 4 social classes – Created 4 social classes –

economic basiseconomic basis Laws written down – fair Laws written down – fair

enforcementenforcement Boule (council) of 400 – Boule (council) of 400 –

advisory board for general advisory board for general assemblyassembly

Goals:Goals:

1.1. Limit authority of aristocratsLimit authority of aristocrats

2.2. Citizen participation in Citizen participation in governmentgovernment

““There are many bad rich men while many There are many bad rich men while many good men are poor, for virtue endures, good men are poor, for virtue endures, while wealth belongs now to one man, now while wealth belongs now to one man, now to another” (Plutarch, to another” (Plutarch, Solon 3Solon 3))

““I gave the demos such privilege as is I gave the demos such privilege as is sufficient to them, neither adding nor sufficient to them, neither adding nor taking away; and as for those who had taking away; and as for those who had power and were admired for their wealth, I power and were admired for their wealth, I also provided that they should not suffer also provided that they should not suffer undue wron. I stood with a stout shield undue wron. I stood with a stout shield thrown over both parties, not allowing thrown over both parties, not allowing either one to prevail unjustly over the either one to prevail unjustly over the other” (Plutarch, other” (Plutarch, SolonSolon 18.4) 18.4)

Successful? Economic strife continues: Rich Successful? Economic strife continues: Rich and poor both dissatisfiedand poor both dissatisfied

Rise of TyrantsRise of Tyrants

Tyrant: one who Tyrant: one who seized power in a seized power in a polispolis

AristocraticAristocratic Emphasis on Emphasis on

involving all involving all classes: classes: participatory participatory governmentgovernment

Weakness of Weakness of tyranny: short-livedtyranny: short-lived

Tyranny of Pisistratus Tyranny of Pisistratus (590-528 BCE)(590-528 BCE)

561 BCE: seized power561 BCE: seized power Assembly: increase in Assembly: increase in

powerpower Attack on powers of Attack on powers of

nobilitynobility Citizens: more involved Citizens: more involved

in government in government Building projects, trade Building projects, trade

and economy, the artsand economy, the arts 510 BCE: Overthrown 510 BCE: Overthrown

by aristocratsby aristocrats

Rule of CleisthenesRule of Cleisthenes Elected by assemblyElected by assembly 508-502 BCE: Reforms508-502 BCE: Reforms Emergence of democracyEmergence of democracy New New bouleboule: : Council of Council of

Five Hundred Five Hundred Division into 10 tribes: Division into 10 tribes:

unified territoryunified territory Motivation: avoid revoltsMotivation: avoid revolts

*Fundamental aspects of *Fundamental aspects of Athenian democracy in Athenian democracy in place*place*

Persian Empire: Cyrus the Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great (550-530 BCE)Great (550-530 BCE)

Power struggle: Medes Power struggle: Medes and Persiansand Persians

66thth C BCE: emergence C BCE: emergence of Persian Empireof Persian Empire

Cyrus: military genius, Cyrus: military genius, 20 years of conquest20 years of conquest

546 BCE: Anatolia 546 BCE: Anatolia conqueredconquered

539 BCE: Babylonia 539 BCE: Babylonia conqueredconquered

By 522 BCE: greatest By 522 BCE: greatest empire in the worldempire in the world

Achievements of Persian Achievements of Persian EmpireEmpire

Vast road networksVast road networks

1.1. Transport of soldiers Transport of soldiers and goodsand goods

2.2. Transmission of Transmission of cultural ideascultural ideas

Centralized Centralized government: balance government: balance of power and toleranceof power and tolerance

Ethnic freedomEthnic freedom

Example: HebrewsExample: Hebrews

Persian Religion: Persian Religion: ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster)Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) MonotheisticMonotheistic Dualistic: Ahura Mazda (good) Dualistic: Ahura Mazda (good)

vs. Angra Mainyu (evil)vs. Angra Mainyu (evil) Emphasis on ethics and afterlifeEmphasis on ethics and afterlife Official religion of Persian Official religion of Persian

Empire/tolerant of other faithsEmpire/tolerant of other faiths Kings: earthly representations Kings: earthly representations

of Ahura Mazda of Ahura Mazda Influential to Judaism, Influential to Judaism,

Christianity, IslamChristianity, Islam

Persian Empire: Darius the Persian Empire: Darius the Great (r. 522-486 BCE)Great (r. 522-486 BCE)

522: seizes power522: seizes power Strong Strong

administration, administration, economy, tradeeconomy, trade

Territorial Territorial expansionexpansion

510 BCE: Ionian 510 BCE: Ionian Greece conqueredGreece conquered

Ionian revolt (with Ionian revolt (with aid of Athenians)aid of Athenians)

494 BCE: Persia 494 BCE: Persia crushes rebellioncrushes rebellion

The Persian Wars (490-479 The Persian Wars (490-479 BCE)BCE)

490 BCE: Persia invades 490 BCE: Persia invades Greece at Battle of Greece at Battle of Marathon (Miltiades), Marathon (Miltiades), Greek victory!Greek victory!

Themistocles (523-458 Themistocles (523-458 BCE): rise of the navy BCE): rise of the navy

480 BCE: Xerxes I 480 BCE: Xerxes I invades Greece, huge invades Greece, huge army and navyarmy and navy

Teamwork of Sparta Teamwork of Sparta (Battle of Thermopylae - (Battle of Thermopylae - Leonidas) and Athens Leonidas) and Athens (Battle of Salamis). (Battle of Salamis).

Greek Victory (again)!Greek Victory (again)!

What do you need to know?What do you need to know?

Greek polis: general characteristicsGreek polis: general characteristics Sparta: social classes, political structure, values, Sparta: social classes, political structure, values,

gender rolesgender roles Athens: political developments:Athens: political developments:

1.1. Reforms of Solon (cause, aim, effect)Reforms of Solon (cause, aim, effect)

2.2. Tyranny of Pisistratus: (Characteristics of rule)Tyranny of Pisistratus: (Characteristics of rule)

3.3. Cleisthenes: (Characteristics of rule)Cleisthenes: (Characteristics of rule) The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire: Cyrus (territorial expansion) : Cyrus (territorial expansion)

and Darius (Ionian Revolt)and Darius (Ionian Revolt) The Persian Wars: The Persian Wars:

1.1. Xerxes and Battle of MarathonXerxes and Battle of Marathon

2.2. Themistocles: rise of Greek NavyThemistocles: rise of Greek Navy

3.3. Understanding of general cause and effectUnderstanding of general cause and effect