Greek History

1. Greek History Complex and sophisticated motto: all things in moderation they did nothing in moderation

2. Ancient Greece importance to Western culture fundamental ideas and categories Individualism and Humanism the rise of Reason decline of superstition/religion

3. Important Precursors Minoan Crete Mycenaean Greece

4. Minoan Crete ca. 2900 B.C. to 1450 B.C. contemporary with Egypt major, non-river valley culture highly sophisticated literate Linear A and Linear B

5. Minoan Crete, con�t surplus agriculture industry over-seas commercial trade

6. Minoan Culture elaborate towns and villages complex religious ideas sophisticated art sports and leisure high status for women

7. Minoan Culture, con�t unwalled cities no foreign invasions few weapons no civil conflict

8. Interpretation? King Minos? utopia? matriarchy? thalassocracy?

9. Contributions to Greeks linguistic olives, grapes, figs place names overseas movement

10. Mycenaeans Bonze Age Greeks 2000-1100 B.C. small, warrior states war, trade, piracy literate (Linear B)

11. Mycenaeans, con�t the Heroic Age the Age of Myth the development of Greek Religion beginnings of a common culture

12. The Dark Ages the Dorian Invasion ? loss of literacy loss of political sophistication

13. The Archaic Period ca. 850 B.C. beginning of classical Greek history foundations of Western culture

14. The Polis the city-state city and dependent territory independence of each city warfare and rivalry

15. The Ethnos Greek tribal structures villages common cult centers fringes of the Greek world

16. Rise of Literacy the alphabet Homer the Iliad, the Odyssey Hesiod Works and Days, the Theogony Lyric poetry Sappho

17. Age of Colonization ca. 750-650 B.C. Spain to Russia spread of Greek culture contact with foreign peoples

18. Varieties of Constitutions Plato, Aristotle, Polybius based on observation of types in Greece thought of organically three Good types, three Bad types the anacyclosis

19. The Good Ones monarchy (rule by one) aristocracy (rule by the best) constitutional government (rule by a body of law)

20. The Bad Ones tyranny (extra-legal rule by one man) oligarchy (rule by a faction) democracy (rule by the people, without law)

21. Other forms you name it socialism, communism, utopianism egalitarian between genders etc.

22. Athens and Sparta most available evidence both are exceptions to the norm both dominate the Greek world

23. Sparta no colonization, conquest of neighbors the constitution of Lycurgus a perpetual military state all citizens are subordinated to the state no private property

24. Rise of Tyrants many states moved from monarchy to tyranny rise of disenfranchised classes ? rise of a new military form the Hoplite soldier

25. Athens evolution from monarchy to democracy aristocracy, with elected rulers Cylon and Draco Solon: reform and timocracy Peisistratus: a tyranny Cleisthenes: the rise of democracy

26. Cylon attempted tyranny faction struggle blood-feuds need for written law

27. Draco first to write and post the laws the homicide courts did not solve social problems threat of violent revolution redistribute the land, cancel all debts

28. Enter Solon chosen by all to avoid revolution new constitution beginnings of democracy opened political offices created protections for the people

29. Peisistratus three attempts a tyranny the Golden Age of Athens used his own wealth not a modern �tyrant�

30. Cleisthenes defeated in �faction fighting� became a �democrat� reorganization of all citizens breakdown of hereditary kinship groups democracy

31. The Persian Wars, 490-479 B.C. Ionian Revolt invasion of Greece Marathon Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea the defining moment for Western culture

32. The Rise of Athens war of liberation and revenge against Persia The Delian League transformation into the Athenian Empire burden of fighting: Athens burden of cost: the Allies the Periclean Age

33. The Peloponnesian War Sparta and her Allies Athens and her Allies devastated Classical Greece devastated both Sparta and Athens

34. The Fourth Century power vacuums, struggle for hegemony Thebes Federal leagues military monarchies Thessaly Macedonia

35. The Rise of Macedonia Philip of Macedon Alexander the Great the turning point of both Ancient and World history no Alexander, then it�s a very different world

36. Conquests of Alexander the Persian Empire, plus a little extra rapid spread of Hellenism the Successor Kingdoms establishment of a permanent link The West to China never closed

37. Greek Culture and Civilization foundations of Western thought asked the important questions for the first time gave the answers--that made sense--for the first time

38. Greek Religion Homer Hesiod polytheistic civic tolerant

39. Greek Religion, con�t fully humanized gods deorum pax not concerned with morality no regular priests or clergy no �church and state�

40. Greek Religion, con�t civic cults private cults mystery cults oracles atheists

41. Philosophy some people were not satisfied by �religion� but were not inclined to turn to non-civic cults answers the �Big Questions� deals with areas not covered by religion

42. Philosophy love of wisdom search for causes search for why things happen application of reason and demonstration

43. The Pre-Socratics: Natural Sciences Thales: founder of philosophy Xenophanes: the One Empedocles: transmigration of souls Heraclitus: the dialectic Leucippus and Democritus: biological evolution and atomic theory and so forth�..

44. The Sophists Man is the measure of all things. interest in human activities

45. Socrates the turning point movement toward ethics, metaphysics, etc. away from natural sciences �What is necessary to live the virtuous life?� Goodness innate in the human mind

46. Plato taught in the dialogue form concerned with how one acquires knowledge chief concern: ethics important for early Christian theology

47. Aristotle primary concern: everything organization of human knowledge division of learn into fields and subfields important for medieval Christianity

48. Stoics concern with ethics, logic, and physics cyclic universe important for early Christianity

49. Other Important Schools Cynics Skeptics Epicureans