Transcript Classical Greece - Welcome To One Bad Ant

Classical Greece
500 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E.
Mycenaean Civilization
• Indo-Europeans
migrated from
Eurasian steppes to
Europe, India, and
SW Asia.
• Some of these people
settled on the Greek
mainland around
2,000 B.C.E.
• They became known
as the Mycenaeans.
Mycenaean Civilization
• Guarded by protective
wall 20 feet thick.
• Warrior-king ruled the
surrounding villages and
farmers.
• Strong rulers controlled
the areas around other
Mycenaean cities.
• These kings dominated
Greece from 1600 to
1000 B.C.E.
Contact with Minoans
• 1500 B.C.E.
• Mycenaeans came into
contact with Minoan
civilization through trade
or war.
• Mycenaean traders
soon sailed throughout
the eastern
Mediterranean.
Contact with Minoans
• Minoans influenced
Mycenaeans:
– Mycenaeans adapted
Minoan writing system to
Greek language.
– Decorated vases with
Minoan designs.
– Greek religious practice
– Art
– Politics
– Literature
Trojan War: Fact or Fiction?
Heinrich Schliemann
Greek City-States
• Polis (city-state): a city
and its surrounding
countryside, including
villages.
• 50-500 square miles of
territory
• 10,000 residents or less
• Acropolis – place on a
fortified hilltop where
citizens gathered to
discuss city
government.
The acropolis at Athens
Greek Political Structures
• Monarchy government: ruled by a king; rule is
hereditary; some rulers claimed divine right.
(Mycenae, 2000 B.C.E.)
• Aristocracy: state ruled by nobility, rule is
hereditary based on family ties, social rank, and
wealth (Athens prior to 594 B.C.E.)
• Oligarchy: state ruled by a small group of citizens;
rule is based on wealth or ability; ruling controls
military (Sparta, 500 B.C.E.)
• Direct Democracy: state ruled by its citizens; rule
based on citizenship; majority rule decides vote
(Athens after 500 B.C.E.)
Athens Builds a Democracy
• In 621 B.C.E. Draco,
developed a legal code: “all
Athenians were equal.”
• In 594 B.C.E. Solon outlawed
debt slavery
• Solon organized all Athenians
into four social classes based
on wealth.
• Top three classes could hold
public office, but anyone could
participate in assembly.
Age of Pericles (461-429 B.C.E.
• Direct Democracy –
citizens rule directly and
not through
representatives
• Male citizens who
served in the assembly
establish all the
important government
policies that affected the
polis.
Athenian Education
• Sons of wealthy families
received formal
education—poetry,
history, math, logic,
public speaking,
athletics, military school
• Girls were educated at
home by their mothers,
i.e. child-rearing, weaving
cloth, preparing meals.
• A few women were able
to learn to read and write.
Sparta
Sparta’s Government
• Assembly composed of
Spartan citizens who
elected officials and
voted on issues.
• Council of Elders – 30
older citizens proposed
laws
• Five elected officials
carried out laws.
• Two kings ruled over
military forces.
Sparta’s Social Structure
• Citizens descended from
original inhabitants –
ruling families who
owned the land.
• Non-citizens who were
free worked in commerce
and industry.
• Helots – worked in the
fields or as house
servants
Sparta’s Society
• Sparta had the most
powerful army in Greece.
• Individual expression
was discouraged.
• Did not value the arts,
literature, intellectual
pursuits.
• Did value duty, strength,
and discipline.
Gender Roles in Sparta
• Boys served in the
military until age of 60.
• Boys’ lives centered on
military training.
• Spartan girls received
some military training;
they also wrestled and
played sports.
• Spartan women had
considerable freedom.
Persian Wars
• Danger of helot revolt led
Sparta to become military
state.
• Struggles between rich
and poor led Athens to
become a democracy.
• Invasion by Persian
armies moved Sparta
and Athens to their
greatness.
Impact of Technology on Warfare
• Before 750 B.C.E., only
the rich could afford
bronze spears, shields,
breastplates and chariots.
• Iron later replaced bronze
in manufacture of
weapons.
• Because iron was
common and cheap,
ordinary citizens could
afford to arm and defend
themselves.
• The phalanx emerged.
Battle at Marathon
• In 546 B.C.E. Darius
conquered Greeks in Ionia.
• Athens helped Ionians and
Darius vowed revenge.
• In 490 B.C.E. Persian fleet
of 25,000 men landed in
Marathon.
• 10,000 Athenians easily
defeated the unprepared
Persians.
• Pheidippides raced 26 miles
from Marathon to Athens to
protect city.
The Persian Wars (490 to 479 B.C.E.)
• Persia and the Greek citystates battled for over 10
years.
• Persians were unsuccessful
in their efforts to conquer
Greek city-states.
• Greek city-states formed
alliance called Delian
League.
• League members eventually
were successful in driving
the Persians from the
territories surrounding
Greece.
Consequences of Persian Wars
• Athens emerged as a leader
of the Delian League which
had 200 city-states.
• Athens used power to
control other league
members.
• In time, city-states became
provinces of Athenian
empire.
• Prestige and wealth of
Athens set the stage for a
golden age.
The Parthenon
• 23,000 square feet
• In traditional style of Greek
temples
• Built to honor Athena,
goddess of wisdom and
protector of Athens
• Figures were graceful,
strong, and perfect.
• Set standards for classical
art.
The Hellenistic Age
• Age of Alexander and
his successors
• Greek culture
expanded influence
beyond Greece.
• They facilitated trade
and made is possible
for culture to spread
over large distances.
Alexander the Great’s Empire
• Phillipp II conquered Greece
in 338 B.C.E.
• His son Alexander took over
at age 20.
• Alexander conquered the
Persian Empire, including
Egypt in 332 B.C.E.
Alexandria was established
in his name.
• By 326 B.C.E. Alexander
and his army reached the
Indus Valley. After 11 years
of fighting his men wanted to
go home.
Alexander’s Empire
Alexander’s Legacy
• After Alexander’s death, his
generals fought among
themselves for control of the
empire.
• The empire was divided:
– Antigonus – king of Macedonia
and Greek city-states
– Ptolemy – pharaoh of Egypt
– Selecus – Persian empire
• These rulers and their
descendants ignored
democratic traditions.
Alexandria
• Wealthiest of
Hellenistic Empires
was Ptolemaic Egypt.
• Huge harbor of 1,200
ships
• Culturally diverse
• Famous Alexandrian
Museum –
philosophy, literature,
science
• Famous Alexandrian
Library of more than
700,000 works
Alexander’s Legacy
• Alexander adopted Persian
dress and customs and
married a Persian woman.
• Persians and people from
other lands made up his
army.
• In time, Greek settlers
throughout the empire
adopted new ways.
• A blend of Greek and
Eastern customs emerged.
Agriculture in Ancient Greece
• Mountainous, rocky terrain
• Depended upon maritime
trade.
• Cultivated olives, grapes,
olive oil, and wine
• Grain came from Egypt,
Sicily, and southern Russia
• Cities relied more on
commerce than agriculture.
Greek Society
• Patriarchal – women spent time
in the family home; could not
own property but sometimes
operated small businesses
• Literacy was common among
upper class Greek women; poet
Sappho was active.
• Slaves came from those who
couldn’t pay debts, conquests
and Africa (Egypt)
Socrates (470-399 BCE)
• Posed questions that reflected
on human issues, i.e. ethics and
morality.
• Honor was more important than
wealth or fame.
• “The unexamined life is not
worth living.”
• Condemned to death for
“immorality and corruption of
Athenian youth” who joined him
to discuss moral and ethical
issues.
The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (1787)
Plato
• Socrates’ student or follower
• Presented thought in dialogue
between Socrates and a student
• The Republic:
• Disturbed that intellectual control
over the world was not possible
because world is constantly in a
state of flux.
• Advocated intellectual
aristocracy; philosophical elite
rules while less intelligent
classes work.
Aristotle
• Believed philosophers could rely
on their senses to provide
accurate information about the
world, and
• Use reason to sort out its
mysteries.
• Wrote on biology, physics,
astronomy, psychology, politics,
ethics, and literature.
• Christian and Islamic theologians
tried to harmonize religious
convictions with the philosophical
views of Plato and Aristotle.
Popular Religion
• Most Greeks of classical era
did not have advanced
education.
• Polytheistic
• Constructed myths related
to stories of the gods.
• Myths sough to explain the
world and its forces.
• Women were the most
prominent devotees of
Dionysus, god of wine.
• Euripides’ play The
Bacchae.
Philosophy: The Stoics
• Taught individuals they had the duty to aid
others and lead virtuous lives.
• Focused on reason and nature.
• Sought ways to bring individuals to a state
of inner peace and tranquility.