A Brief History of Greece

1. A Brief History of Greece Yeah, Right! The only thing “brief” about this guy are his shorts!

2. Greek Time Line 1,450 BC 2,000 BC 323 BC Alexander Dies Athens becomes democracy 510 BC 1,100 BC Dorians Arrive City-States form 750 BC 490 BC Persian Wars Begin Sparta begins 900 BC 146 BC Romans invade Minoan Civilization (Crete) Trojan War 1,250 BC Trojan War 1,250 BC Mycenaen Greek Culture begins to form, Age of Myths Hellenistic Age Cultural Diffusion throughout Alexander’s Empire Classical Age Theater, Philosophy, Pantheon, Art, Alexander Dark Age HomericEpics, Illiteracy, Iron Age, Alphabet Archaic Age Tyrants, democracy, Persian Wars 1,650 BC

3. Minoans(2000-1450 BC) • Pre-Greeks • Living on Crete • Bronze age • Building Palaces • Knocked down by earthquakes • 1st use of Sails in the Aegean Sea • (2000 – BC Egypt’s Middle Kingdom begins)

4. Myceneans(1650 – 1100 BC) • Mainland Greece • Mix with the Minoans • Share Religion/Gods • Lots of small kingdoms • Egypt – New Kingdom • Indus – Hindu religion develops • Jews wander to Palestine

5. Trojan War(1250 BC) • Queen Helen runs off with a Trojan Prince • King/Husband chases after her • Brings his brother & 10,000 ships • Includes Achilles • Greatest Greek warrior of all time –always wins, no matter what • Arete is the ultimate Greek value. • personal achievement, courage, and excellence = immortality – you will never be forgotten. • Do NOT disrespect a man who has earned Arete. • 10 years of fighting • Greeks win with the Trojan Horse

6. Dark Ages(1,100 – 750 BC) • Legend says the Dorians moved into Greece and wiped out everything good • Even the written language is forgotten • All we know about this era is what’s in the Homeric Epics • Poems recited aloud • The Illiad: Trojan Horse • The Odyssey: Odysseus journey home • Several examples of Arete – Ody, his wife, even the dog • Iron Age

7. City-States are forming • Cities of various sizes • Loose cultural connections • Bond to fight foreign invaders • Then fight each other • Variety of politics • Most famous are Athens, Sparta and Corinth

8. Archaic Age(750 – 490 BC) • Sparta is already democratic • Becomes an oligarchy • Athens goes through a series of “tyrants” • Not always bad rulers, just absolute • But when they become bad, Athens goes Democratic (510 BC) • Writing is rediscovered

9. Sparta

10. Athens

11. Persian Wars(490-479 BC) • Persia has already expanded into Europe • Becomes annoyed with Greek colonies in the east that are supporting rebellions against Persia • Persians invade Greece twice – lose both times despite huge numerical advantage • 1) Marathon ( 490) • 2) Thermopolis and Salamis (480)

12. Marathon (490 BC)Darius vs. Greeks • 10,000 Athenians vs 100,000 Persians • Spartans have a holiday • Meet at the Bay of Marathon as the Persians are unloading from ships • Greeks phalanx formation attacks in a line • The sides of the Greek line close together, forcing the Persian to retreat • A messenger runs 26 miles to Athens • Yells “Nike” and dies • Greek traitors decide not o open the city gates • Persians have no desire for a seige, turn and go home. • Most important battle ever fought on land

13. Round 2Xerxes vs the Greeks & 300 Spartans • Darius son tries again • Brings 250,000 • 10,000 highly trained “Immortals” • Athenians – • Spartans – 300 • Meet at the mountain Pass at Thermopolis • Spartans hold 3 days ( may have been betrayed) • Persian sack Athens • But the Greek fleet draws the Persian fleet into a narrow channel and defeats them at Salamis • Persian Army has no logistical support • A year later, the remaining Persian Army is wiped out.

14. Classical Age(490-336 B.C.) • Greeks’ Golden Age • Philosophers • Theater • Art • Architecture

15. Peloponnesian Wars(431-405) • Athens leads a new Greek Alliance of City-States • Collects a lot of defense money • Builds a bigger wall around Athens • Then builds the Parthenon • OOPS! – The other sites get angry • Everyone goes after Athens • Athens eventually falls • But quickly recovers

16. Philosophers • Socrates – asked quesitons • Plato – Questions our ability to truly perceive and know the world • Aristotle – Happiness results from doing what you are meant to do. • Scientist – categorized biology • Most knowledgeable man ever.

17. Alexander the Great • Macedonian, educated in Athens by Aristotle • Greek at heart • Conquers everything from Spain to the Indus • Rules the known world, including Greece • Dies in 323 – end of the Classical Age

18. Hellenistic Age(323-146 BC) • Rule reverts to Alex’s Generals • Marked by Culteral Diffusion across the wide Empire • Greek Ages come to an end with the Roman invasion