Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase

Chapter 9

Early development of Greek Societies

• Minoan and Mycenaean Societies

• Between 2200 and 1450 B.C.E, was the center of Mediterranean commerce

• Received early influences from Phoenicia and Egypt

• By 1100 B.C.E. Crete fell under foreign domination

• Untranslated form of writing, Linear A, was used

Minoan snake goddess

bull jumping, plaster

Crete games

Mycenaean society: named after the important city, Mycenae

• Indo-European immigrants settled in Greece, 2000 B.C.E.

Adapted Minoan Linear A into their script, Linear B

Linear A, scriptLinear A, logograms

Stone fortresses in the Peloponnesus (southern Greece) protected agricultural settlements

Pyramid in Argos, dates earlier than Egyptian pyramids

Overpowered Minoan society and expanded to Anatolia, Sicily, and Italy

Chaos in the eastern Mediterranean after Trojan War (1200 B.C.E.)

Excavation of Troy

7th century B.C.E. pottery depicting Trojan Horse

The world of the polis gradually emerged in Greece

• Sparta began to extend control during eighth and seventh centuries B.C.E.

-Reduced the neighboring peoples to the status of helots, or semi-free servants

- maintained domination by very powerful military machine

Spartan society:

• Discouraged social distinction, observed austere life style

• Distinction was drawn by prowess, discipline, and military talent

Athens gradually broadened base of political participation

• Solon sought to negotiate order by democratic principles

• Citizenship was open to free adult males, not to foreigners, slaves, and women

Athenian society

• Maritime trade brought prosperity to Attica, region of Athens

• Aristocratic landowners were primary beneficiaries

• Class tension became intensified in the sixth century B.C.E.

Pericles (443-429 B.C.E., most popular democratic ruler of Athens

Greece and the larger world- Greek colonization

Greeks founded more than four hundred colonies

• Facilitated trade among Mediterranean lands and people

• Spread of Greek language and cultural traditions

• Stimulated development of surrounding areas

Conflict with Persia and its results

• The Persian War (500-479B.C.E.)

- Greek cities on the Ionian coast revolted against Persia, 500 B.C.E.

Battle of Marathon (490B.C.E.)is decisive victory for Athens

Xerxes tried again to seize Athens; his navy lost battle of Salamis (480 B.C.E.)

Persian army retreated back to Anatolia

The Delian League• Military and financial

alliance among Greek poleis against Persian threat

• When Persian threat subsided, poleis, other than Athens, no longer wanted to make contributions

The Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.E.)

• Tensions led to two armed camps, under leadership of Athens and Sparta

• Unconditional surrender of Athens , 404 B.C.E.

The Macedonians and the coming of empire

• The kingdom of Macedon, a frontier state north of peninsular Greece

Phillip of Macedon (reigned 359-336 B.C.E.) brought Greece under control

Alexander of Macedon succeeds Philip at age twenty and begins conquests

• By 331 B..E., controlled Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia

• Invaded Persian homeland and burned Persepolis, 331 B.C.E.

• Crossed Indus River by 327 B.C.E., army refused to go farther

• Died in 323 B.C.E. at age of thirty-three

Hellenistic Empires: Alexander’s realm was divided into Antigonid, Ptolemaic, Seleucid

Antigonid empire:Greece and Macedon

• Continuous tension between the Antigonid rulers and Greek cities

• Economy of Athens and Corinth flourished again through trade

The Ptolemaic empire;Egypt – the wealthiest

• The rulers did not interfere in Egyptian society

• Alexandria, capital at mouth of the Nile

• Cultural center: the famous Alexandria Museum and Alexandria Library

The Seleucid empire: largest, from Bactria to Anatolia

• Greek and Macedonian colonists flocked to Greek cities of the former Persia

• Colonists created a Mediterranean-style urban society

• Bactria withdrew from Seleucids and established independent Greek kingdom

The fruits of trade:Greek economy and society

Trade and the integration of the Mediterranean Basin

Trade and commerce flourished resulting in population growth and more colonies• Production of olive oil and wine, in

exchange for grain and other items• Led to broader sense of Greek

community

Panhellenic festivals (like Olympic Games) became popular

Family and society• Greek society in Homer’s

works

- Heroic warriors and outspoken wives in Homer’s world- strong-willed human beings clashed constantly

Patriarchal society was the norm

• Women could not own landed property but could operate small businesses

• Priestess was the only public position for women

• Spartan woman enjoyed higher status than women of other poleis

Sappho: talented female poet wrote poems of attraction to women

• Instructed young women in music and literature at home

• Critics charged her with homosexual activity (not acceptable for women)

Slavery: private chattel, property of their owners

• Worked as cultivators, domestic servants

• Educated or skilled slaves worked as craftsman and business managers

The cultural life of classical Greece• Rational thought and philosophy

Acropolis at Athens

The formation of Greek cultural traditions: philosophy based in human reason

SOCRATES (470-399B.C.E.): “an unexamined life is not worth living”

• Encouraged reflection on questions of ethics and morality

• Was condemned to death on charge of corrupting Athenian youth

PLATO (430-347 B.C.E.): a zealous disciple of Socrates

• The Theory of Forms or Ideas – world of ideal qualities

• This world is imperfect reflection of world of Forms

• His Republic expressed the idea of philosophical kings

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.): Plato’s student, but distrusted Theory of Forms

• Devised rules of logic to construct powerful arguments

• Philosophers should rely on senses to provide accurate information

Legacy of Greek philosophy

• Intellectual authorities for European philosophers until seventeenth century

• Intellectual inspiration for Christian and Islamic theologians

Popular religion and Greek drama

• Greek deities: Zeus and scores of subordinate deities

Various types of religious cults: cult of Dionysus most popular

Drama was performed at annual theatrical festivals

• Great tragedians explored the possibilities and limitations of human action

• Comic drama took delight in lampooning the public figures

Hellenistic philosophy and religion

• Hellenistic philosophers: search for personal tranquility

Epicureans: identified pleasure as the

greatest goodSkeptics: doubted certainty of

knowledge, sought equanimityStoics: taught individuals duty to

help others and lead virtuous lives

Religions of salvation spread through trade routes

• Mystery religions promised eternal bliss for believers; like the Cult of Osiris

• Speculation about a single, universal god emerged