Transcript Early Greek Civilization

Early Greek Civilization
Chapter 5 Sections 1 & 2
Minoan Civilization
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(2000 BC – 1400 BC)
Centered on the Isle of Crete
Great trading power
Eventually grew weak and were invaded by
people from the Greek Mainland
Mycenaean Civilization
 Indo-Europeans invaded Greek Peninsula
from the north
– By 1400 BC had taken over Minoan Civ.
– Great sea traders
– Learned writing & other skills from the
Minoans and other groups that they traded
with
– They passed on these influences to later
Greeks
Trojan War
 In 1250 BC Mycenaeans
attacked Troy
 10 yrs- Mycenaeans won
& burned City of Troy to
the ground
 The Illiad & The
Odyssey- epic poems by
Homer
– tell the story of the
Trojan War
The Dark Age
(1100 BC – 800 BC)
 After the fall of Troy, Dorian invaders
swarm into Greece
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They had the advantage of iron weapons
Trade declines
People leave cities
Most artistic skills and writing were mostly
forgotten
 No written records exist for 1150bc to 750bc
from this area
Growth of City-States
 Physical barriers- Mountains and Water
– Cities were independent from each other- no empire
– Rivalry developed- led to many wars
 Seas were vital link to the outside world
– Great traders and sailors
– Exchange of goods and ideas (Alphabet)
 Governing City-States (chart pg 128)
– Monarchy- King
– Aristocracy- power shifting to landowners
– Oligarchy- power shifting to a business class
Powerful City-States
 Two most powerful were Athens and Sparta
 Athens:
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Developed a Direct Democracy
Valued arts, literature, intellectual pursuits
Believed in training and developing the body
Women- few rights
 Sparta:
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Developed a military state
Valued duty, strength, and discipline
Taught youth to put service to Sparta above all else
Women- had considerable freedom
Persian Wars
 Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persians (Darius I)
– Battle of Marathon 490bc
 Athenians win (Themistocles- leader)
– Renewed Attacks- 480bc- by Xerxes (Darius son)
 Athens and Sparta were defeated by the Persians
– Persians burn Athens
– Athenians now destroy the Persian navy- then defeat Persians on
land in Asia Minor- end of Persian invasions
 Results
– Increased Greek sense of uniqueness
– Athens emerges as most powerful city-state in Greece
– Delian League formed