Chapter 4 - Pequannock Township High School
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Transcript Chapter 4 - Pequannock Township High School
Ancient Greece
Consists of a mountainous peninsula and numerous islands
that make up area of land about size of Louisiana
2 peninsulas make up much of landmass
Isthmus of Corinth connects Peloponnese peninsula to
mainland
80% of Greece is mountainous- Pindus Mountains divides
mainland
Mount Olympus is highest peak
Small plains & river valleys are surrounded by high mountain
ranges
Mountains isolated Greeks from one other
Different communities formed different ways of life
Became fiercely independent: people became more involved in
political affairs but also led to rivalries btwn communities
Aegean, Mediterranean & Ionian seas make up borders
Coastline dotted with bays and inlets- many harbors
No part of Greek mainland is more than 60 miles from a
body of water
Ancient Greeks also lived on number of islands- became
strong seafarers
Minoan civilization: Bronze Age on the island of Crete-2700
BC- 1450 BC
Not Greek BUT influenced people of Greek mainland
Named after Minos- legendary king of Crete
Palace complex at Knossos- once found revealed rich culture
and center of far-ranging sea empire based on trade
Traded pottery & gold/silver jewelry
Trade also helped Minoans improve their goods-drew
inspiration and techniques from other cultures
Knossos royal seat of the kings- elaborate building with
private living rooms, workshops & bathrooms with elaborate
drains
Rooms brightly decorated and storerooms held gigantic jars
of oil, wine and grain paid as taxes to king
The Bull-Leaping Fresco, as
it has come to be called, is
the most completely
restored of several stucco
panels originally sited on
the upper-story portion of
the east wall of the palace at
Knossos in Crete.
Civilization suddenly and catastrophically collapsed around
1450 BC
Some historians think a volcanic eruption triggered a tidal wave
Most believe destruction was a result of invasion by the
Mycenaeans
1600 BC- 1100 BC
Name comes from Mycenae- fortified site on Greek
mainland
Part of the Indo-European family- made up of powerful
monarchies that lived in fortified palaces
Built on hills surrounded by stone walls
Royal family inside- civilians scattered outside
Monarchies probably formed a loose alliance of indep
states
Important part of city
centers were tombs-tholos
Built into hillsides- for
royal family
Resembled a beehive
Warriors who prided themselves on their heroic deeds
in battle
Murals often show war and hunting scenes
Monarchies developed extensive commercial networks
Pottery found throughout Mediterranean
Conquerors: took over Crete and some of the Aegean
Greatest tale told by Homer: Mycenaeans, led by
Agamemnon, sacked city of Troy
Late 13th century BC- showing signs of trouble
States fought one another & earthquakes caused major
damage
By 12th century BC new waves of Greek-speaking
invaders moved in from the north
1100 BC: Mycenaean civilization collapsed
After collapse of Mycenaean civilization, Greece entered
period where population declined and food production
dropped
1100 BC- 750 BC: Dark Ages
Many Greeks left mainland and sailed across Aegean to
various islands
Popular destination: Ionia (modern day Turkey)
Iron replaced bronze in weaponry- making weapons more
affordable
Iron farming tools helped reverse decline in food production
Aeolian Greeks
colonized large
island of Lesbos
and territory near
mainland
Dorians Greeks
established in
southwestern
Greece
Peloponnese,
southern
Aegean islands
& Crete
Epic poem: long poem that tells the deeds of a great
hero
Illiad and the Odyssey were the first great epic poems-
based on stories passed on through generations
Based on stories of the Trojan War
Homer was important to Greeks- felt he did not record
history but created it
Gave Greeks ideal past with many heroes
Epics came to be used as basic texts to educate
generations of Greek males
Values Homer taught were courage and honor
Hero strives for excellence (arete)
Arete won in struggle or contest- model of heroism
and honor
Through willingness to fight hero protects family and
friends, preserves his own honor and earns his
reputation
Polis: Greek city-state
Main gathering place was usually a hill- at the top a
fortified areas called acropolis
Served as place of refuge during attack
Sometimes religious center where temples and public
buildings built
Below acropolis was agora- open area where people
could assemble and as a market
City-states differed in size and population
Polis was a community of people who shared common
identity and goals
Variety of citizens with…
Political rights (adult males)
No political rights (women and children)
Noncitizens (laborers, slaves)
Citizens had rights but also responsibilities to the state
Loyalty citizens had to their states also had negative side
States distrusted each other and division led to its demise
As polis developed so did a new military system
By 700 BC system based on hoplites-heavily armed
foot soldiers
Went into battle as unit marching shoulder to
shoulder in rectangle formation known as phalanx
Close formation created wall of shields to protect
hoplites
As long as kept order- hard to harm them
New colonies formed along Mediterranean
Southern Italy and France, eastern Spain & northern Africa
Also formed along Black Sea-Hellespont and Bosporus
straights
Most famous- Byzantium (now Istanbul)
Establishing colonies
Spread culture and political ideas
Gave great economic advantages: trade and industry
Mainland Greek exported pottery, wine & olive oil- in
return received grains, metals, fish, timber, wheat and
slaves
Expansion of trade and industry created new group of
wealthy individuals
Men wanted political powers but found it difficult to
gain because of the ruling aristocrats
Landowners not willing to give up political power to
newly rich merchants
Creation of new group of rich men fostered the rise of
tyrants: rulers who seized power by force from the
aristocrats
Supported by those newly rich due to trade and industry
Poor peasants also supported b/c in debt to aristocrats
Hungry for social status and political influence
Tyrants gained power and kept it using hired soldiers
Once in power tyrants tried to help the poor and launched
public works projects
Built new marketplaces, temples and walls
Efforts glorified city and increased tyrants popularity
Despite achievements tyrants eventually seen as oppressive
By end of 6th ce BC tyrants no longer favored-was insult to the
rule of law
Tyrants ended the role of aristocrats in many city-states & people
were able to participate in gov’t
Some states developed a democracy, others an oligarchy
Conquered other civilizations when they needed more
land
People they conquered were made to work for Spartans
Known as helots
800-600 BC rigidly organized and tightly controlled
Males spent childhood learning military discipline
Enrolled in army at 20
Lived in military barracks until 30- after could move
home but stayed in army until 60
All meals eaten in public dining halls
While men in the barracks women lived at home
Because of separation had more freedom and power in
the household
Expected to remain fit and bear children
Upheld strict Spartan values expecting husbands and
sons to be brave in war
Government was oligarchy headed by 2 kings
5 men known as ephors elected each year and
responsible for education of youth and conduct of
citizens
Council of elders, kings and 28 citizens over 60
decided on issues to be presented to assembly to vote
To make military secure Spartans turned back on
outside world
Foreigners discouraged from visiting
Except for military Spartans not allowed to travel- might
encounter ideas dangerous to stability of state
Spartan citizens discouraged from studying literature,
philosophy or the arts- the art of war was the most
important
Originally ruled by a king but by 7th ce BC became
oligarchy under rule of aristocrats
Owned best land and controlled politics
By end of 600 BC economic problems caused political
turmoil
Draco, a politician, add harsh penalties- slavery for debt
Farmers sold into slavery for being in debt
594 BC full power given to Solon- aristocrat
Canceled all land debts and freed people who were in slavery
due to debt
Refused to take land from the rich and give it to the poor
Despite’s Solon’s reforms aristocrats were still powerful
and poor peasants could not obtain land
Internal strife eventually led to tyranny
Peisistratus, aristocrat, seized power in 560 BC
Aided trade to win support of merchants
Gave aristocrats land to peasants-gain favor of poor
Athenians rebelled against Peisistratus’ son and ended
tyranny in 510 BC
2 yrs later- Cleisthenes, another reformer, gained
upper hand
Created council that supervised foreign affairs, oversaw
treasury and proposed laws
Because assembly now had central political role
reforms of Cleisthenes created basis for Athenian
democracy
As Greeks spread, came in contact with Persians to the East
490 BC, seeking revenge for unsuccessful revolt by Ionian
cities, Persians landed in Marathon (26 mi from Athens)
Defeated by outnumbered Athenian army
Legend says news of Persia’s defeat brought by runner names
Pheidippides who ran from Marathon to Athens
“Victory, we win” before dropping dead
Although victory at Marathon minor- gave Athenians new
confidence in their city-state that Persians could be
defeated
After Darius’ death in 486 BC Xerxes became new
monarch
Vowed revenge and planned attack
In preparation Greek city-states came together in
defense under Spartans
Athenians stayed solo and created a navy- by time
Persians attacked in 480 BC had fleet of 200 vessels
Xerxes led massive invasion into Greece-180,000
troops, warships and supply vessels
Despite differences Greeks united by common goal of defeating
Persian invaders
Greeks tried to delay Persians at Thermopylae- main road into
central Greece
7,000 held them off for 2 days- esp 300 Spartans
Traitor told Persians how to use mountain path to outflank the
Greek force
Near island of Salamis outnumbered Greek fleet defeated
Persians
Few months later (479 BC) Greeks formed largest army to date
and defeated Persians at Plataea to control the Aegean Sea
After defeating Persians, Greeks divided into 2 main
camps
Athenian Empire: Athens & Delian League
Sparta & supporters: Peloponnesian League
Athens and Sparta had different societies that neither
could tolerate
Series of disputes led to Great Peloponnesian War in
431 BC
Athenian strategy: remain behind city’s protective walls
and receive supplies from colonies and navy
Spartans allies surrounded Athens hoping Athenians
would send out army to fight
Pericles knew Spartan forces could beat them in open battle
so stayed put
Second year of war plague broke out in overcrowded
Athens- killed 1/3 of people
Pericles died following year (429 BC)
Despite losses Athenians fought on for another 25 years
405 BC- crushing blow to Athenians when fleet was
destroyed in Aegospotami
Within next year Athens surrendered
Walls torn down, navy disbanded, empire destroyed
Great war over but also age of classical Greek culture and
government
Weakened major Greek states and ruined possibility of
cooperation between them
During next 67 years Sparta, Athens and Thebes struggled
to dominate Greek affairs
Please get your book
off the shelf and take
out your homework.
Discobolus by Myron
450 BC
Greeks viewed Macedonians as barbarians
Macedonians: rural people of farmers & agricultural
laborers organized into groups
Leaders focused mostly on defending Northern borders
By end of 5th ce emerged a powerful kingdom
Phillip II came to throne in 359 BC
Turned Macedonia into chief power of Greek World
Wanted to unite all of Greece under his rule
Battle of Chaeronea: 338 BC
Athenians and other Greeks fought Macedonians and
lost
Phillip quickly gained control of all of Greece
Before could invade Asia- assassinated and throne
went to son Alexander
Alexander the Great only 20 when took throne
Father taught him basics of military leadership
After father’s death, moved quickly to fulfill father’s
dream- invade Persian Empire
Motivated by glory and to avenge Persian burning of
Athens in 480 BC
Spring 334 BC- Alexander entered Asia Minor
Army of 37,000 (Macedonians & Greeks)
Cavalry about 5,000
Next year: Alexander freed Ionian Greek cities from
Persians
Winter 332 BC: Syria, Palestine & Egypt under control
Built Alexandria as Greek capital of Egypt
331 BC: battle with Persians and Gaugamela
Gained control over rest of Persian empire
Next 3 years: moved as far as Pakistan
326 BC: reached India but campaigning became hard
Soldiers refused to move farther
Led troops back home through desserts of Iran- many
died
Returned to Babylon to plan more conquests
323 BC: died at 32
Exhaustion from wounds, fever and too much alcohol
Success explained by his leadership and military skills
Master of strategy and tactics
All terrains, all types of opponents
Brave and reckless- tried to be like Achilles
Created large empire and legacy
Brought large quantities of gold and silver into economy
Cultural legacy
Greek language, architecture, literature, art and religion
spread through Asia and N. Africa
Greek culture blended with aspects of Eastern culture
to become a new Hellenistic culture
Hellenistic comes from Greek word meaning “to imitate
Greeks”
Describes this era that saw the expansion of Greek
language and ideas
After Alexander’s death empire fell apart and
Macedonian generals engaged in a struggle for power
4 Hellenistic Kingdoms emerge:
Macedonia
Syria
Pergamum
Egypt
In new kingdom Greeks and Macedonians made up
ruling class
All government business conducted in Greek
New Hellenistic kingdoms created new cities
Varied in size: military settlements of few hundred to
cities with thousands
Encouraged spread of Greek colonists to SW Asia
Greeks provided new recruits for army, civilian
administrators and workers
Architects, engineers, dramatists and actors were all in
demand in new Greek city
Period of cultural accomplishments- esp science and
philosophy
Alexandria home to all types of scholars: poets, writers,
philosophers, scientists
Library in Alexandria became largest in ancient times
500,000+ scrolls
Encouraged study of literature and language
Museum that welcomed scholarly research
Founding of new cities and rebuilding of old presented new
opportunities for Greek architects and sculptors
Kings willing to spend money to beautify cities within
state
Patrons of sculptors- thousands of statues created
Hellenistic sculptors moved away from idealism of
earlier classicism to more emotional & realistic art
Especially evident in numerous statues of old women and
children
Time period also produced great quantities of literature
Hellenistic Age witnessed advances in sciences:
astronomy and mathematics
Aristarchus: astronomer who developed theory that
sun is at center of universe and Earth rotates around
Eratosthenes: astronomer who determined Earth was
round and calculated circumference
Euclid: wrote ‘Elements’- textbook about plane
geometry
Archimedes: worked on geometry of spheres and
cylinders and established value of pi
Possibly invented machine used to pump water out of
mines
“Eureka”
Epicurus: founder of Epicureanism- believed human
beings free to follow own self interest and make
happiness their goal
Pursuit of pleasure not in physical sense but freedom
from emotional turmoil and worry
Life complete when centered on the ideal of friendship
Stoicism: most popular philosophy of Hellenistic
world
Created by teacher name Zeno- learned that material
possessions were not necessary to be happy after
losing all his on a sea voyage
Stoics wanted to find happiness by living in harmony
with will of God
Public service regarded as noble