the rise of greek civilization week 2:. introduction: greek legacies scientific research philosophy...

The Rise of Greek Civilization

Week 2:

Introduction: Greek Legacies

Scientific research

Philosophy

Fine arts (art, architecture, literature, drama, poetry)

Democracy

Value of the individual

Toleration of dissent/open criticism

Competitive spirit

Timeline

Greek Bronze Age: Minoans & Mycenaens(ca. 2900 - 1100 BCE)

Greek Dark Ages(ca. 1150 - 750 BCE)

Age of Colonization(ca. 750 – 500 BCE)

Persian Wars(490 – 478 BCE)

Early History of Greece

Bronze Age civilizations of

• Crete (Minoan)

• Greek mainland (Mycenean)

Timeline:Bronze Age Greece

Early Minoan / Early Helladic / Old Kingdom(ca. 2900 – 1900 BCE)

Middle Minoan / Middle Helladic / Middle Kingdom(ca. 1900 – 1600 BCE)

Late Minoan / Late Helladic (Mycenean) / New Kingdom(ca. 1600 – 1150 BCE)

Minoan Civilization

Named for Minos, legendary king of Crete (cf. the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, Daedalus & Icarus)

Flourished ca. 1900 – 1500 BCE

Linear A

Island location:

• Large fleet

• Isolated position

Peaceful,Prosperoussociety

Minoan Civilization

Peaceful, prosperous civilization

Cities/architecture

Status of women

Art (esp. pottery)

Minoan Civilization

What happened to the Minoans?

Mycenean Civilization

Flourished ca. 1600-1200 BCE

Linear B

City-states (Mycenae, Pylos, Athens, etc.)

More war-like

Wealthy*Trojan War*

Mycenaean Civilization

What happened to the Mycenaeans?

Weakened from war, raids, internal conflict?

Dorian tribes invade?

Greek Dark Ages!

Greek Dark Ages

Chaos, displacement (Dorians move in, conquer or kick out inhabitants)

Illiteracy returns (lack of written records)

Poverty (crude architecture)

World of the Dark AgesGovernment

• Kings have to consult council of nobles

Society

• Class division: nobles, thetes, landless laborers, slaves

• Importance of religion

Values

• Manliness, courage, excellence → personal honor

Birth of the Polis

Dark Age chaos mountainous terrain

acropolis

stability, securityfew naturalresources

near the sea

trade revival new type of agriculture

Birth of the Polis

trade revival new type of agriculture

Phoenicianalphabet

Egyptianarchitecture,

sculptureindependent farmers

settlements grow

poleis develop

riseofdemocracy

The Polis

Central focus of political, cultural, religious, social life → citizens intensely loyal to polis

Main qualities:

• Self-sufficient, politically independent unit

• Small scale

• Tightly-knit, personal

The Polis

On the positive side:

• People work hard for the state

On the negative side:

• Rivalries & wars between poleis

• Also, internal class conflicts

Language

Religion, customs

• Athletic contests honoring the gods

City-states form leagues

• Delphic Amphityony

• Peloponnesian League

Common Greek Identity

Timeline

Greek Bronze Age: Minoans & Mycenaens(ca. 2900 - 1100 BCE)

Greek Dark Ages(ca. 1150 - 750 BCE)

Age of Colonization(ca. 750 – 500 BCE)

Persian Wars(490 – 478 BCE)

Age of Colonization

New agriculture types > population growth

Land can’t support population > farmers go into debt

What to do with the surplus population?

Colonize!

Age of Colonization

Site for the colony (good soil, enough natural resources, defensible land, good spot for trade)

Independent, but close ties to the mother city (metropolis)

Settled all around Mediterranean

Age of Colonization

Colonies relieved population pressures

Less overcrowding > easier for farmers

Provided resources to mother cities

Supported craftsman (making goods for export)

Age of Colonization

Fostered sense of cultural identity (Panhellenic spirit)

• Comparing selves with people from other areas (barbarians)

Question!

The Greek colonization movement around 750 BCE occurred primarily because of:

a) Fear of the Dorian invasion

b) Overpopulation of Greek lands

c) Need to escape from internal disputes between city-states

d) Desire to trade and make money

Answer!

The Greek colonization movement around 750 BCE occurred primarily because of:

a) Fear of the Dorian invasion

b) Overpopulation of Greek lands

c) Need to escape from internal disputes between city-states

d) Desire to trade and make money

Hoplite Phalanx

A compact formation of heavily armored soldiers (“hoplites”) with spears & overlapping shields

Hoplites included farmers, craftsmen,merchants

Crucial for developmentof poleis &for colonization

Hoplite Phalanx

New Concept of Warfare

Battles become short, brutal, head-on clashes

Wars resolved quickly

Rise of Greek Democracy

Two main paths to democracy:

• In agricultural poleis, farmer-hoplites gain more political power gradually, peacefully

• In commercial poleis, disgruntled nobles (w/ frustrated middle class) seize power, set up tyranny; later, a revolution and tyrant replaced by more democratic government

Early Greek Democracy

High value placed on equality (at least among citizens)

Polis largely dominated by middle class (small landholders, merchants, craftsmen)

Scope and damage of war limited by hoplite style of warfare

Important Poleis

Sparta

Athens

Rise of Sparta

Instead of colonizing, conquered neighboring Messenians

• First Messenian War, ca. 725 BCE

• Second Messenian War, ca. 650 BCE

Turned Messenians into slave-farmers (Helots)

Rise of Sparta

Constantly on guard against Helot revolt

Became military state

This shaped many aspects of Spartan society…

Rise of Sparta

Infants

• Would be inspected for weakness, defects

• State judged whether should live or die

Rise of SpartaBoys

• Age 7 – go to live in barracks

• Age 12 – Spartan training truly begins

• Age 18 – two years in secret police

• Age 20 – enter army

• Age 30 – full citizen

• Age 50 – able to move home

Rise of Sparta

Girls

• Arduous training and exercise in order to bear strong, healthy children

• Supervise Helots and run farms

• More liberated, outspoken, free

Rise of Sparta

Government

• Two kings – lead army

• Five officials (ephors) + council of elders

• Assembly of all Spartan men – vote on issues

• Incredibly stable system, with checks & balances

• Led Peloponnesian League

Rise of Sparta

Produced incredible soldiers

• Physical prowess

• Discipline

• Intense training

• Loyal to the polis above all

Question!

The Spartans felt compelled to make the army the primary focus of their society because:

a) Of the threat of conquest by Corinth

b) Of the danger of a Persian invasion

c) They wanted to conquer the Peloponnesus

d) Of the threat of rebellion by their slaves

Answer!

The Spartans felt compelled to make the army the primary focus of their society because:

a) Of the threat of conquest by Corinth

b) Of the danger of a Persian invasion

c) They wanted to conquer the Peloponnesus

d) Of the threat of rebellion by their slaves

Athens

Rise of Athens

When Attica was united, conquered people made Athenian citizens (cf Spartan Helots)

Aristocratic rule, council of nobles

• Archons (magistrates), but limited power

632 BCE Cylon attempts a coup

621 BCE Draco commissioned to write laws

600 BCE Solon given powers to reform state

Solon’s Economic Reforms

Outlawed export of grain, encouraged olive & grape cultivation

• Profits used to import grain from Black Sea

Developed trade & manufacturing in Athens

• Especially pottery

Abolished debts & debt slavery

Solon’s Political Reforms

Wealth, not birth, now determined whether someone could hold public office

Council of 400 (includes middle classes)

Poorest citizens admitted into popular assembly and juries

Citizenship extended to immigrant tradesmen, merchants, artisans

The Tyrant Peisistratus

After several failed tries, seizes power in 546 BCE

Public works and urban improvement ~ provided lower classes with land & jobs on building projects

Economic prosperity ~ secured grain supply by gaining control of town in Black Sea region( → eventual clash with Persia)

The arts

• Had scholars compile the definitive Iliad

• Greek tragic drama evolved

Fall of Tyranny in Athens

Peistratus’s son Hippias ruled oppressively

Hippias driven out by Spartan soldiers

Spartans driven out by Cleisthenes

Cleisthenes’s ReformsEstablished 10 tribes to break up old factions

• Only loyalty to Athens remained

Council of 400 becomes council of 500

Gives popular assembly (of all Athenian citizens) more power

• Main law-making body

• Financial & foreign affairs duties

• Open debates

Timeline

Greek Bronze Age: Minoans & Mycenaens(ca. 2900 - 1100 BCE)

Greek Dark Ages(ca. 1150 - 750 BCE)

Age of Colonization(ca. 750 – 500 BCE)

Persian Wars(490 – 478 BCE)