Classical Greece

Classical Greece

Vocabulary Words • Mycenaean • Trojan War • Dorian • Homer • Epic • Myth • Polis • Acropolis • Monarchy • Aristocracy • Oligarchy • Tyrant • Democracy • Helot

Ancient Greece • Collection of separate lands where Greek speaking people live • Includes mainland and about 2000 islands • Geography is a big influence on how the area develops

Geography • The Sea • Shapes Greek civilization • Proximity to the sea, lack of resources, encouraged sea travel and trade • The Land • Mountain made for slow travel, divided land into regions • These regions developed into small local communities, many Greeks gave their loyalty to their communities

Mycenaean Greece

Mycenaeans • Migrated from Eurasia around 2000 BCE • Name came from their leading city of Mycenae • Ruled by warrior-kings from Mycenae, Tiryns, and Athens • They dominated Greece from 1600 BCE – 1100 BCE

Influence from the Minoans • Mycenaeans come into contact with the Minoan people • Saw the Minoans successfully trading by sea • Recognized the value of this and soon had multiple ports throughout the eastern Mediterranean • Adapted the Minoan writing system to the Greek language

Trojan War Fought during the 1200s BCE 10 year war between the Mycenaens and Troy According to legend, the Greeks destroyed Troy after a Trojan prince kidnapped Helen, the wife of a Greek king Previously believed to be completely fictional, excavations from the 1870s and on have suggested that the Trojan War may have been based on real cities, people, and events

Cultural Decline Under the Dorians • Shortly after the Trojan War, the Mycenaean civilization collapsed due to outside attacks • The Doriansmove into the area • They are much less advanced than the Mycenaeans • Economy and trade collapses soon after they arrive • There is a 400 year gap between written records • Due to this little more is known about this period

Epics of Homer Due to the lack of writing, the Greeks learned of their history through stories Composed narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds called epics One is the Trojan War in the poem the Iliad Another is the Odyssey

Greek Mythology • Developed myths, or traditional stories, about their gods • The works of Homer are examples of myths • Through myths the Greeks sought to understand the mysteries of nature and the power of human passions • Myths explained the changing of the seasons, for example

Greek Mythology • Attributed human qualities such as love, hate, and jealousy to their gods • The gods quarreled and competed with each other often • The gods live forever • Examples – Zeus, Hera, Athena

Rule and Order • Polis also known as a city-state • Made up of a city and its surrounding countryside, fewer than 10,000 residents • Citizens gathered in an acropolis (fortified hilltop) to discuss city government

Political Structures • Greek city-states had different forms of government • Monarchy – singleperson rule, a king • Aristocracy – small group of land owning nobles rule • Oligarchy– rule by a few powerful people, usually after taking power from the aristocracy

Political Structures • Tyrant – usually a noble, seized control of the government dueto repeated clashes between the common people and the rulers, not usually harshand cruel as we would think of a tyrant today, they looked out for the interests of the ordinary people

Building Democracy • The city-state Athens avoided major political upheavals by moving towards a democracy, rule by the people • Citizens participate directly in the decision making • Draco – developed legal code based on the idea that all Athenians, rich and poor, were equal under the law

Draco’s Code • Dealt harshly with criminals, making death the punishment for practically every crime • Upheld debt slavery, debtors worked as slaves to repay

Solon • Solon – came to power in 594 BCE, statedthat no citizen should own another, outlawing debt slavery • Organized all citizens into four social classes according to wealth • Only top three could hold political office • All could participate in Athenian assembly • Introduced idea that citizens could bring charges against wrongdoers

Cleisthenes • Introduced further reforms around 500 BCE • Broke up nobility power and organized citizens into ten groups based on where they lived as well as their wealth • Increased power of the assembly • Created the Council of Five Hundred • This body counseled over the assembly and proposed laws, council members chosen at random

Classical Greece