section 1: early people of the aegean
TRANSCRIPT
Crete is considered the cradle of early civilization
(however, Crete got much of its culture from Egypt
and Mesopotamia
SECTION 1: EARLY
PEOPLE OF THE AEGEAN
Minoans Trade and Prosper
between 1600-1400 BCE as they traded with Egypt and Mesopotamia
Through trade, with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas about technology
in areas like writing and architecture, which they then used themselves
Minoan Art at Knossos (palace) included religious shrines and frescoes on walls
(reflecting values)
The art reflects the importance of the sea; it also tells us that Minoan women might
have enjoyed more rights than women in other civilizations
By 1400 B.C., the Minoan Civilization had vanished. Archeologists
are not sure why, but it may have been due to a natural disaster.
However, invaders certainly played a role.
Trade and War in Mycenae
started with the domination of the mainland before overrunning Crete (1400 – 1200 BCE)
Sea Trade Brings Wealth to the Mycenaens by trading with Sicily, Italy, Egypt, Mesopotamia; Took a lot of skills from the Minoans, including writing
Lived in separate city -states; in each, a warrior king built fortresses from which he ruled the surrounding villages
The Trojan War (1250 BCE) was between Troy (located in present day Turkey) and Mycenae over economic rivalry (straits connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea), but Greek legend tells of a Trojan Prince Paris who kidnaps Helen (Mycenaean queen); Troy was destroyed and burnt to the ground
Trojan War once thought to be a legend, but evidence was found proving that it truly did occur.
Homer and the Legends of Greece
Not long after defeating Troy, the Mycenaeans came under
attack from another group of Greek -speaking peoples: the
Dorians, who invaded from the North.
As Mycenaean power faded, their people abandoned their
cities and trade declined.
Sadly, people forgot many skills, including writing – it is like
the civilization moved back a step for a couple hundred years
Much of what we know of the Trojan War comes from two
great epic poems, the Iliad (about Trojan War) and The
Odyssey (Odysseus's journey home after war), both credited to
Homer.
Main Idea #1: Crete is considered the cradle of early western civilization
Main Idea #2: Minoans were the first to develop
Main Idea #3: Mycenae developed next (known for the Trojan War)
Main Idea #4: Homer wrote the Iliad and Odysseyrepresenting Greek morals and values
CHAPTER 4: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 1: EARLY PEOPLE OF THE AEGEAN
City -states were unique to the Greeks (polis), but
the Greeks used many aspects of the Egyptians
and the civilizations of Mesopotamia.
SECTION 2: THE RISE OF
GREEK CITY-STATES
Geography Shapes Greece and helped to make Greece unique compared to
earlier civil izations (r iver valleys)
The Greeks who farmed the valleys or settled on the scattered islands did
not create large empires like the Egyptians or Persians.
Instead, they created city -states cut off from one another by mountains or
water.
Life by the Sea was centered around trade (traded olive oil, marble, wine)
came back with grains, metals, and ideas (such as the Phoenician alphabet,
which was adapted into the Greek alphabet)
Governing the City -State was unique with the development of the polis-a
city and its surrounding countryside
Each city -state was built on 2 levels (1) Acropolis on top of hil l dedicated
to Greek gods and goddesses and (2) on flatter land below a walled main
city; Populations were fairly small, which gave residences responsibility
Types of Government Evolves: monarchy (one king, hereditary) , to an
aristocracy (hereditary landholding elite), to an oligarchy (small wealthy
elite), to a democracy
Sparta: A Warrior Society began as Dorians invaded, settled,
enslaved the conquered the Southern part of Peloponnesus
had 2 kings and a council of elders and an assembly of citizens
(male born Spartans) and 5 ephors (officials who ran day to day
affairs)
Daily life ruled by discipline started at birth: boys began
military training at 7, at age 20 a man could marry, at age
30 he took his place in the assembly (always being taught
strict and harsh discipline)
Women of Sparta were expected to produce strong baby
boys (warriors), had to obey their fathers or husbands, and
had rights (property, ran the household)
Athens evolves into a Democracy as they chose the officials, citizens judged
court cases, and citizens created an assembly
A Limited Democracy as only citizens could participate in
government. Citizenship was restricted to landowning men, and
slaves have no rights
Women in Athens played the most significant role in religious
ceremonies, managed the household, and were rarely seen outside
the home
Educating the youth (boys only) occurred in reading, writing, music,
poetry, public speaking, military training, and athletics was done for
only those who could afford it
Forces for Unity: language, honored the same ancient heroes, common festivals and prayed to the same gods
Mythology and Religion centered around polytheism as gods lived on Mount Olympus in northern Greece (Zeus, Ares the god of war, Aphrodite the goddess of love, Athena the goddess of wisdom)
Greeks consulted oracles who were priests (they could speak to the gods)
Honored the gods through processions, sacrifices, plays, singing, athletic competitions
Viewed foreigners as barbarians– Greeks felt unique and superior in comparison
FLASH DRAFT!!!!!
DEBATE!!!!!
Which was more successful…Athens or
Sparta?
Main Idea #1: Greek city-states developed using different
types of governments
Main Idea #2: Sparta was militaristic , and stressed
Sparta over the individual
Main Idea #3: Athens practiced democracy , and stressed
individual rights
Main Idea #4: Forces for Unity : language, same heroes,
common festivals and the same gods
CHAPTER 4: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 2: THE RISE OF GREEK CITY-STATES
Greek city -states were often at odds with each
other, but threats from Persians helped to pull
all the Greek city -states together for protection
SECTION 3: CONFLICT IN
THE GREEK WORLD
The Persian Wars
started as the Persians took over Ionia (Greek city -state), and the
Ionian Greeks eventually rebelled
Athens sent ships to help them, which would trigger later conflict
Darius I was furious at the role Athens played in helping Ionians,
so they planned to punish Athens by landing their army at
Marathon, a plain north of Athens.
Athenians Win at Marathon even though Greeks were greatly
outnumbered
Greek City -States Unite as Xerxes (son of Darius I) attacked and a
small Spartan force guarded the pass at Thermopylae (led by
Leonidas), but the Spartans eventually fell
The Greeks used a fleet to sink the Persian ships, and the Greeks
eventually defeated the Persians (marked the end of Persian
invasions)
The Delian League
Victory in the Persian Wars brought the Greek
city-states together, and they formed an
alliance to cooperate and come to one
another’s defense.
Modern Scholars call this the Delian League,
as it met in Delos
From the start, Athens dominated
The Age of Pericles (statesmen) and Direct Democracy
the golden age for Athens (460 BCE – 429 BCE)
Athenian Democracy became direct, and had citizens perform day -
to-day operations of government
Council of 500, met several times a year, paid government
officials, and used a jury
Athenian citizens could also ostracize (banish) public figures who
they deemed unfit
The Peloponnesian War (27 yrs): Delian League against the
Peloponnesian League (Sparta and other Greeks)
Sparta and other city -states resented Athens, and formed the
Peloponnesian League
Sparta defeats Athens, as Athens could not use its navy
Sparta allies with Persia, and a plague killed many Athenians
Main Idea #1: Persian Wars were between the Persians
and multiple Greek City -States (Greeks eventually win)
Main Idea #2: Age of Pericles was the golden age for
Athens
Main Idea #3: Peloponnesian War (27 years) was between
the…
Delian League & Athens
-versus-
Peloponnesian League & Sparta (WINNER)
CHAPTER 4: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 3: CONFLICT IN THE GREEK WORLD
SECTION 4: THE GLORY
THAT WAS GREECE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WAR, GREEK
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ARTS
REPRESENTED THE HEIGHT OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT IN THE WESTERN WORLD
Philosophers: Lovers of Wisdom
worked to understand why things happened using math & logic
Debating Morality and Ethics by sophists challenged accepted
ideas using rhetoric (speaking)
Socrates (sophist) questioned tradition as he developed
“Socratic method” (series of questions to seek truth)
at age 70 he was accused of corrupting the city’s youth and
disrespecting gods, found guilty and put to death
Plato, famous student of Socrates, Envisions a Perfect Society,
rejected democracy, wrote The Republic (state should run all
aspects of the citizens’ lives) and created 3 classes: (workers,
soldiers, philosophers)
Aristotle, famous student of Plato, pursues the Golden Mean
(“moderate course”)
Ancient Greek
PhilosophersKnown for in History If he had a job today, what
would it be?
make up a quote that he might
say….
OR Film title about his life
Would Society today
embrace / support his
ideas?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates Plato Aristotle
“student”
“grad assistant”
“college professor”
Which title belongs to
which Greek philosopher?
Idealism in Architecture and Ar t
reflected a concern with balance, order, and beauty
Monumental Architecture focused on harmony and order(Parthenon –
rectangle and columns)
Statues looked more realistic, but very idealistic (bodies looked perfect)
Greek Literature centered around comedy, drama, and history
Greek literature began with the epic poems of Homer
The most significant addition was in the area of drama, comedy, and history
focusing on religious festivals, Greek tragedies, Greek customs, and the
retelling of Greek wars
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides all wrote Greek tragedies
The goal of Greek tragedies was to stir up emotions of fear and pity
The
Parthenon
inspires
buildings in
the USA
centuries
later
Main Idea #1: Greek Philosophers searched for why things happened using math and logic
Main Idea #2: Well known Greek Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Main Idea #3: Architecture & Art focused on balance and order
Main Idea #4: Greek Literature (aka: epic poems) focused on drama, comedy, and history
CHAPTER 4: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 4: THE GLORY THAT WAS GREECE
SECTION 5:
ALEXANDER AND THE
HELLENISTIC AGE ATHENS FELL TO MACEDONIA, BUT
GREEK CULTURE SPREAD TO INDIA
UNDER ALEXANDER THE GREAT
The Empire of Alexander the Great began with his father Phil l ip I I
Philip II Conquers Greece in 359 BCE through an alliance with Greek city -
states, he was assassinated, Olympia outmaneuvered his other wives to put
her son on the throne
Alexander Takes Persia, Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt
Alexander’s early death due to a fever left the empire to three generals
(divided up the empire into 3 regions: 1. Macedonia & Greece, 2. Egypt, 3.
Persia)
The Legacy of Alexander was the spread of Greek culture
Cultures combine through assimilation from Egypt to India as Greek culture
was instilled- lead to Hellenistic world (Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian
influences)
Alexandria (Egypt): The Cultural Capital was located on the sea lanes
between Asia and Europe, which increased trade (marble, spices, and ivory)
Pharos was an enormous lighthouse soaring 440 feet into the air, and
Alexandria had a zoo, museum, laboratories, and lecture halls
ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE AND ROUTE
Hellenistic Arts and Sciences created temples, palaces,
and public buildings (bigger than Greeks)
New Philosophies: Stoicism (Zeno was the founder) –
avoid desires and disappointments by accepting
calmly whatever life brought, and preached high moral
standards and morally equal
Advances in Math and Astronomy: Pythagoras (right
triangle), Euclid (geometry), Aristarchus (heliocentric),
Archimedes (physics)
Improving Medical Practice as Hippocrates studied the
causes of illnesses
Main Idea #1: Empire of Alexander the Great included the
Middle East, Asia Minor, Southeast Europe, and into India
Main Idea #2: Legacy of Alexander the Great was his
policy of assimilation (spreading Greek culture)
Main Idea #3: Hellenistic Period is the spread of Greek
culture BC 323 – 30 BC (following Alexander the Great’s
death)
CHAPTER 4: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 5: ALEXANDER AND THE HELLENISTIC
AGE