week 2-3: ancient greece
DESCRIPTION
Week 2-3: Ancient Greece. POL-110HA Revolution Now! Democracy in Troubled Times. History Tips. Things to Keep In Mind About Studying History. Bias and Point of View everyone has a bias when they tell a story or relate events - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
WEEK 2-3: ANCIENT GREECE
POL-110HA Revolution Now!
Democracy in Troubled Times
HISTORY TIPS
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT STUDYING HISTORY Bias and Point of View
everyone has a bias when they tell a story or relate events
based on things like background, family, experiences, economics, class, education, culture, religion, etc.
Missing/Incomplete RecordsExact information about ancient events is
often scarceMany records were kept on materials that degraded over time
ANCIENT GREECE OVERVIEW
MAP OF CLASSICAL GREECE(C.450 BCE)
GREEK GEOGRAPHY many plains and river valleys surrounded by
very tall Mountains led to individual Greek communities developing in
isolation the copious amount of coastline
Greeks became known as skilled seafarers
THE GREEK CITY-STATE Developed fully by the
8th Century BCE Essentially self-
contained mini-countries
Citizens identified as belonging both to their city-state and to Greece
Rivalries and occasional cooperation
primarily important during the Archaic and Classical Periods of Ancient Greek history
THE TWO MEANINGS OF THE POLIS (PLURAL POLEIS) City, town, or village
would have a central meeting point for the people If a hill, this was called
the acropolis Evacuation site and
religious center agora was located
below place for people to
assemble and marketplace Community of
citizens
3 GROUPS IN THE POLIS citizens with political rights
adult males political rights and responsibilities
citizens without political rights women and children of male citizens
non-citizens slaves and resident aliens
WHAT MAKES UP ANCIENT GREECE?
ANCIENT GREECE PERIODS
Minoan c.2000-1400 BCE or BC
Mycenaean c.1600-1100 BCE
Dark Ages c.1100-750 BCE
Archaic c.750-480 BCE
Classical c.480-338 BCE
Hellenistic c.338-146 BCE
Roman c.146-330 CE or AD
ANCIENT GREECE PERIOD:MINOAN (C.2000-1400 BCE)
based on the Island of Crete
not ethnically, religiously or linguistically Greek
accepted as having an influence on Greek development
destruction is a matter of some debate possibly tsunami probably conquered by
the Mycenaean force from mainland Greece
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:MYCENAEAN (C.1600-1100 BCE)
known for its large fortified cities called palace-centers
complex social structure early form of written
Greek source/setting of Homer’s
account of the Trojan War in the Iliad and the Odyssey
overthrown by Greek speaking invaders from territory to the north massive loss of culture and
structure would follow
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:DARK AGES (C.1100-750 BCE)
Massive reduction in farming
Cultural decline Economic decline Population shrinks Mass emigration to
Northern Greece, islands, and Asia Minor (modern Turkey)
Homer’s literary works emerge at the end of the period
Beginnings of the city-states, or polis
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:ARCHAIC (C.750-480 BCE)
Resurgence of culture Perfection of the polis, or city-state New military system
Hoplites Phalanx Men responsible for buying own armor
This stabilized class struggle between the aristocrats and the peasants Men who were able to fight for their own city-state began to desire a
voice possible beginnings of a form of democracy
in Sparta in c. 600 BCE (at the latest) and in Athens by c.508-507 BCE
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:ARCHAIC (C.750-480 BCE)-COLONIES
Reasons for colonies To create centers of trade To create centers to collect goods To escape the issues on the
mainland Colonial format
Set up as a polis Usually independent of the
mother polis (metropolis) Why was colonization
important? Spread Greek culture Made Greece solidify its identity Increased trade Created a wealthy merchant class
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:ARCHAIC (C.750-480 BCE)-TYRANTS
Position of king was eliminated in most city-states by the end of the 8th Century BCE Kings were replaced by aristocrats
The tyrant replaced many aristocrats Tyrants often took control of a
city-state a coup d’état they did not have to obey any laws backed by enemies of the aristocrats kept power by paying for mercenaries kept their backers happy
building projects that brought jobs encouraged business patrons of the arts and culture
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)
High point of: art, drama,
architecture, education, and philosophy
Democracy continues to develop
Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and
Sparta Period ended 338 BCE
invasion of Philip II of Macedon He ended the city-states’
power
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-PLAYWRIGHTS Tragedy
Aeschylus 7 of 70-90 plays survive Themes of justice, vengeance, and
obedience Gods were very important in his works
Sophocles Themes of trying to escape fate and the
tragic hero More about characters than the myths People bring themselves down—not the
godsEuripides
18-19 of 92-95 plays survive dealt with individuals and the internal
conflict with good and evil
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-PHILOSOPHERS Socrates
None of his writings remain Executed with hemlock
For corrupting the youth and disrespecting the gods
Known for ethics and logic Critic of democracy Founder of Western philosophy Socratic Method
Plato Student of Socrates Teacher of Aristotle Founder of the Academy in Athens Best known for his Dialogues
Discusses mathematics, ethics, logic, philosophy, rhetoric, and religion
One of the founders of Western philosophy
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-PHILOSOPHERS Aristotle
Student of Plato Teacher of Alexander the Great contributed to the disciplines of physics, poetry, metaphysics,
theatre, music, logic, ethics, rhetoric, biology, zoology, linguistics, and politics
Many of his writings have been lost Those that remain are called the Corpus Aristotelicum
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-PHYSICIAN
HippocratesFather of
Western medicine
Hippocratic Oath One of the oldest
“binding documents” in history
First appeared about 100 years after Hippocrates’ death
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-STATESMAN Pericles
Most influential statesmen and general in Athens between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
Basically turned Athens into an empire Champion of Athenian democracy
Understood the importance of culture and the arts
Civic improvements Including new buildings on the
Acropolis Known for giving Pericles’
Funeral Oration As recorded by Thucydides
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-HISTORIANS Herodotus
Widely considered to be the “Father of History” First to attempt a systematic
collection of reasonably verifiable historical facts
Some concern that some of his information might be fiction
Thucydides Widely called the “Father of
Scientific History” More concerned about
systematically verifying evidence and analysis without reference to the gods
History of the Peloponnesian War
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:CLASSICAL (C.480-338 BCE)-DELIAN LEAGUE Confederacy of Greek city-states
Led by Athens Founded in 478 BCE
Marketed as mutual defense against Persians Actually a vehicle for Athens to grow their empire
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:HELLENISTIC (C.338-146 BCE)
Greek empire reaches its largest size
Alexander the Great King of Macedon Son of Philip II Student of Aristotle Considered be one of the greatest
military commanders in history Conquered the Persian Empire
Spread Greek culture farther East than it had yet gone Particularly Egypt
Largely ended democratic rule in Greece (particularly Athens)
ANCIENT GREEK PERIOD:ROMAN (C.146 BCE-330 CE)
Greece after it was conquered by Rome
Ends when the Emperor Constantine made Constantinople the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire
ATHENS
ATHENS BEFORE DEMOCRACY
Started as a monarchy Monarchy changed to rule by
the aristocracy Councils
Areopagus had the most power Lesser council was made up of 9
Archons Each had a term lasting 1 year
Ecclesia Citizens’ assembly with little power Only “full citizens” could
participate Economic troubles
So severe that farmers sold themselves into slavery to pay their debts
SOLON Chosen by the ruling aristocracy to be the
sole Archon Economic changes
Forgave all current land debt Outlawed using people as collateral for loans Freed people who had been forced into slavery
by debt Created a slave class
Political changes Created the Council of 400 Made wealth—instead of birth—a condition
for political office Allowed for upward mobility
4 classes of wealth with the 1st 2 eligible to be Archon
Heliaea Men of all classes could vote and sit in new
popular court
TYRANNY COMES TO ATHENS
Fall of Aristocratic Power After Solon, various aristocrats
competed for power Pisistratus
Declared himself tyrant in 560 BCE Did not make many obvious
changes Instituted programs designed to
make him popular with specific groups of voters
Hippias Son of Pisistratus More extreme policies than his
father Resulted in his exile
CLEISTHENES THE REFORMER
In power 508-501 BCE Stopped aristocratic takeover and unrest Wanted to reform the system Shifted power to the demes
Villages and townships Placed the demes into 10 tribes cross-secting
regions and social classes 50 men from each sat on the Council of 500
Assembly was made up of all male citizens (maybe 30,000) Final authority on all laws after open debate
Laid the foundations for democracy Increased political participation throughout
geography and social classes Tied to military participation
THE PERSIAN WARS First Persian War (490-479 BCE)
Turned Athens into an Empire Gave the Council of 500 and the Assembly
more important things to talk about The Greeks saw the major
difference between them and the Persians as: CITIZEN vs. SUBJECT
First Persian attack was met by Athenians at the Plain of Marathon 26 miles from Athens
Made the idea of citizen soldiers who bought their own armor important
THE PERSIAN WARS (CONT.)
Athens gets a navy in between Persian invasions Themistocles
convinced the voters that a navy would be a good addition to their military readiness
Invasion of Xerxes (480 BCE) Persians had
About 150,000 troops and 700 warships Greeks planned to hold the only road
so that the Athenian navy could deal with the Persian navy
Greeks were led by King Leonidas of Sparta with 300 Spartans
Athens was evacuated Greek navy, led by Athens, won the
Battle of Salamis
THE DELIAN LEAGUE MAKES ATHENS AN EMPIRE
Greek alliance Controlled by Athens
Created to fight the Persian Empire Begun 478-477 BCE Liberated all remaining Greek city-
states and essentially ended the Persian threat by 469 BCE
Some city-states wanted to leave (or secede from) the League Athens response was to invade
destroyed walls took navy removed their freedom required to pay tribute to Athens
League basically became an extension of Athens Turned them into an empire
5 CHANGES IMPERIAL STATUS BROUGHT TO ATHENS
1)Council of 500 and the Assembly had larger and more significant matters to deal with
2)the empire paid tribute to Athens which allowed Athens to pay some political posts for the first time
3)Athens had the power to force the spread of democracy where possible a few oligarchies were allowed to remain
4)Athens became more elite resulted in a large number (10s of
thousands) of disenfranchised people 5)money and power the empire
brought kept the wealthy Athenians happy enough It would be a while before they considered
oligarchy
OSTRACISM Allowed the removal of any official
who had lost the people’s respect Citizens wrote the name of the
person they felt was most hurting the polis If at least 6,000 votes were cast, the
man with the most votes was exiled for 15 years He could be brought back if the city needed
him Democratic alternative to actual
tyranicide Allowed the people to remove bad
or unsympathetic leaders Gave power to regular citizens Made leaders answerable to the people
THE AGE OF PERICLES Pericles began to lead Athens around the
450s BCE Aristocrat Wanted Athens to break ties with old rival
Sparta Height of Athenian power, culture, and
democracy Democracy increased in popularity with the
people Full citizens above age 18 could participate in
the Assembly May have been as many as 43,000 Only about 6,000 could fit in the meeting place (the
Pnyx) A few respected leaders did most of the talking
Routine administration and bureaucracy was run by the city magistrates Chosen randomly to serve a one year term
10 Generals Chosen to Guide the People Amount of power determined by amount of
respect given to them by the people
THE AGE OF PERICLES:THE PELOPONNESIAN WARS
Athens vs. Sparta 1st Peloponnesian War(c.460-445
BCE) Athens agreed to give up most of land
empire Sparta agreed to recognize Athens’ naval
empire Great Peloponnesian War(431-
404BCE) Athenian conflicts with Spartan allies
Sparta warned Athens to back off Athens hoped for naval battles Sparta hoped to fight Athenian army Plague in Athens in the 2nd year
About 1/3 of the population died Pericles died from the plague in the 3rd year
THE PEACE OF NICIAS AND MORE PELOPONNESIAN WAR
Peace of Nicias (421 BCE) Negotiated by new Athenian leader
(Nicias) After the death of Pericles and those
prominent generals who were in favor of the war
Both sides agreed to a 50 year truce Phase #2 of the War
Began 6 years after the agreement to have a truce lasting 50 years
Started by Pericles’ nephew (Alcibiades) Removed during the campaign for profaning
religion Sicilian attack was disastrous for
Athens and Democracy When they tried to take Syracuse
All of the troops were either killed or captured and sold into slavery
ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY WANES
As Peloponnesian Wars End Democracy was abolished in Athens, and an
oligarchy temporarily (411-410 BCE) took its place
Final loss occurred in 405 BCE with the defeat of the Athenian navy
Athens’ enemies laid siege to the city They surrendered the following year
Sparta became the most powerful city-state
Sparta Spreads Oligarchy With 10 man boards overseen by Spartan
garrisons The 30 Tyrants
Oligarchy with 30 members Set up in Athens by the Spartans Executed 1,500 democratic opponents
Sparta eventually allowed return to Democracy