chapter 4: ancient greece (1900-133 bce) the first greek civilizations
TRANSCRIPT
GeographyHad a huge
impact on the development of Greek society
Greece occupies an area about the size of Louisiana
GeographyMountains
isolated Greeks from each other causing communities to develop in their own way
These communities became fiercely independent
The rivalry between the communities led to warfare that devastated Greek society
GeographyThe sea also influenced the
evolution of Greek societyThey sailed out into the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea making contact w/ the outside world
Later they established colonies that spread Greek civilization throughout the Mediterranean world
Downfall:sudden collapse around 1450 BCE
Great tidal wave caused by volcanic eruption
OR
Most believe the destruction was the result of invasion by mainland Greeks known as the Mycenaeans
Mycenaean Culture & Society
MonarchyCentralized GovernmentIt is likely that the various
monarchies developed a loose alliance of independent states
Mycenaean Culture & Society
Great warriorsWall murals often show war and
hunting scenes, the natural occupations of a warriors aristocracy
Mycenaean Culture & Society
The most famous of all their supposed mil adventures come to us from the poetry of Homer◦Iliad ◦Odyssey
Onsetfood decline
Dark Age because few records of what happen exist.
Not until 850 BCE did farming revive
At the same time, the basis for a new Greece was forming.
Developments of the Dark Age
Adopted the Phoenician alphabet
New form of writing The Greeks made learning to
read and write simpler
Near the very end of this age appeared the work of Homer.
The IliadThe background
is the Trojan War◦ This is the war
between Troy and Sparta
◦ Trojan horse ◦ Trojans lose
The Iliad itself is not so much the story of the war but the tale of Achilles and how his anger and pride led to disaster
The OdysseyThis work recounts the journey of
Odysseus after the fall of Troy and his ultimate return to his wife
Again, this work shows how pride and anger can have negative outcomes but encourages perseverance.
ImpactThe Greeks looked at the Iliad
and the Odyssey as true historyThese masterpieces gave the
Greeks an ideal past with a cast of heros
The PolisBy 750 BCE, the city-state or “polis” became
the focus of Greek lifeOur word politics is derived from “polis”The polis consisted town along with its
surrounding countrysideThe town served as the center of the polis
where people could meet for political, social, and religious activities
The PolisAbove all, a polis
was a community of people who shared a common ID and goals
Adult Males
Women and Children
Slaves/Aliens
Citizens:
Pol.
Rights
Non-Citizens
CITIZENS:NO POL. RIGHTS
The Polis: LayoutThe gathering place in the polis was usually a
hill and at the top of this hill was a fortified area known as the acropolisThe acropolis served as a place of refuge
during an attack and sometimes came to be the religious center on which temples were built.
ExpansionBtw 750 -550 BCE large #s of Greeks left
their homeland Brought on by the need for good farmland and
the growth of trade
ExpansionColonization also led to increased trade and
industryThis expansion created a new group of
wealthy individuals in many of the Greek city-statesThese men desired political power
DefinitionThe creation of the new group of rich men
fostered the rise of Tyrants in the 7th and 6th c. BCE
Greek tyrants were rulers who seized power by force from the aristocrats
New GovernmentThe rule of the tyrants had ended the rule of
the aristocrats in many city-states The end of tyranny then allowed many new
people to participate in governmentDemocracyOligarchy
Spartan ExpansionSparta was faced w/ the need for
more land
Instead of colonizing like other Greeks, Spartans conquered neighboring territory
Military StateThe lives of Spartans were rigidly
organized and tightly controlled
Men enrolled in the army for regular service at age 20 and lived in barracks until age 30
At 30 men were allowed to vote and live at home but they stayed in the army until age 60
GovernmentOligarchy- rule by few
A group of 5 men known as ephors were elected to teach the youth
A council of elders composed of the 2 kings and 28 citizens over 60 yrs old decided the issues that would be present to an assembly made up of male citizens
GovernmentSpartans became isolated to rest of Greece
They were discouraged from traveling for any reason other than military conquest
They were not allowed to study philosophy, literature, or the arts b/c these subjects might encourage new thoughts
AthensSociety•Males had political rights
•Women & Children had no political rights
•Slaves were non-citizens
Basic Geography of PersiaSurrounded by
mountains and desert Harsh lands had to
find ways to exploit limited water resources
Unlike the ancient river valley civilizations, Persia never had a dense population
First Encounter Darius and Persians landed in Marathon26 miles from Athens
Athenians defeated a huge Persian army
Messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to give out the news
Greece and PersiaXerxes took over Persia after the death of
Darius
Wanted revenge after Marathon
Planned invasion
Athens prepared with building naval force
Greece and PersiaSecond invasionPersians180,000 troopsHuge naval braggade
Greeks 7,ooo troops 300 Spartans
Greece and PersiaWith outmaneuvering, the Greeks out
smarted the Persians with a massive defeat
Last defeat was at Plataea
Delian LeagueMain purpose was a defense against the
Persians
Headquartered in Delos
Athenians controlled the League
Pericles became the powerful leader of Athens
Age of PericlesDemocracyConsidered a Direct Democracy
All male adults could vote
Meeting held every 10 days outside Acropolis
Lower- class males could hold office
The Great Peloponnesian WarAfter war with Persians, Greece became separated:AthensSparta
Two distinct separate societies
Sparta defeated the Athenians
This war divided Greece and they also lost focus on outside invaders
Athens EconomyBased mainly on farming and tradeWines, oils, grapes, grains, and vegetablesRaised sheep and goats
Because of the population of Athens and lack of farmland
Build sea portImport a large portion of the Athenian diet
ReligionAffected every aspect of Greek life
Temples dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses were major buildings in Greece
12 chief gods and goddesses thought to live on Mount Olympus
ReligionMain GodsZeus- father of the godsAthena- goddess of wisdomApollo- god of sun and poetryAres- god of war
After death, Greeks went to an underworld Hades- god of the underworld
Greek DramaOutdoor theaters
The first Greek plays were Tragedies. Dealt with universal themes
The plays are based on Good and Evil
Greek PhilosophyPhilosophy- organized system of thought
Early philosophers tried to explain the universe
Sophist- ignore the rhetoric. There is no absolute right or wrong.
Major philosophers:SocratesPlatoAristotle
The Threat of MacedoniaBecause of the long last Peloponnesian War, Greece had become tired and vulnerable.
Macedonian to the north had become ready to strike
Phillip II, developed a strong army and defeated all of Greece.
Alexander the GreatPhillip II, had a son named Alexander.
Alexander learned all from his father
Alexander took the throne at the age of 20
He became ready to conquer the world
Alexander the GreatConquestFirst the Persians•Macedonians and Greeks attacked the PersiansEgypt •Capital of AlexandriaNext was India
Alexander the GreatLegacyMilitary skills
Cultural legacy
Greek Culture spread throughout these areas of conquest
Hellenistic KingdomThis era is based on Greek word “to imitate Greeks”
Time of expansion for:•Greek Language•Greek Ideas•New Cities and Military Settlements
Hellenistic CultureArchitecture & Sculpture•Greek Architecture- baths, theaters, and temples•Lots of statues of past legends•Movement from idealism to emotional and realistic art
Hellenistic CultureScienceAdvances in the sciences•Sun is center of universe while earth revolves around the sun•Earth was round (estimated 24,675 mile) this number is within 185 mile of actual number•Geometry establishing Pi•Establish theories of gravity based on irrigation