Minoan Economy/TradeMinoan Economy/Trade

• Based on the island Based on the island of Crete in the of Crete in the MediterraneanMediterranean

• Center of Center of Mediterranean Mediterranean commerce (great commerce (great location)location)

• Traded and Traded and colonized throughout colonized throughout regionregion

Minoan WritingMinoan Writing

• Officials devised Officials devised Linear A: writing system where written symbols stood for syllables. Used for keeping economic records

Minoan ArtMinoan Art

• Vivid frescoes showing Minoans at Vivid frescoes showing Minoans at work/playwork/play

MycenaeansMycenaeans

• Group settled in Mycenae on Greek Group settled in Mycenae on Greek Peninsula (the Peloponnesus) from Peninsula (the Peloponnesus) from Indo-European originsIndo-European origins

• Expanded influence over Greece and Expanded influence over Greece and eventually Creteeventually Crete

• Invasions in region created sense of Invasions in region created sense of decentralized rule and chaosdecentralized rule and chaos

Athens & SpartaAthens & SpartaGreece’s 2 most powerful city-statesGreece’s 2 most powerful city-states

• Sparta:Sparta:– Absorbed neighboring areas, made Absorbed neighboring areas, made

conquered peoples conquered peoples HelotsHelots (slaves) (slaves)– Helots outnumbered Spartans 10-1Helots outnumbered Spartans 10-1– Sparta developed a strong military state Sparta developed a strong military state

to prevent rebellionsto prevent rebellions– Most important things for Spartans – Most important things for Spartans –

discipline and military talentdiscipline and military talent

Sparta and AthensSparta and Athens

• Athens:Athens:– Overcame challenges by turning to the Overcame challenges by turning to the

world’s first world’s first DemocracyDemocracy– Broadened political participation by Broadened political participation by

allowing all free adult men to be allowing all free adult men to be citizenscitizens of the polisof the polis•Meant they could participate in all affairs of Meant they could participate in all affairs of

the state (through voting)the state (through voting)

Solon & PericlesSolon & Pericles

• Great deal of tension between rich Great deal of tension between rich and poor at this time.and poor at this time.

• Solon:Solon:– Made wealthy happyMade wealthy happy

• no forced redistribution of land.no forced redistribution of land.

– Made poor happyMade poor happy• cancelled debts, outlawed debt slavery, & allowed cancelled debts, outlawed debt slavery, & allowed

people of all wealth to participate in Athenian people of all wealth to participate in Athenian democracydemocracy

PericlesPericles

• ““High tide” for Athenian DemocracyHigh tide” for Athenian Democracy

• Gave office-holding jobs to commonersGave office-holding jobs to commoners

• Public works projects for lower classesPublic works projects for lower classes

• **Under Pericles – Athens enters into its **Under Pericles – Athens enters into its Golden AgeGolden Age: became the most vibrant : became the most vibrant city-state, complete with scientists, city-state, complete with scientists, philosophers, architects and dramatistsphilosophers, architects and dramatists

Philip of MacedoniaPhilip of Macedonia

• Philip II, King of Macedonia (to the Philip II, King of Macedonia (to the north of Greece) dreamed of taking north of Greece) dreamed of taking control of Greece. control of Greece.

People of MacedoniaPeople of Macedonia

• Lived in Mountain villages to the north Lived in Mountain villages to the north of Greeceof Greece

• Spoke a language very close to GreekSpoke a language very close to Greek

• Thought of themselves as GreekThought of themselves as Greek

• King Philip’s army invaded and defeated King Philip’s army invaded and defeated Greece at the battle of ChaeroneaGreece at the battle of Chaeronea– (Why would the Greek city-states be weak (Why would the Greek city-states be weak

and open to attack at this time?)and open to attack at this time?)

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

• King Philip II is King Philip II is assassinated at his assassinated at his daughter’s daughter’s weddingwedding

• Son Alexander Son Alexander proclaims himself proclaims himself King at age 20King at age 20

• Former student of Former student of AristotleAristotle

Alexander the ConquerorAlexander the Conqueror

• Alexander wants to Alexander wants to follow his father’s plan follow his father’s plan and invade Persiaand invade Persia

• Scores major victories Scores major victories at Granicus River and at Granicus River and Battle of Issus (now Battle of Issus (now controlled Anatolia)controlled Anatolia)

• Alexander turns down Alexander turns down offer to take western offer to take western third of Persian Empire third of Persian Empire – he wants all– he wants all

Alexander continuesAlexander continues

• Ambitious Alexander marches to Ambitious Alexander marches to Egypt in 332 B.C.E. (Persian territory)Egypt in 332 B.C.E. (Persian territory)– Crowned Pharaoh, welcomed as liberatorCrowned Pharaoh, welcomed as liberator– Founds city of AlexandriaFounds city of Alexandria

Alexander then marches to heart of PersiaAlexander then marches to heart of Persia

Conquers cities of Babylon, Susa, and Conquers cities of Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis – Captures HUGE treasuresPersepolis – Captures HUGE treasures

Alexander refuses to stop Alexander refuses to stop ConqueringConquering

• Alexander continues EastAlexander continues East• 327 B.C.E. – Alexander marches to India327 B.C.E. – Alexander marches to India• Morale of the troops is very low (11 Morale of the troops is very low (11

years of fighting and 11,000 miles years of fighting and 11,000 miles marched, sickness, hardship, etc)marched, sickness, hardship, etc)

• After returning to Babylon, Alexander After returning to Babylon, Alexander announced plans to invade Arabiaannounced plans to invade Arabia

• Very ill with fever, Alexander dies in Very ill with fever, Alexander dies in Babylon at the age of 33Babylon at the age of 33

The Legacy of AlexanderThe Legacy of Alexander

• Empire was divided up amongst Alexander’s Empire was divided up amongst Alexander’s 3 strongest generals3 strongest generals

• Antigonus became King of Macedonia and Antigonus became King of Macedonia and Greek city-statesGreek city-states

• Ptolemy seized Egypt and took title of Ptolemy seized Egypt and took title of PharaohPharaoh

• Seleucus acquired most of old Persian EmpireSeleucus acquired most of old Persian Empire• **********BlendingBlending of cultures occurs of cultures occurs ((The The

Hellenistic WorldHellenistic World))

Greek PhilosophersGreek Philosophers

• Most distinctive element of Ancient Greek Most distinctive element of Ancient Greek culture was their system of philosophyculture was their system of philosophy

• Philosopher: “Lover of Wisdom” – Those Philosopher: “Lover of Wisdom” – Those who seek truth (esp. in art, literature, who seek truth (esp. in art, literature, moral thought)moral thought)

• Philosophers have two assumptionsPhilosophers have two assumptions– The universe is put together in an orderly way, The universe is put together in an orderly way,

with absolute/unchanging lawswith absolute/unchanging laws– People understand these laws through logic People understand these laws through logic

and reasoningand reasoning

SocratesSocrates• Basic Historical Info:Basic Historical Info:

• 470-399 BCE470-399 BCE

• Father of Greek philosophyFather of Greek philosophy

• Teachings written down by student, Teachings written down by student, PlatoPlato

• Beliefs:Beliefs:

• Typically led discussions; posed Typically led discussions; posed questions (Socratic style)questions (Socratic style)

• Living honest, honorable life trumps Living honest, honorable life trumps wealth & famewealth & fame

• Personal integrity & honor over allPersonal integrity & honor over all

• Legacy:Legacy:

• Put on trial, sentenced to deathPut on trial, sentenced to death

• Inspired future philosophers (esp. Inspired future philosophers (esp. Plato & Aristotle) with his view of Plato & Aristotle) with his view of ideal human behaviorideal human behavior

AristotleAristotle• Basic Historical Info:Basic Historical Info:

• Student of PlatoStudent of Plato

• Teacher of Alexander the GreatTeacher of Alexander the Great

• Beliefs:Beliefs:

• Wrote on physics of matter and vision Wrote on physics of matter and vision of the cosmos (natural world)of the cosmos (natural world)

• Geocentric view of the cosmosGeocentric view of the cosmos

• Wrote on gender: “man is ideal form, Wrote on gender: “man is ideal form, woman is inferior copy”woman is inferior copy”

• Legacy:Legacy:

• Was considered the “expert” on all-Was considered the “expert” on all-things related to the natural world by things related to the natural world by future Christian and Islamic future Christian and Islamic theological leaderstheological leaders

• Beliefs were rarely challenged (even Beliefs were rarely challenged (even incorrect ones) until 17incorrect ones) until 17thth century. century.

Plato and AristotlePlato and Aristotle

• Plato was a student of Plato was a student of SocratesSocrates

• Wrote, “The Republic”, Wrote, “The Republic”, which was a vision of which was a vision of a perfectly governed a perfectly governed societysociety

• All people should be All people should be either a farmer, either a farmer, artisan, warrior, or in artisan, warrior, or in the ruling class (smart the ruling class (smart philosophers should philosophers should rule)rule)

• AristotleAristotle• Argued according to Argued according to

rules of logicrules of logic• Basis for the scientific Basis for the scientific

methodmethod• Vision of the world Vision of the world

would be used by would be used by European Christians European Christians for years to comefor years to come

• Teacher of Alexander Teacher of Alexander the Greatthe Great

Greek ReligionGreek Religion

• Most Greeks didn’t follow the lessons of the Most Greeks didn’t follow the lessons of the great philosophers. Instead, they turned to the great philosophers. Instead, they turned to the traditions of popular religion – Polytheism. traditions of popular religion – Polytheism. Most Greeks began by attributing supernatural Most Greeks began by attributing supernatural powers to the elements of nature such as the powers to the elements of nature such as the sun, wind, and rain. Over time, these powers sun, wind, and rain. Over time, these powers were vested in deities whose stories illustrated were vested in deities whose stories illustrated the reasons or causes for natural phenomena.the reasons or causes for natural phenomena.– Zeus and his subordinate court all performed dutiesZeus and his subordinate court all performed duties

Greek DramaGreek Drama

• Greeks invented Greeks invented drama and built first drama and built first theaterstheaters

• Stories about justice, Stories about justice, leadership, and duty leadership, and duty owed to godsowed to gods

• Greek drama was Greek drama was either either Tragedy or Tragedy or ComedyComedy

Tragedy vs. ComedyTragedy vs. Comedy

• Tragedy dealt with Tragedy dealt with serious topics like serious topics like love, hate, war, love, hate, war, and betrayaland betrayal

• Often dealt with Often dealt with tragic flaw of a tragic flaw of a character or character or personality defectpersonality defect– Oedipus RexOedipus Rex by by

SophoclesSophocles

• Comedy consisted of Comedy consisted of funny situations and funny situations and crude humorcrude humor

• Often included Often included satiressatires, or works that , or works that made fun of a made fun of a subjectsubject

• Poked fun at Poked fun at customs, politics, customs, politics, and respected and respected peoplepeople

Greek Styles in ArtGreek Styles in Art

• The Greek ParthenonThe Greek Parthenon• 23,000 sq. foot 23,000 sq. foot

temple built in temple built in traditional styletraditional style

• Inside held giant Inside held giant statue of Athena – statue of Athena – goddess of wisdom goddess of wisdom and protector of and protector of AthensAthens

• 38 feet tall38 feet tall

Greek SculptureGreek Sculpture

• Showed graceful, Showed graceful, strong, perfectly strong, perfectly formed peopleformed people

• Tried to capture Tried to capture grace and ideal form grace and ideal form of the human bodyof the human body

• Perfect balance and Perfect balance and proportion is known proportion is known as as Classical ArtClassical Art

Greek Knowledge / LearningGreek Knowledge / Learning

• ArchimedesArchimedes– Father of modern Father of modern

calculuscalculus

• EuclidEuclid– Father of modern Father of modern

GeometryGeometry

• EratosthenesEratosthenes– Mathematician, Mathematician,

geographer; geographer; calculated calculated circumference of circumference of the earththe earth

• Claudius PtolemyClaudius Ptolemy– Refined Aristotle’s view Refined Aristotle’s view

of the cosmos; also of the cosmos; also refined world mapsrefined world maps

Eratosthenes’ world mapEratosthenes’ world map