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Greek Civilization -- From the Minoans to Alexander

Greek Civilization -- From the Minoans to Alexander. Introduction Importance of studying the Greeks Basis for western culture Art Literature Drama Architecture Language Basis for western philosophy Importance of the individual Free will Unifying force in the ancient world

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Greek Civilization -- From the Minoans to Alexander

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  1. Greek Civilization -- From the Minoans to Alexander

  2. Introduction • Importance of studying the Greeks • Basis for western culture • Art • Literature • Drama • Architecture • Language • Basis for western philosophy • Importance of the individual • Free will • Unifying force in the ancient world • Took Greek culture around the known world • Imported ancient cultures into Greek culture

  3. Importance of geography • Location near the sea: Sea Based Traders • Greece small, mountainous, rocky • Not a lot of crops • Not a lot of people • Individual city states: VERY INDEPENDENT

  4. Early Greeks • Minoan civilization (2000-1400BC) • Crete, island in Mediterranean until 1400 or so • Cnossus - capital • Government: Monarchical bureaucracy (mythical king Mynos) • Cities built without defensive walls • Minotaur and the Labyrinth - bull figures prominently in religion • Brought down by volcano, Mycenaean invasion 1450-1400 BC

  5. Mycenaean society - mainland - 1900-1100BC • Social and political hierarchy • City state monarchies: Big tombs, powerful kings • Priests had significant power • Bureaucracy • Dominated by large landowners • Thetes - landless laborers, much of population • Religion • Polytheistic • Use of animal sacrifice • Many familiar Greek gods already appeared • War and conflict common • Cities built for defense • War with Troy 1250 BC gives rise to stories of Iliad and Odyssey • Weakened by collapse of Hittite Empire and loss of trade • Brought down by invasion

  6. The Dark Ages "lights out" (1100-750) • Step backwards for civilization • Less developed cities • Homer and history • Iliad and the Odyssey - poems written down in 700s BC • Touchstones for Greek civilization • Values portrayed • Physical prowess • Courage • Defense of family and property • Personal honor -- individual contests • EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUALS (normal people not kings) • Independence gained again but with new heros.

  7. New social structure emerges • Landowners • Non Landowners

  8. Age of Expansion (750-500BC) - also called Archaic Age • Based on new economies • Colonization outside of Greece due to population pressures • Led to more food production • More people / power • More money • Invested power and money into more trade • Trade was possible all over the Mediterranean world • Italy to France, Malta, Cyprus, Spain, Western Africa, almost to Egypt • Olive oil central to trade -- death sentence for killing a tree

  9. Organization of Greek city-states: the Polis (Poleis) • "Small but autonomous political unit" • As many as 200 poleis • Two most important: Sparta and Athens • Often centered on an acropolis (high point) • Lives lived in streets - everyone knows everyone • All met in the agora (marketplace) • Became the center for religion, trade, art, politics • Creates rivalry between cities

  10. Social organization • Citizens--men, with political rights • Citizens--women, no political rights • Non-citizens--foreigners, slaves • Religion • Multiple deities led by Zeus • Resided on Olympus • Gods very human in behavior • Each city had a guardian deity • Oracle at Delphi preached moderation, self-control

  11. Spartan society • Based on military • Boys raised by the state to be warriors • military training 7-20 • Enlist in army at 20-30 (live on barracks) • Homosexual behavior encouraged • 30-60, ate meals at barracks (marry and produce kids) • Imperfect male children exposed to die at birth • "It is a noble thing for a good man to die fighting for his fatherland. Make life your enemy, and the black spirits of death dear as the rays of the sun." --Trytaios, 520 BC

  12. Girls and mothers in the home – valued for ability to produce children • Little contact with the outside • Spartan Politics • Military kept control of population • Two monarchs on top • Council (28 elders over 60) • Males citizens over 30 could vote, yes or no, on issues

  13. Athenian society - 150,000 at its height • Aristocratically based • Less rigid • Gap between rich and poor brought revolutionary pressures • Many enslaved for debt

  14. Growth democracy • Solon - 594BC • Cancelled debts, freed many slaves • Promoted trade - economic opportunities • Broadened voting rights - limited democracy • Established council • Cleisthenes - 508BC • Defeats aristocratic restoration • Democracy - expanded • Council of 500 - assembly of all citizens • Ekklesia - all male citizens had final authority • Met every ten days • Any male citizen could speak, introduce legislation • 1/3 of population slaves (no rights) • Women had few rights • Society of THINKERS

  15. Classical Greece (500-338) • Athens vs. Sparta • Period of greatest intellectual and artistic achievement • Persian world dominance threatens Greece • Darius, Xerxes • Sparta • Pass of Thermopylae - 300 • Persia wins

  16. Athenian age • Athens leads an alliance to beat Persia • Inventive: alliance and inventions (small ramming ships) • Athenian dominance - Delian League • Advances democracy • Victory over Persians gave Greeks (Athens) enormous self-confidence • Sparta???

  17. Problems between Athens and Sparta • Different views of society, politics, and empire • Both wanted power over Greece • Peloponnesian wars (main period of fighting 460-404 BC) • Democracy turned into mob rule • No clear winners, both clear losers - Sparta "wins," but both left exhausted • Weakened both sides, possibility of invasion

  18. Invasion by the Macedonians, 338 • Philip beat the Greeks, but died 336 BC • Son, Alexander (356-323 BC), created the empire • Completely militaristic • Entire reign based on the expansion of Greek (Macedonian, Hellenistic) Empire • Expansion of Greece at all costs, including himself • Beat back all major empires in the Mediterranean • Persians • Egyptians • India • Present day Pakistan • Broke down into Hellenistic Kingdoms after his death

  19. Importance • Linked Greece to the rest of the (non Chinese) civilized world • Set the stage for the growth of Roman Empire, Christianity, the West

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