The Geography of Greece

Bronze Age Greece

Minoan World: 2000-1400 B.C.E.

Crete: Minoan Civilization

(Palace at Knossos)

Aerial View of Knossos

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Minoan Civilization

Palace of King Minos – North Entrance

Palace of King Minos -

Interiors

Palace of King Minos – Throne Room

Minoan Ladies

Women had rights…

Minoan Culture - Religion

Minoan PriestMinoan PriestMinoan Minoan

Snake Mother Snake Mother GoddessGoddessReligion was based on worshiping the Mother Goddess…

Bull Cult

…and based on worshiping the Bull.

Bull Jumping Fresco

Minoan

Trade

““Bireme” Bireme” shipship

Coast of Coast of CreteCrete

Minoan success was based on trade, not conquest.

Minoan Artistic “Motifs”

Dolphins represent good fortune and show the importance of the sea.

Early Writing System:

“Linear A” (Undecipherable)

CannoCannon?n?

What caused

the End of the

Minoan Civilization

??

The Mycenaean World:

1500-1100 BCE

View of MycenaeArchaeological Archaeological

“site”“site”

Aerial View of Mycenae

Mycenae

Approach to the Lion’s Gate

Lion’s Gate Entrance to

Mycenae

Mycenaean Writing System:

“Linear B”

The Mycenaean Civilization

The Trojan War

What were the

real & mythicalcauses of

theTrojan War??

HistoricallyHistorically•It is said that Troy It is said that Troy

controlled trade from controlled trade from the Black Sea to the the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Mediterranean.

•This area was known as This area was known as the “Vital Straits”the “Vital Straits”

Helen of Troy: “The Face That Launched 1000

Ships”WhatWhatdid did she she look look like?like?

Greek Ships Landing on Greek Ships Landing on Beaches of TroyBeaches of Troy

Plan of the City of Troy

The Nine “Layers” of Ancient

TroyHomer’s Homer’s TroyTroy(VII)(VII)

Original Wall of the City of Troy

Wall of Troy Recreated

Dome of King Priam’s

Treasury

King Priam’s Treasure

Mask of Agamemnon

Brutal

Combat

Brutal Combat

Troy Grave Circles

The “Trojan Horse”?

Sir Heinrich Schliemann

Homer: The “Heroic Age”

Homer, the Blind Poet

Homer’s Great Epics

Homer’s View of the World

Migrations in the Aegean Region Invasion of the

Dorians(DORIANS}(DORIANS}

Greek Culture

Declined

Greek Culture Declined•Greeks lived in Small Greeks lived in Small

Isolated Villages.Isolated Villages.•Reading and Writing Reading and Writing

Declined.Declined.•Stories were passed on Stories were passed on

by word of mouth.by word of mouth.

Early GovernmentsEarly Governments

• MonarchyMonarchy-government in which a king -government in which a king or queen exercises central power.or queen exercises central power.

• AristocracyAristocracy-rule by a landholding -rule by a landholding elite.elite.

• OligarchyOligarchy-power is in the hands of a -power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually a small, powerful elite, usually a business class. business class.

SPARTA: A Nation of Soldiers

SPARTA

SPARTA

Helots – Mycenaean's enslaved by the Spartans.

Spartans- Dorians that conquered Laconia.

SpartaSparta• Sparta was a Military State. From a Sparta was a Military State. From a

young age children (boys) were young age children (boys) were trained in military tactics.trained in military tactics.

• Women would exercise and keep Women would exercise and keep their bodies in good physical health.their bodies in good physical health.

• Only men could vote.Only men could vote.

• Sparta's government had two kings Sparta's government had two kings and a council of elders.and a council of elders.

Sparta’s MilitarySparta’s Military

Phalanx- massive formation of heavily armed foot soldiers.

ATHENS: A limited Democracy

View of the PastView of the Past

Early Athenian Lawgivers$ Corruption in Athens

aristocracy had too much power, people called for reform.

$ Solon- first to reform the government, made a move for democracy. (594 BCE)

$ Pisistratus-further helped the common citizens by offering loans to the poor. (546BCE)

$ Cleisthenes- Established the Council of 500 and created the first (limited) democracy.

Why was it only a limited Democracy?

$ Only male citizens could

vote.$ Only male citizens could

participate in the government.

$ Slavery was still legal.$ Women had no share in life$ Only boys could go to

school, if they could afford it.

Piraeus: Athens’ Port City

Persian Wars: 490 BCE – 479 BCE

Persian Wars: Famous Battles$ Marathon (490 BCE)

§ 26.2 miles from Athens§ 25,000 Persians, under Persian

Leader DariusԤ Greeks were out numbered 3 to

1§ Greeks Won

Persian Wars: Famous Battles$Thermopylae (480 BCE)

§ 300 Spartans at the Mountain pass§ 25,000+ Persians led by Xerxes§ Spartans hold them off till Sparta

was betrayed.§ Sparta Lost§ Persia Marched and burned Athens

http://chud.com/nextraimages/300new11.jpg

Persian Wars: Famous Battles$Salamis (480 BCE)

§ Athenian navy lured the Persian navy into the narrow Strait of Salamis.

§ Athenian Navy rowed their boats into the Persian Ships and sank them.

§ Athens is victorious.

After the Persian WarsAfter the Persian Wars$Greeks felt Strong and realized

their place in the world. $Athens emerged as the most

powerful City-State.$Delian League was Established –

United Greek Allies.

Golden “Age of Pericles”: 460 BCE –

429 BCE

Direct Democracy was established

Golden “Age of Pericles”$Government Thrived

$Economy Thrived $Athenian assembly established:

6000 members had to be present$You were paid for government

Service.$Judge and Jury$Ostracism – Vote to send away a

government official who threatened democracy.

ThucydidesThucydides•Historian who lived in the Historian who lived in the

Age of Pericles.Age of Pericles.•Recorded events for Recorded events for

Athens.Athens.

Peloponnesian Wars

Peloponnesian Wars 431 - 404 BCE (27

years)$ Greek vs. GreekGreek vs. Greek$ Sparta vs. AthensSparta vs. Athens$ Sparta got help from PersiaSparta got help from Persia

$ After the War Athens was no After the War Athens was no longer a military power. It was longer a military power. It was however, the center for Greek however, the center for Greek Culture. Culture.

Great Athenian Philosophers$ Socrates (469 – 399

BCE)§ Know thyself!§ question everything§ Socratic Method of Teaching§ Only the pursuit of

goodnessbrings happiness.

§ At Age 70 he was put on trial for “corrupting the youth.”

§ He was sentenced to exile but choose suicide.

Great Athenian Philosophers$Plato (Socrates'

Student)e The Academy (School)e The Importance of Reasone The Republic (book) His vision

of an ideal state.e Did not trust democracy

Great Athenian Philosophers$ Aristotle (Plato's’

Student)§ The Lyceum (School)

Study: Politics, Ethics, Logic, Biology, Literature, Math Etc.

§ “Golden Mean” [everything inmoderation].

§ Logic.§ Scientific method.

Athens: The Arts & Sciences$ DRAMA (tragedians):

§ Aeschylus§ Sophocles (Father of Tragedy)§ Euripides

$ COMEDY:§ Aristophanes (Father of

Comedy)Wrote: Lysistrata

Athens: The Arts & Sciences

$ THE SCIENCES:۩ Pythagoras

Pythagorean Theorem

۩ Democritus all matter made up of small atoms.

۩ Hippocrates – “Father of Medicine”

Acropolis

The Acropolis Today

The Parthenon

The Agora

Was the term for a Marketplace

The Classical Greek “Ideal”

Greeks saw the human body as beautiful, they sculpted the body with realism and natural poses but had an idealistic approach.

Olympia

The Ancient Olympics:

Athletes & Trainers

Olympia: Temple to Hera

The 2004 Olympics

Macedonia Under Philip II

Macedonia Under Philip II

$ Philip conquered and united all of Philip conquered and united all of Greece under the Macedonia Empire Greece under the Macedonia Empire in 338 in 338 BCE.BCE.

$ Philip was assassinated, Alexander Philip was assassinated, Alexander was placed on the Throne.was placed on the Throne.

$ In 334 In 334 BCEBCE Alexander conquered the Alexander conquered the weak and often rebellious Persian weak and often rebellious Persian Empire. (Darius III was Emperor)Empire. (Darius III was Emperor)

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great’s Empire

Macedonia Under Alexander

$ In 331 In 331 BCEBCE he took Babylon. he took Babylon.

$ He conquered Egypt, Persia, India.He conquered Egypt, Persia, India.

$ Alexander faced armies that had Alexander faced armies that had Elephants and Superior numbers.Elephants and Superior numbers.

$ Alexander died of a sudden fever. His Alexander died of a sudden fever. His Empire was divided up and fought over.Empire was divided up and fought over.

The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire

Alexander the Great in Persia

Hellenistic Culture – assimilation of Greek, Indian, Egyptian and Persian Cultures.

The Hellenization of Asia

Most lasting achievement was the spread of

Greek Culture.

The Lighthouse of The Lighthouse of AlexandriaAlexandria

Alexandria Egypt was the center of Hellenistic Culture

The Economy of the Hellenistic World

Hellenistic Philosophers$ Stoicism - Zeno

§ nature is the expansion of divine will; just go with the flow

§ Avoid Desire.§ get involved in politics to

perform virtuous acts for the good of all.

§ true happiness is found ingreat achievements.

Hellenism: The Arts & Sciences$ Scientists /

Mathematicians:§ Aristarchus - heliocentric theory.

Idea that sun is center of the solar-system.

§ Euclid wrote the Element – Modern Geometry

§ Archimedes – Physics Mastered the idea of a lever and a pulley.

$ Hellenistic Art:– More realistic; less ideal than

Greek art.

– Showed individual emotions, wrinkles, and age !