Transcript Western_Civ_22

Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece, Overview
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The foundation of Western democracy, culture, art, and
philosophy
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Ancient Greece is the natural starting point for
examining Western civilization
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Of course, there are other non-prehistoric civilizations
around at this time
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But here begins the “Western” distinction, as Greece
and Rome are seen as the unique civilizations that
“pivoted” European political and cultural development
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One of the most prosperous and powerful nations of its
time
3 Major Periods of Ancient
Greece Civilizations
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Early Civilizations:
 Minoans (Crete) and Mycenae
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Classical Greece
 Flourishing of arts, literature,
philosophy; domination by Sparta and
Athens
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Hellenistic Age:
 Macedonia Empire and Alexander the
Great
What are the characteristics of
Ancient Greece’s geography?
Geographic Features
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Sea
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Mountains (with narrow valleys):
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No major rivers on Greek mainland but fertile soil
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Climate:
 Heavy influence on physical environment of Greece (Aegean Sea, Ionian
Sea)
 Cover more than ¾ of Greece’s surface area and islands: more than 2000
islands (Crete being the largest)
 Winter: Mild climate;
 Summer: Hot climate with rainfall
 From October to March: Long growing season
Geographic Features
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Greece is mountainous
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Greek communities often times developed independently
because of the mountains, thus they were diverse
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As a result, they fought each other a lot.
Resources and Crops
RESOURCES
• Grain
• Cheese
• Timber
• Meat
• Sheep Wool
MOST IMPORTANT CROPS
• Olives = oil
• Grapes = wine
• Grain
• Clay = pottery
Effects of Geography
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Seafaring tradition
 Reliance on navy and fleets for power and protection
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Sea provided link to trade and cultural exchange with
Mediterranean communities
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Isolationism
 Protection but lack of effective communication
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Greece was organized into polis city states) separated
by seas and rugged mountains
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Emergence of dominant city states
 Athens
 Sparta
Greek History: Overview
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Greek civilization started around 2000 B.C. By 1600
B.C., the Greek people had built fortified cities in the
major valleys and many people were educated. Greece
then had several wars, including the Trojan War
around 1200 B.C., which threw them into what is
known as the Dark Age.
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During the DARK AGE, knowledge of writing was lost
and most people lived in isolated villages.
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The Dark Age ended in about 800 B.C when the Greeks
started to write again with an alphabet based on that of
the Phoenicians.
Greek History: Overview
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During that time, many city-states emerged and
struggled with each other for power for hundreds of
years after that.
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In 480 B.C., the Greeks united to defeat the invading
Persians, but the alliance didn’t last long.
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Around 477 B.C., two city-states, Athens and Sparta,
became the dominant powers in that region and
constantly fought each other for power.
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Greece had its Golden Age in Athens around 477 - 431
B.C.
Greek History: Overview
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In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great, leader of the country
of Macedonia to the north, conquered the Greeks and
started what is called the Hellenistic Age.
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Greece unwillingly remained under Macedonian control
until the Romans conquered both Macedonia and
Greece around 140 B.C.
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The Romans then spread the knowledge of the ancient
Greek philosophers throughout their empire.
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The Roman Empire lasted as a unified empire until 395
A.D. when it was split into the eastern and western
empires.
Greek History: Overview
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Greece became part of the eastern or Byzantine Empire
and Greek literature became the basis for learning in
Byzantine institutions, especially in Constantinople, its
capital. When Constantinople was destroyed by the
Turks in 1453 A.D., the Greek literature stored there
spread to the rest of Europe and helped start the
Renaissance.
The Four Types of Governance
in Ancient Greece
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Monarchy (rule of a king)
 limited by an aristocratic council and a popular assembly.
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Oligarchy
 (rule of the few) arising when the aristocratic council ousted
the king and abolished the assembly.
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Tyranny
 (rule by one who ruled without legal authority) riding to
power on the discontent of the lower classes.
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Democracy
 (rule of the people), the outstanding political achievement of
the Greeks.
Early Greeks: The Minoans
c. 3200 -1100 BCE
Lived on island of Crete
• Great navigators and farmers
• Palace led political, social and
economic organization at
Knossos
• Artistic expressions and grand
construction
• Advancements in bronze
• Built sanctuaries
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Palace at Knossos
Palace of Minos at Knossos
(K-NOSS-oss)
Knossos-most powerful monarch for Minoans
• Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products by
storing in large storerooms
• Palaces became the centers of exchange for Minoan
economy
• Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular rooms on
two or more stories which were grouped around a large
open courtyard (administrative and religious)
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Minoan Culture
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Art work (drawings, murals or frescoes) at
Knossos shows dangerous sports such as
leaping over the backs of charging bulls as
well as dancing, athletics, and festivals
Myth of the Minotaur
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Minoan Myth of King Minos at Knossos
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Theseus defeats the Minotaur (half man half bull) and
escapes from the maze like structure called the
labyrinth, saving the youth of Athens
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Fairly common mythological tradition: the labyrinth
with the minotaur at its center
Greek Myths
FUNCTIONS
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Explained the world
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Means of Exploration
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Provided authority and legitimacy
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Entertainment
Theories for the Decline of the
Minoans
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1750 BCE- earthquake destroys Minoan palaces
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1628 BCE- volcano erupts at Thera
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1400 BCE- War between Minoans and Myceaneans
led to decline of power
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1200 BCE- Dorian Invaders
The Mycenaeans: 1700 – 600 BCE
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1490 BCE- Minoan palaces had been rebuilt however all were
destroyed except at Knossos by Mycenaean warriors
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Mycenaeans took control of Crete at Knossos by 1500 BCE
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Myceneans controlled mainland Greece = main political centre was
Mycenae
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More interested in war as pottery and grave sites reflect hunting,
weapons, armor and war as well as fortified palace walls
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Slowly Minoan culture and traditions disappeared
Theories on the Decline of the Myceanaens
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Shift in climate leading to drought forcing Mycenaeans
to migrate to more fertile lands
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Tribe of nomadic warriors from north of Greece
(Dorians) destroyed Mycenaeans
Trojan War
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Was the Trojan War a real historical event or merely a
legend in Mycenaean history?
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Trojan Horse
Trojan War
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Two epic poems by Homer “Iliad” and “Odyssey”
describe the Trojan War
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Approximately 1194-1184 BCE
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Greeks vs Troy
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Helen of Sparta + Paris of Troy “the face that
launched a thousand ships”
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Achilles, Odysseus, Hector, Agamemnon and the
Trojan Horse
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Archaeologist- Heinrich Schliemann claims that he
found Troy and the early Greek civilization of
Myceaneans
Archaic Period
750 – 500 BCE
Significant events
1) National literature (Homer)
2) Resurgence of trade
3) Colonization of Sicily and Italy
4) Olympic Games -776 BCE
5) Stone sculptures of human figures
6) Rise of city states (polis)
During this time that Greece came out of it’s
“Dark Age” and entered into the “Classical Period”
Classical Greece (500 – 336 BCE)
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Polis (city states)
 Each had their own form of government, laws and
money (Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Sparta)
Dominance of Athens as political power
• Construction of Parthenon and Acropolis
• Full development of democracy under Pericles of
Athens
• Classical age of Greece produced great literature,
poetry, philosophy, drama, philosophical thinkers
and art
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The POLIS (city-state) consisted of a city and its
surrounding plains and valleys. The nucleus of the polis
was the elevated, fortified site called the Acropolis
where people could take refuge from attack. With the
revival of commerce, a Trading Center developed below
the acropolis.
Oracle of Delphi
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Dating back to 1400 BC, the Oracle of Delphi was
the most important shrine in all Greece as the
sanctuary of Apollo
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Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was
considered to be the center of the world
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Questions about the future were answered by the
Pythia, the priestess of Apollo
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Answers, usually cryptic or ambiguous
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Arguments over the correct interpretation of
an oracle were common, but the oracle was
always happy to give another prophecy if
more gold was provided
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Hallucinogenic gasses?
Amphitheatre
Athenian Democracy
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Begins with Monarchy and Kings
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Rise in power of aristocracy & oligarchy
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Democratic Reforms by Solon and Cleisthenes
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The Three Pillars of Athenians Democracy
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Athens lived under a radically democratic government from
508 until 322 BCE.
 Council of 500
 Assembly
 Courts
 The People governed themselves, debating and voting
individually on issues great and small, from matters of war and
peace to the proper qualifications for ferry-boat captains
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“Demos” = people; “kratos” = rule
How Effective was Athenian Democracy?
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Ancient Athens is often referred to as the cradle of democracy
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Democracy flourished during the Golden Age of Athens
(4th Century BCE) under Pericles Direct Democracy
 All the male citizens would gather, discussed the issues, and then
voted on them.
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Only male citizens were allowed to take part in running the
government (made up approx. 10% of population).
 Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from public affairs.
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The policy of ostracism
 Ability to vote and exile anyone threatening to Athens
 Created some instability as the Assembly could exile a speaker /
leader by vote if they feel they are too powerful
Further Notes on Democracy
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Athens was a “direct democracy,” meaning that everyone
(well, male citizens) had a vote on all governmental
matters.
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Modern Democratic societies are not at all like this.
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The United States has a Representative Democracy, or a
Republic, meaning that we elect politicians to vote on
matters for us
Daily Life in Athens
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Men
 Only men could be citizens; men ran government
 Advancements in culture, thinking, literature, philosophy, wealth, expansion, trade
 Reliance on slaves and women opened up free time for men to discuss philosophy and
participate in politics
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Women
 Women could not vote, hold office or own property and did mostly household duties
 Education involved spinning, weaving and domestic arts
 At 15 years old, girls were considered ready for marriage
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Slaves
 Ratio of slaves to free men was quite high as historians estimate that as much as 40%
of people in Athens area were slaves
 Slaves were household servants; had few rights; some could gain freedom from
generous owners
Spartan Government
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Government ruled by a Council= made up of 2 kings (aristocracy) and 28
nobles (over age of 60) who made most political decisions and foreign policy
and was supreme criminal court
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Assembly of the Spartiate (democracy)- Spartan males over the age of 30
who could veto and approve decisions made by Kings and Council
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5 Ephors (oligarchy)- led the council, ran the military and educational
system and could veto any ruling made by the Council or Assembly
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Spartan government was considered one of the most stable in all of
Ancient Greece = led to a warrior and military state (state above
individual)
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Aries, the God of War, was a patron god of the city, of wars, battles, and
warriors, and also of fearlessness in battle.
Daily Life in Sparta
MEN
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At 30 men became citizens and could vote in Assembly, marry, own a house
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Educated in reading, fitness and use of weapons
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Boys started military training at the age of 7; joined military at age of 20; end of military service at the age of 60
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Soldiers given land which was farmed by the helots
WOMEN
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Girls taught reading and writing
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Participated in running and wresting, foot races, staged battles
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Wives of Spartan soldiers supervised farms
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Expected and driven to produce strong and healthy children and be loyal to the state
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Spartan women could own and control property but held no political rights
SLAVES
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Slaves were called helots (agricultural slaves / peasants)
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made up 2/3 of population defeated Messenian peoples
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Attempted revolt in 640 BCE but was crushed (this forced Sparta to create a stronger army)
Alexander the Great
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Alexander the Great was the son of King Phillip II of
Macedonia.
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Alexander conquered Persia, Egypt, the Middle East
and Northern India.
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He died at age 33 from malaria.
Hellenistic Era
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Period between conquest of Persian Empire by
Alexander the Great to establishment of
Roman supremacy
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The word, Hellenistic, is derived from the
word, Hellene, which was the Greek word for
the Greeks. The Hellenistic age "hellenized"
the world
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Spread of Greek culture and language
throughout Near East, Mediterranean and
Asia Minor
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Exported Greek culture: architecture, politics,
law, literature, philosophy,
religion, and art as models of perfection
Greek Architecture
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Parthenon
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Acropolis
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Statue of Athena
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Public buildings
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Columns
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Marble
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Frieze
Greek Columns
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Greeks developed three different orders
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Doric & Ionic = 6th century BCE
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Corinthian= 5th century BCE and was further developed and used by
Romans
Greek Art
• Focus
on the concept of the “ideal” (beautiful,
life like youthful, calm expression)
• Depictions
of gods
• Statues
of nude forms (detailed and
proportional)
• Emphasis
• Money
on elaborating on existing styles
devoted to building theatres, stadiums,
gymnasiums, tombs
Greek
Philosophers and Thinkers
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Philosophers: Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle
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Establishment of philosophical schools
that examine issues such as true
knowledge, the soul, love, beauty and
scientific learning
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Logical thinking, rhetoric, politics
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Playwrights: Sophocles, Euripides,
Aeschylus
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Other: Hippocrates,
Epicurus, Archimedes, Pythagoras
Socrates
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Socrates was the most well known philosopher of
Ancient Greece.
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Taught by asking questions.
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This method of questioning is still called the Socratic
method.
Religion
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Heavily polytheistic
 An team of gods, goddesses, demi-gods, heroes, heroines,
monsters…
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Highly known in Western Culture
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The Greeks were POLYTHEISTIC and did not all
worship the same gods.
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Some small villages worshiped the main gods and their
own village gods.
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There were hundreds of Greek gods (perhaps around
1,000). Some of the most famous gods were Zeus, Hera,
Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter,
Hermes, Ares, and Hades.
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Zeus surpassed all other gods in spirit, wisdom and justice
and his wife Hera was the queen of the gods.
Religion
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Sacrifices to please the gods were a major part of every
Greek's religion. Most gods preferred an animal sacrifice
-- generally a domesticated animal like a chicken, goat
or cow.
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When an animal was sacrificed, it was burned on top of
an altar. After it was fully cooked, it had to be eaten on
the spot -- usually before nightfall. These sacrifices
were the property of the god, and had to be eaten in his
presence.
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This was especially important because the ancient
Greeks believed that the god's spirit was within the
animal sacrificed, and by eating the animal, the
worshippers consumed his power. In this way, they
strengthened the connection between man and god.
Legacies of Greece
City states (polis)
• Thought & Philosophy
• Greek Language
• Politics
• Democracy
• Great Thinkers
• Art and architecture
• Myths and literature
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