Chapter 4: Ancient Greece

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece Poets and Heroes

Role of Geography • Covers an area the size of Louisiana (50,000 square miles) • Greece’s mainland is made up of 2 peninsulas • 1. Ithmus of Corinth • 2. Peloponnesian Peninsula 80% of Greece is mountains Caused a division among the civilizations Each one developed at a different rate Each one was incredibly independent and willing to fight for its land Role of the Seas East: Aegean Sea West: Ionian Sea South: Mediterranean Sea Greek Isles became homes to civilizations as well

Map of Greece

The Mycenaeans (1900-1100 BC) • Mycenae • Fortified site found on the Greek coast by Heinrich Schleimann Mycenaean Monarchies Lived in fortified palaces on top of hills Each one controlled a certain area Loosely created an alliance Unique sight: bee-hive shaped tombs for royal family They were warrior people Much of their artwork depicts victory in battles

The Mycenaeans (Cont.) • Mycenaean Influence • Economy • Pottery can be found in areas such as Syria, Egypt, Italy, and Sicily Military Agamemnon King of Mycenae Conquered the Minoans on Crete Plundered the city of Troy(Accounted by the poet Homer) Fall of Mycenaeans Constant fighting between city-states Earthquakes causing major damage Invasions from new Greeks

The Dark Age (1100-750 BC) • Period of decline • Drop in population and food production for some reason How did Dark Age change Greece? Use of iron tools instead of bronze Change in language/writing (Phoenician alphabet) Greeks sailed to the isles and Ionia (now in Turkey) Establishment of Aeolian Greeks( North and central Greece and Island of Lesbos) Establishment of Dorians (Southwest Greece in Peloponnese and Aegean Islands)

The Dark Age (Cont.) • The Works of Homer (800-701BC) The Iliad and the Odyssey Epic Poems: Long poems that tell deeds of a hero Composed based off of stories of the Trojan War Paris, Prince of Troy, kidnaps Helen, wife of king of Sparta The Iliad Story of the warrior Achilles The Odyssey Story of the Odysseus’ return home after the Trojan War Values taught were courage and honor Arete: Qualities of excellence in a hero Won in a struggle of conquest

Chapter 4: Ancient Greeks Greek City-States

What is a Polis? • Polis: Greek city-state. Consisted of a city and the surrounding countryside • Acropolis: A hill in the middle of the town • Fortified area that served as a sacred place during attack • Central meeting location for business, political, and social gatherings • Agora: Central open market at the base of the acropolis Served as a community for people with a common goal or common beliefs Classification in a polis: Citizens with political rights (adult males) Citizens with no political rights (women and children) Noncitizens (agricultural laborers, slaves, and resident aliens) Devout loyalty to city-states led to patriotism and violence between city-states

Greek Military • As city-states evolved, so did military • Olden days was fought by nobles on horseback • Hoplites • Heavily armored foot soldiers • Weapons (short sword, long spear, and shield) • Phalanx • Style of fighting • Wall shields created by foot soldiers • Fought shoulder to shoulder • Shields lined up and created a barrier • Order brought protection

Types of Governments in Greece • Tyranny (Athens: 594-510BC) • Rulers seized control from the aristocrats • Not necessarily evil rulers • In many cases, they were supported by both rich and poor Democracy (Athens:510-End of Civilization ) “The rule of many” Government by the people either directly or through representation Oligarchy (Sparta and Athens:700-600BC ) “The rule of a few” Government in which a select group are given authority to run civilization

Sparta • 800-600BC • Military State: Rigidly organized and tightly controlled • Males • Childhoods were spent learning military tactics • By age 20, they enlisted in the military • Enlistment lasted until the age of 60 or death By age 30 they could marry and vote in assembly but continued to live with the soldiers Spartan military meal: boiled pork in animal blood with salt and vinegar Females Expected to remain fit and bear children Were expected to stay strong by preaching military law to the males Had more freedom than any other Greek women Ideals No visitors and no travelling No studying of philosophy, arts, or literature. Only the Art of War

Spartan Oligarchy • The Ephors • Council of 5 • Elected Yearly • Responsible for: • 1. Education of Youth • 2. Code of Conduct • The Elders • 2 kings and 28 men over age 60 • Decided on issues to be brought up before the assembly • Assembly had no power to debate issues • Assembly merely voted

Athens • A city-state constantly changing political ideals • Oligarchy • Aristocrats owned the best lands and ran the politics of Athens • Assembly of citizens had little power Tyranny (due to economic problems) Draco: Created harsher law that included penalties of slavery This led to many farmers becoming slaves for debts Solon: Cancelled all debts and freed slaves Tyranny actually began after him but he and Draco acted like tyrants Peisistratus: Gave aristocratic lands to peasants to gain favor Increased trade among the merchants Democracy Cleistenes: Created a council of 500 to look after foreign affairs Assembly allowed to pass laws and debate potential laws

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece Classical Greece

Challenge of Persia • As Empire expanded, the Ionian Greeks came into conflict with the Persians • King Darius, vowed revenge after Ionian Greeks revolted against Persian control • 490 BC Persians landed at Marathon, Greece (26 miles from Athens) • Athenians were outnumbered • Defeated the Persians anyway • Pheidippides • The messenger that ran the news from Marathon to Athens of victory • Died from exhaustion after delivering message • Where we get the idea of a marathon race from Showed that the “invincible” Persian army could be defeated

Xerxes and the Persian War • Xerxes • Reign began in 486BC after Darius died • Vowed revenge Greek city-states create alliance in defense (Spartans led it) Athenians, did not join, but in process created a navy of 200 ships Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) Persian forces of 180,000 troops and thousands of ships Greeks had 7,000 troops including the infamous 300 Spartans Betrayal cost the Spartans their lives Athenians retreated and abandoned city 479 BC, Greeks amassed army larger than ever to defeat Persians

Athenian Empire • Defeat of the Persian Empire allowed Athens to become the controlling Greek city-states • Delian League (478BC) • Defensive alliance with all territories it controlled • Under this league, they freed all Greeks under Persian control • Controlling the Delian League means controlling Greece • Had complete control of treasury as well

Age of Pericles (461-429BC) • Direct Democracy • The people directly participate in decision making. No representation • Every male citizen had a vote participated in meetings for laws • 43,000 were part of direct democracy but only a small percentage actually attended • All could speak, although only the respected usually did The day to day operations were run by a group of 10 officials/generals Ostracism Ability to ban politicians that were deemed dangerous by the people Required 6,000 signatures and ban lasted 10 years Under Pericles, Athens became the center of culture

Athenian Economy and Society • Economy • Based on Farming and Trade • Grew Fruits, Grains, and Vegetables • 50-80% of grains were imported due to a lack of land • Sheep and goats provided wool, milk, and dairy products Society Family was considered parents and children but did extend to grandparents and slaves sometimes Women Could only participate in religious ceremonies Main job was to bare children and take care of house Required to always have a male guardian Were housed in special quarters and remain out of sight

Great Peloponnesian War (431-404BC) • Athenians and Delian League • Battle Strategy • Rely on superior navy • Use colonies to supply them • Stay hidden behind city walls Plague broke out in 430 BC Killed one-third of population Pericles died in 429BC • Spartans and Peloponnesian League • Battle Strategy • Use superior army • Draw Athenians out beyond city walls Defeated Athenian navy at Aegospotami 405 BC Decisive battle that caused Athens to surrender.

Following Great Peloponnesian War • War created city states of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes • Each fought for next 67 years • Each state weakened the other • None ever able to gain control of all Greece • Constant fighting kept them occupied with internal affairs • Macedonia and Alexander the Great would take advantage of this

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece Classical Greek Culture

Greek Religion • Religion considered necessary for well-being of the state • 12 chief gods and goddesses in religion • Festivals dedicated to each god at specific locations • Ex: Zeus @ Olympia • Apollo @ Delphi The Olympics were designed to honor the gods (776BC were first) The Oracles Priests/priestesses thought to be connected to the gods Gave answers to questions and most were mysterious Could be interpreted in many ways Greek religion is dead but it continued to influence others including Romans, and literature in both Europe and America

Greek Art • Architecture (Balance, Harmony, Moderation, and Reason) • Temples were most important • Marble columns surrounded central room making them open structures • Central rooms had statues of deity along with treasures being offered • Ex: Parthenon • Built between 447 and 432 BC • Dedicated to Athena, goddess of Athens • Principles of Classic Architecture: calmness, clarity, and freedom Sculpture Most popular was the male nude in a lifelike form Not a statement of realism but rather what they considered beauty Polyclitus Doryphoros: Showed that proportions using math were basis for perfect form

Greek Drama • Tragedies • Greek plays presented as a trilogy with a common theme • Aeschylus • Oresteia: Only complete trilogy of tragedies that we posses • Story of Agamemnon and his family Sophocles Oedipus Rex Story of Oedipus falling in love with is mother and killing his father Oedipus Complex Euripedes Created real life situations with real characters Portrayed things in a controversial manner against traditional views (Ex: War) Comedies came from tragedies which made fun of politicians

Greek Historians • Herodotus • History of the Persian Wars • First real history in western civilization • Theme: Conflict between Greeks and Persians Struggle for Greek freedom Thucydides Greatest of all Greek historians General during Great Peloponnesian War His story of the event Unlike Herodotus, he was not one sided and was fair with assessment War and Politics caused by humans and not the gods

Greek Philosophy • Socrates (469-399BC) • Began life as a sculptor • Very little actual written by him • Socratic Method • Style of Teaching Question and Answer based Use of reasoning skills Questioned Authority Open debate used to be tradition but after defeat in war it vanished Socrates accused of corrupting the youth of Athens Sentenced to death by poison

Greek Philosophy • Plato (429-347BC): Established the Academy • Considered greatest philosopher in western civilization • How do we know what is real? • His great question • A higher world of eternal unchanging Forms • These make up reality • The things we see are a reflection of reality • The Forms are actually reality The Republic His distrust of democracy Must live in a just and rational state. Equality of men and women in education and positions His idea of Republic: 1. Philosopher-Kings 2. Warriors 3. All producers (artists and merchants)

Greek Philosophy • Aristotle (384-322BC) • Went against Plato’s idea of the Form • Defined areas of study (biology, logic, and physics) • Went against Plato in a few ways • Did not believe in the world of Form • Did not believe in creating an ideal state • Although he did believe in looking at current gov’t to create the best gov’t possible • Politics: His writing on Government. • 3 best forms of Gov’t • 1. Monarchy • 2. Aristocracy • 3. Constitutional (Democratic)

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece Alexander the Great and Macedonia

Macedonia Invades Greece • Philip II (359-338 BC) • King of Macedonia • Built powerful empire while Greek city-states fought each other • 338 BC: Battle of Chaerona (Thebes) • Desire to unite all Greek states together • Defeated Athenian led army • Wanted to form alliance with all Greeks to battle Persia • Assassinated before he could do it 337 BC: Son, Alexander, at age 20, becomes King of Macedonia

Alexander the Great • Alexander’s Conquests • 334BC: Entered Asia Minor with 37,000 • Defeated Persians at Issus and frees Ionian Greeks 332BC: Macedonia controlled Syria and Egypt Alexandria is established as capital 331BC: Defeats Persians near Babylon Gives him control of whole Persian Empire 328BC: Controls Pakistan 326BC: Controls India Soldiers told him they did not want to go farther east Alexander agrees and starts his journey home 323BC: Dies from combo of exhaustion, wounds, and alcohol at age 32

Alexander the Great • Legacy • Master of skills and tactics • Brave and Reckless • Willing to risk his own life Sought to imitate Achilles and kept a copy of Iliad under bed Creation of monarchies which eliminated city-states Spread Greek culture to world Art, architecture, literature, religion

Hellenistic Era • Hellenistic: Imitate the Greeks • 4 kingdoms created: Macedonia, Syria, Pergamum, and Egypt • All eventually conquered by Romans Alexander wanted to untie Macedonia, Greece, and Persia Persians would act as officials Soldiers would marry Persians to create new race Never came to be

Hellenistic Science • Aristarchus • Developed the theory that the sun was the center of the universe • Earth rotates around the sun • Not accepted until the 1700’s Eratosthenes Calculated Earth’s circumference at 24,675 miles Established that the Earth was round Archimedes Master of geometry Allegedly discovered gravity while taking a bath Screamed “Eureka” and ran down the street naked after it

Hellenistic Philosophy • Epicurus • Epicureanism • School of thought in Athens • Humans free to follow own self interests • Happiness is the ultimate goal • Pleasure is not a physical sense but a state of mind • Freedom from emotional turmoil and public activity Zeno Stoicism Happiness found by living in harmony with will of God Public service was noble. Be a good citizen Don’t separate yourself from the world

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece