The People of the Aegean Sea

…or How the Greeks Conquered the World!!!

It all starts on Crete

• The people of the Aegean Sea developed civilizations independent from any specific river or river system.

• Instead they looked to new farming techniques that allowed them to settle – as well as their ability to use the sea for their needs.

• The first large civilization started on the island of Crete.

• The ancient people of Crete are known as Minoans – after their legendary king MINOS.

• Minos and other Minoan rulers lived in great palaces at KNOSSOS.

• From the palace at Knossos, they built a cultured and wealthy civilization.

• The Minoans developed a tremendous appreciation for art – often decorating their homes with large frescoes and mosaics.

• The Minoans developed a complex writing system known as Linear A and Linear B.

• Archaeologists are now able to translate Linear B – which shows us that the Minoans had great contact with Indo-Europeans from the mainland of Greece.

• The great Minoan world was destroyed by earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes.

• Their civilization migrated to the islands of Greece where it continued to develop – now influenced by the people of the Greek islands.

MYCENAE

• Ca. 2000 B.C.E. – Indo-Europeans moved into the area today known as Greece.

• These people developed strong fortress cities – the most important was at Mycenae.

• All of these ancient Greeks are now referred to as Mycenaeans. They were influenced by the Minoans.

The Works of Homer

• Perhaps the best description of the glories of Mycenaean civilization may be found in the works of the blind poet Homer

• The Iliad• The Odyssey

The Trojan War

• The Iliad is the story of the Greek attack on the city of Troy in Asia Minor.

• The story…..• The story is of insult,

pride, love , warfare and death.

• The King of Sparta – MENELAUS – is the host to PARIS – the son of the king of Troy – PRIAM and the Trojan queen HECUBA.

• Paris is a “bad” guest and when he returns to Troy he takes with him the wife of Menelaus – HELEN.

• Menelaus is pushed by his brother AGAMEMNON the king of Mycenae to attack Troy and bring Helen back.

• Helen – the face that launched a thousand ships…

• For ten years the Greeks laid siege to the city of Troy – finally destroying it through subterfuge and use of the TROJAN HORSE.

• Troy was destroyed and the Greeks returned home – except for the king of Ithaca – ODYSSEUS who takes an additional ten years to get home THE OYDSSEY.

Other Characters in The Iliad

• Achilles – part man – part nymph – the greatest Greek warrior - his weakness is his “Achilles heel”

• Ajax - Greek – second in ability only to Achilles

• Hector – Trojan prince

• Not this Homer

The Greek Gods

• The stories of Homer reflect the Greek notion of their gods – gods with powers but also egos who fight among themselves. The Greek gods played with humans as if they were toys for the amusement of the gods.

• Zeus – the king of the gods – married to Hera

• Hera – queen of the gods – often plotting behind her husband’s back

• Athena – grey eyed goddess of wisdom

• Daughter of Zeus – she sprung full formed from his head at her birth.

• Apollo – god of the sun – son of Zeus

• Poseidon – brother of Zeus and god of the sea

• Aphrodite – goddess of love and beauty – daughter of Zeus

• Artemis – goddess of the hunt – daughter of Zeus

• Ares – god of war – lover of Aphrodite

• Hermes – messenger of the gods

The Rise of the Polis

• The 700s B.C.E saw the end of the Greek Dark Ages and the rise of the social/political dominance of the POLIS – the city-state. All aspects of Greek life revolved around the polis and an individual’s connection to his polis.

POLIS

• Center was the ACROPOLIS – defensive position – in Athens the acropolis was topped by the PARTHENON

• Most geographically small with about ten thousand inhabitants– Citizens (male)– Non-citizens (foreigners, children, and female

relatives of citizens)– Slaves

Greek Columns

• Doric

• Ionic

• Corinthian

Polis

• No separation between citizens who worked for the government and those who did not (bureaucracy)

• All citizens were thought of as citizens of the polis first and individuals second.

• Male dominated society built on slave labor.

Aristocrats

• The polis were originally ruled by warrior chieftains or kings.

• The kings relied on wealthy land owners to help in times of war.

• The wealthy land owners were called ARISTOCRATS “best men”.

• Over time, the aristocrats took power away from the kings and they then dominated Greek political life.

• All political and religious life was controlled by the aristocrats.

The Greek Army

• Costly bronze weapons meant that aristocrats made up the bulk of the Greek army.

• As trade and colonies prospered – new citizens were able to become wealthy and buy land – challenging the power of the aristocrats.

• The development of cheaper and more useful iron weapons allowed more non-aristocrats to become soldiers.

• The power of the aristocrats was weakened!!!

The Phalanx

• Greek infantry men – HOPLITES – fought in a close, lock stepped formation known as the phalanx.

• Greek success with the precision and unity required for a phalanx made the Greeks a powerful fighting force.

Greek Colonies

• The Greek city-states grew in size and wealth.• As most were near the sea, they developed into

seafaring societies trading with the peoples of the Mediterranean.

• The Greeks sold their wine and olive oil and brought back to Greece products from as far as India.

• In order to develop their trade even further, the Greeks established colonies from modern France to Russia.

• Greek culture spread throughout the world – CULTURAL DIFFUSION.

ATHENS

• The richest and most powerful polis was Athens – the center of new political, philosophical and artistic movements.

• After the drastic harsh laws of DRACO – (draconian – adjective) – came SOLON THE LAWGIVER ca. 594 B.C.E.

Solon

• Canceled debts and abolished enslavement for debts.

• Opened Athens to trade and industry – olive oil.• Citizenship based on wealth no longer based on

aristocratic birth.• Society divided into four groups based on

wealth:– Top three classes eligible for public office– Last class could be part of assembly that elected

officials – but could not be officials themselves.

Peisistratus the tyrant

• Ca. 564 B.C.E., there was social and political turmoil in Athens.

• Peisistratus appealed to the masses for support. Using popular opinion, he assumed sole political power. This was against the law but it had the support of the people – TYRANT.

• He used public money to beautify the city and establish festivals – the people loved it!

• As social tensions between aristocrats and non-aristocrats subsided – the people grew tired of the rule of the tyrants.

Cleisthenes

• Cleisthenes tried to reorganize Athenian society by dividing Athens into ten tribes.

• Each tribe had people from the city – the countryside and the seaside.

• Council of 500 – 500 citizens represented the tribes in the Council – they prepared the material that would be examined by the assembly of citizens.

• DIRECT DEMOCRACY – the popular assembly voted on all laws – each citizen voting.

Sparta – the opposite of Athens???

• The city-state of SPARTA developed differently than Athens.

• Sparta is located on the PELOPONNESUS – the Peloponnesian Peninsula – far more geographically isolated than Athens.

• The Spartans developed a society based on military conquest of their neighbors.

Sparta

• Spartan society was divided into:– Spartan citizens “equals”– Half-citizens: people of surrounding areas who were

dependent on the Spartans – they paid taxes and could serve in the army but had no political rights. They ran the commercial aspects of Sparta.

– Helots – state slaves given to citizens. The helots farmed – leaving the Spartans free to devote time to the military.

– 7 non-citizens for each citizen – how do you keep down revolts? Threats of terror!!!!

Sparta – all aspects of life revolved around the military

• Education: physical and military – women too physically educated

• Selection of “fit” children – infants thought to be weak and a drain on society were left to die.

• Males – 7-18 military boot camp– 18-20 trained for war– 20-30 full time soldiers living in barracks– +30 soldiers could go home at night– Until 60 soldiers had to eat at least one meal with the

other soldiers– COHESION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Women in Sparta – known for their wealth and independence – why????????

• Spartan women vs. Athenian women…..

• Spartans had little interest in art or philosophy…..military, sports, physical activities – men and women.

• spartan – adjective ……

The Growing Greeks face the Persian Empire

• Greek city-states existed on the coast of Asia Minor in what is now Turkey.

• When the Persian Empire took control of Asia Minor – the Greeks living there came under Persian control.

• When Persian emperor DARIUS I began to raise taxes – the Asian Greeks revolted – with the help of Athens.

• 490 B.C.E. – after they defeated the Asian Greeks, the Persians sailed across the Aegean Sea and attacked the Athenians.

• 490 B.C.E. the Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.

• The Persians planned a massive naval and land attack on Greece – BUT Darius died and was succeeded by XERXES.

• Internal problems meant that Xerxes spent time organizing his own internal power before he could attack the Greeks.

Darius Xerxes

• 480 B.C.E. – the Persians crossed the Hellespont and marched south.

• While the Persians eventually won – they were held back by the Spartans under the leadership of LEONIDAS at the BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE.

• Even though destroyed by the Persians, the Athenians organized the Greeks and helped to destroy the Persian navy at the BATTLE OF SALAMIS.

• Eventually, the Greeks pushed the Persians out of Greece – although the Persians were a constant threat until the reign of Alexander the Great.

The Golden Age of Athens

• 478 B.C.E. after the defeat of the Persians – most of the Greek city-states and Greek lands in Asia Minor, the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea – organized under the leadership of Athens in the DELIAN LEAGUE

• Over time, the Delian League was transformed by Athens into a virtual empire for Athens. Athens grew rich and far more powerful than the other members of the Delian League.

Pericles

• Athenian democracy was at it height under the leadership of PERICLES – 460-429 B.C.E.

• One citizen – one vote rule• All legislative and electoral matters controlled by

all citizens• Proposals needed COUNCIL OF 500’s approval

– but any citizen could propose laws or give opinion on laws in the assembly.

• Citizens could approve, change or veto proposals that came from the council.

• Pericles

• Many people received positions by lot.

• Paid public servants – allowed poorer people to participate.

• Jurors picked from citizens

• Paid juries

• Prosecution and defense could each present cases to juries.

• All of this is great for Athens – BUT how can you have your identity by connection to a polis – IF that polis is considered part of an empire controlled by Athens?????

• You can’t!!!!!!!!!!!!!• Historian THUCYDIDES reported the fear

“Your empire is a tyranny… your leadership depends on superior strength and not on any goodwill of theirs.”

The Peloponnesian War

• Under the leadership of Sparta – many of the Greek city-states revolted against the power of Athens.

• Constant warfare and even plague weakened all of the Greek city-states.

• 404 B.C.E. – Athens surrendered – never to reach its glory days again.

Greek Culture – Its Greatest Legacy

• Poetry: Pindar and the ode

• Drama – usually performed in open amphitheaters – often as parts of competition:– Aeschylus– Sophocles– Euripides– Aristophanes

• History:– Herodotus– Thucydides

• History of the Peloponnesian War

Science

• ARCHIMEDES – levers and fulcrums - water screw

• “Give me a place to stand on and I can move the world.”

• EUCLID – geometry

• ARISTARCHUS – heliocentric universe

Greek Art

Philosophy

• The Sophists: argued that there was no absolute truth – everything was relative.

• Useless to try to understand the world – just try to improve yourself and your polis through reason.

• Used RHETORIC to develop thought and debate.

• Sophists questioned all Greek values• Reaction against the Sophists as people such as

DEMAGOGUES feared Sophist thought would destroy society.

• Socrates: while not a true Sophist – Socrates influenced many Sophists the band of rulers who assumed power in Athens after the defeat by Sparta – OLIGARCHY.

• SOCRATIC METHOD – teach by questioning – forcing people to think deeply.

• Socrates believed in knowledge and truth• 399 B.C.E. – Socrates sentenced to death by

the Athenian authorities for corrupting youth with his philosophy and by denying the gods.

• Plato: a student of Socrates• Taught through “dialogues” – discussions and

conversations Socrates and others had.• Taught in his ACADEMY• He looked for a perfection beyond the senses.• His book THE REPUBLIC – rejected

individualism and believed people should be placed in society by natural skills.

• Aristotle – student of Plato

• Tried to bring philosophy from Plato to something more down to earth.

• Broadened his interests beyond pure philosophy into medicine, natural sciences, etc.

• Was the tutor of Alexander, prince of Macedonia – ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

• CYNICISM – founded by DIOGENES in the 300s B.C.E.

• Believed humans should live according to nature

• Rejected pleasure, wealth, social responsibilities, social customs, customs dealing with morality.

• “cynic” – Greek for “like dogs”

• SKEPTICISM – belief that sure knowledge was impossible – beliefs are only opinions

• “You will never know how things truly are”• Achieve peace of mind and let the rest go..• EPICUREANISM – Epicurus – avoid pain

and pursue pleasure• STOICISM – stoics – everyone must be

equal because everyone has a spark of the divine – control emotions and fears.

MACEDON/MACEDONIA

• The people of northern Greece were the Macedonians – thought by many of the southern Greek city-states to be semi-barbaric and not Greek.

• Macedonia was ruled in 359 B.C.E. by king PHILIP II.

• Philip conquered all of Greece – supported by many who thought a united Greece could defeat the constant threat of the Persians.

• Philip of Macedon

Alexander the Great

• Philip II of Macedonia was assassinated and succeeded by his twenty year old son ALEXANDER.

• Alexander conquered the Persian king DARIUS III and took the title “King of Kings”

• A brilliant general – Alexander conquered the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and western India all before he was 33 years old.

Hellenistic

• Alexander and his armies spread Greek culture throughout his empire.

• The blending of Greek culture and the cultures of the conquered peoples (CULTURAL DIFFUSION) is given the term HELLENISTIC.

• After Alexander’s death, his generals divided his empire.