Transcript Greek History - Orem High School

Art of Ancient Greece
Unit Concepts
1. Greek art, like the Greek people, was a product of
the intermingling of several cultures initially.
2. Greek art continually evolves and develops to
reflect the philosophies of the time.
3. The two constants in Greek art are a love of
nature and an emphasis on humanism.
*Egyptian art was famous for not changing for
thousands of years, but Greek art is known for
changing to match evolving philosophies.
Historical Background
Relationship to Minoan and Mycenaean
Greece:
1000 B.C. 100 A.D.
Mycenaean:
1600-1200 B.C.
Minoan: 3000-1400 B.C.
Five Periods and Dates
1. Proto-Geometric (1000-700 B.C.)
2. Archaic (700-480 B.C.)
3. Transitional or Severe (480 - 450 B.C.)
4. Classical- “Golden Age of Greece” (450-300
B.C.)
5. Hellenistic (300 B.C. - 100 A.D.)
Dates and Events
First Olympics
776 B.C.
The Olympics were
very high profile,
more for
professionals than
amateurs. Athletes
would train for 11
months and then
stand nude before
the judges. The
body doesn’t lie.
Solon’s Law Code
594 B.C.
Solon was the archon of
Athens. He codified the
laws. They were very
harsh and strict.
Draconian.
Persian Wars
499 B.C. Ionian Greeks stage an uprising. Persia
goes in to put down the rebels. Athenians help the
Ionians, so Persia decides to attack the mainland.
Although Persia had some victories, they were
soundly defeated at the battle of Marathon in 490
B.C.
In 480 B.C., after 10 years of preparation Xerxes
again attacks Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae,
King Leonidas of Sparta and his 7,000 soldiers hold
off the 200,000 (+/-) Persian army. After most had
surrendered, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans almost
held off the Persians at the pass, inflicting massive
casualties.
Persia broke through and started wreaking havoc,
but was defeated by the navy at the Battle of
Persian War
When the Persians broke through and
defeated the Greeks, they felt that they had
been abandoned by their gods. They felt
they had to depend on themselves only. This
led to a rise of humanism, the belief that
humans are highly intelligent and beautiful
beings that deserve homage and respect.
Golden Age of Pericles
479-431 B.C.
Famous Athenian citystate ruler who
defeats Persians and
rebuilds Athens.
Updates and rebuilds
everything in the
classical style.
Peloponnesian War
431-404 B.C.
Philip of Macedonia
357-336 B.C.:
Father of Alexander the
Great. he united
Macedonia and conquered
Greece. Hired Aristotle to
tutor Alexander.
Alexander the Great
Conquers the world and spreads Greece’s influence
Fall of Greece to Rome
The Greeks had polises, or city-states. They never
ever fully united. In fact, the whole Peloponnesian
war was because Sparta thought Athens was getting
too strong. If they had united, they probably could
have defeated anyone. But, they never were, and
Rome defeated them.
146 B.C.
Battle of Corinth. Rome defeats the
wealthiest and one of most powerful polises, thus
crushing the will of Greece and asserting authority.
Philosophies and People
Humanism
Man is most important
above all the other animals.
Man can and will take care
of himself. Man has
superior intellect, beauty,
and physical prowess.
The Big Three
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a philosopher who believed that his role
was to help people think and question the world around
them. He would teach by asking them questions- the
Socratic method.
He felt he was the “gadfly” of the state. Obnoxious and
annoying, but successful in spurring the lazy horse of
state into activity. He felt it his calling and duty to
educate young men who had a good hold on their
shoulders, particulary Plato.
He was so successful at being annoying, that the
Athenian government felt he was corrupting the youth.
Ordered him to death by drinking hemlock. The Apology.
Plato- the Idealist
Plato believed that there was a perfect, beautiful
truth out there. Believed in a pre-existence where
everything was perfect. He believes that there is still
the “shadow” of this perfection in everything, but we
have to look for it. He influenced art by having
sculptors and painters not paint for what was really
there, but the perfection that is behind everything.
Aristotle- the Realist
Aristotle disagreed with Plato. Rather than look for
the perfect, he found joy in the realistic. He was the
king of applying rational, scientific thinking to solving
problems. He liked things to be more practical and
utilitarian.