Classical Greece and Ancient Rome

1. Classical Greece and Ancient Rome

2. How did geography shape Greek life? • Seas served as transportation routes and linked most parts of Greece • As the Greeks became skilled sailors, their contact with outside societies increased, thereby increasing trade • Mountains covered ¾ of Ancient Greece • Divided the land into many different regions • Greeks developed many different governments • Gave loyalty to local communities • Uneven terrain made transportation difficult • Greece had a varied climate • Many outdoor social events

3. How did Mycenaean Civilization develop? • Located in southern Greece • Well-fortified city • Sometime after 1500 BC, Mycenaean’s came into contact with Minoans • Learned the importance of sea trade • Adopted Minoan writing system • Decorated vases with Minoan designs

4. What was the Trojan War? • 1200 BC • Ten year war against Troy • Legend says that Greek army destroyed Troy because a Trojan prince kidnapped Helen, the beautiful wife of the Greek king • Many historians did not believe the war occurred, but archaeological digs suggest that it did

5. What happened to Greek culture under the Dorians? • Dominated Greece after the collapse of Mycenaean civilization • Economy collapsed, trade stopped and Greeks temporarily lost the art of writing • During this time, the Greeks developed a rich set of myths about their Gods • Sought to understand the mysteries of nature through these myths

6. How were Greek city-states ruled? Many different forms of government Monarchy: King Aristocracy: Rich Oligarchy: Rule by a few powerful people

7. Athenian Democracy • Democracy: Rule by the people • First democratic reforms under Draco-all people were equal under the law • Solon made more far-reaching reforms, followed by the reforms of Cleisthenes • The early democracy was limited, as only a small number of Athenian citizens could participate in the political process

8. Sparta Builds a Military State • Located in the Southern part of Greece • To protect their land, Sparta became a military state • Government was organized into several branches • All forms of individual expression were discouraged • Spartans valued duty, strength and discipline over freedom individuality and beauty • Boys left home and began training for the military at age 7 • Men served until they were 60 • Women also were trained to serve in the military and put service to Sparta above all else

9. What were the Persian wars? • Between Greece and Persia • Although greatly outnumbered, the Greeks won many early battles due to their order and discipline • Ten years later, another Persian ruler sent forces to crush Athens • At this time, the Greeks were greatly divided, however their expert military training allowed them to conquer the troops sent by Xerxes • Eventually they drove the Persians from the territories surrounding Greece and ended the threat for future attack

10. Pericles’ Plan for Athens • Led much of Athens during the “Golden Age” • Three Goals: • Strengthen Athenian Democracy • Increased the number of salaried public officials • Even poorest citizens could serve the empire • Introduced direct democracy • Hold and strengthen the empire • Made Athenian navy the strongest in the Mediterranean • Glorify Athens • Beautified Athens • Bought Gold, marble and ivory • Paid architects, artists and workers

11. Greek Art and Architecture • The Parthenon • Constructed in traditional Greek Style • 23,000 square feet • Honored Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of Athens • Greek Sculptures • Aimed to create figures that were graceful, strong, and perfectly formed • Faces showed serenity • Values of harmony, order, balance and proportion were standard to classical art.

12. Greek Drama and History • Drama • Tragedy • Serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war or betrayal • Main character=Tragic Hero • Tragic Flaw: Hero’s downfall • Comedy • Scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor • History • Herodotus • Greek who pioneered the accurate reporting of events

13. Peloponnesian War Sparta Athens • Strong Army • Located inland, not easily attacked by sea • Were eventually able to overwhelm the Athenians • Victors in the war • Strong Navy • Plague swept through city during second year of war • Killed 1/3 of population • Continued to fight

14. Major Greek Philosophers • Socrates • No absolute standards for truth and justice • Encouraged students to examine their beliefs • Plato • Student of Socrates • Set forth a vision for a perfectly governed society • Citizens fall naturally into three groups: Farmers and artisans, warriors and the ruling class • Aristotle • Student of Plato • Questioned the nature of the world and of human belief, thought and knowledge • Argued according to rules of logic • His work provides the basis to the scientific method

15. How did Macedonia come to power? • Just north of Greece • 359 BC Phillip II became king of Macedonia • Organized the military that was then used to conquer Greece • Greece was defeated in Battle of Chearonea • Phillip was stabbed to death at his daughter’s wedding, and his son Alexander, later known as Alexander the Great became the new Macedonian leader

16. Conquests of Alexander • Persia • Raised army of 35,000 • Went on the offensive • Smashed the Persian defenses • Egypt • Seen as a liberator and crowned pharaoh • Other Conquests • Within a short time, his armies also controlled Babylon, Susa and Persepolis • Fought battles in India, but was never able to conquer

17. What is Hellenistic Culture? Blend of Egyptian, Persian and Indian Influences Result of Alexander’s conquests Alexandria became the center of Hellenistic culture

18. The Origins of Rome • Built on seven rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River in Italy • Earliest settlers arrived in prehistoric times • Latins built the original settlement at Rome • Greeks later built settlements near the city

19. The Early Republic • Around 500 BC Romans decided that they would never again be ruled by a king • Established a Republic, a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders • Voting rights were granted only to free-born male citizens • Patricians(wealthy, landowners) and Plebeians(commoners) struggled for power • Patricians and their senate had most of the power, but tribunes were formed to represent the Plebeians • Two officials, called consuls, served as the executive branch of government

20. How did Roman power spread? • By 265 BC, Romans were masters of nearly all of Italy • There were different laws for each conquered territory • As long as they supplied troops for the Roman army, Rome was friendly to those they conquered • These new allies and soldiers helped Rome grow to a lasting empire, far beyond Italy • Roman merchants also thrived as an accessible trade network linked Rome to other areas in the Mediterranean

21. The Punic Wars • 264 BC • Between Rome and Carthage • Fought three wars, over several years • First • For control of Sicily and western Mediterranean • Lasted 23 years • Carthage defeated • Second • Mastermind was Hannibal from Carthage • Wanted to avenge Carthage • Assembled large army and sought to surprise Romans • Inflicted great losses on the Romans, but Rome was able to hold strong • Third • Roman general Scipio led attack • 202 BC Romans defeated Hannibal • Burned Carthage

22. What caused the collapse of the Roman Republic? • Economic Turmoil • Gap between rich and poor grew wider • Eventually led to a period of Civil War between the two groups • Military Upheaval • Generals began seizing greater power for themselves • Promised land and money to soldiers who remained loyal to them • Now possible for one leader to take control of empire • Julius Caesar • Took control with Crassus, a wealthy Roman and Pompey, a popular general • Dominated Rome as a triumvirate (group of three leaders) • Later they disbanded and begin to fight one another • Eventually Caesar would gain control • 44 BC he was declared emperor for lfe

23. Caesar’s Reforms Granted citizenship to many Expanded the Senate Created jobs Increased pay for soldiers

24. The Peak of Roman Power • 27 BC to 180 AD • Known as PaxRomana-Roman Peace • Efficient government and able rulers • Agriculture was most important industry • Rome also had a vast trading network, both by sea and land • Complex system of roads • Enslaved conquered people • Very similar to colonial system of slavery • Early Romans worshipped Gods and Goddesses • Government and religion were linkied

25. The Life and Teachings of Jesus • Born in Bethlehem in Judea • Raised in Nazareth (Northern Palestine) • Baptized by John the Baptist • Carpenter • At 30, Jesus began his public ministry • Most of what we know about Jesus comes from the Gospels • Growing popularity worried Roman and Jewish leaders • Was crucified • Jesus’ birth, life and death gave rise to Christianity

26. Christianity Spreads • After the death of Jesus, Christianity spread • Many Christians were persecuted by the Romans, because they refused to worship the Roman Gods • 312 AD: Roman emperor Constantine announced an end to the persecution of the Christians in Rome • Early Christian Church: • Pope • Bishop • Priests

27. Roman Crisis • Economy • Entered period of inflation • Harvests were meager because soil lost fertility • War had destroyed other farmland • Military • Soldiers less disciplined and loyal • Government recruited mercenaries from other countries, who felt little loyalty to empire

28. Reform in Rome • 284 AD Diocletian became new emperor • Ruled with iron fist • Restored order and increased strength of empire • Divided the empire into sections, to make it easier to govern • His reforms were in vain, because after his death, Civil War began

29. Fall of the Western Roman Empire • Took place over several years • Germanic invasions began as people attempted to escape the Huns • Western empire could not field and army to stop them & Rome was plundered • Soon, the Huns became a direct threat • United under Attila • Terrorized Western and Eastern Empire

30. The Legacy of Rome • Arts • Sculpture • Mosaics • Painting • Literature • Similar to Greek literature • Myths • Language • Latin • Architecture • Arch • Dome • Aqueducts • Roads