A Review of the Classical Civilizations of Greece and Rome

1. A Review of the Classical Civilizations of Greece and Rome Classical: a period marked by vast contributions to arts and sciences

2. Before Classical Greece & Rome… • Minoans • Island of Crete in Aegean Sea • Empire based on trade • Palace complex at Knosses • Advanced building & art • Sudden & catastrophic collapse

3. Mycenae • Powerful monarchs • Fortified palaces • Warrior aristocracy • Homer’s Illiad and Trojan War

4. After the Minoans and Mycenaeans… • Dorians invaded Mycenae from north causing many Mycenaeans to flee to Asia Minor-Dark Ages • The Ionian city states were established on coast of Asia Minor • Greeks became known as Hellenes after this point in time

5. After the Dark Ages… • Prosperity increased which resulted in population growth • Population growth resulted in not enough land to raise crops such as wheat and barley to feel the larger population

6. What Could They Do? • Greek city-states decided to start colonies to raise the crops (mainly wheat) they needed • Colonies were established all around the Mediterranean and Black Seas. These colonies would then send back wheat and barley to the mainland.

7. But Wait! There’s More! • As more colonies were established (about 250!) more land became available in Greece for cash crops • Olives and grapes were the most important cash crops in Greece • The production of cash crops increased trade

8. And That’s Not All… • Since plenty of food was now available and with trade increasing, many people were able to specialize, becoming craftsmen and artisans • More craftsmen and artisans meant more products available for trade…and this also increased trade!

9. Greek City-states • City-state-polis • Athens • Limited & direct democracy • Sparta • Warrior society

10. The Ionians (and Cyrus the Great) Started It! • Greek city states in Ionia (Asia Minor) revolted against Persian rule • Mainland Greeks sent help but were defeated by the Persians

11. Battle of Marathon • Persian king, Darius I, decided the Greeks needed to be punished for helping the Ionians revolt • He sent ships and men to Marathon, about 26 miles from Athens • Athenians outnumbered 20,000 to 10,000, but defeated the Persians

12. Battle of Thermopylae • Spartan King Leonidas with 300 Spartans and about 7,000 other Greeks held the Persians off for three days at this mountain pass. • After the Greeks were betrayed, Leonidas sent the other Greeks back while he and the 300 Spartans stayed to hold the pass as long as they could

13. Battle of Salamis • After the Persians defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae, the proceeded to Athens. • Athenians had already deserted the city. • Persian and Greek navies met at Salamis where the Persians were defeated

14. And Now, They Fight Each Other… • The Peloponnesian War began after Athens formed the Delian League and became very powerful under Pericles • Sparta formed an alliance against Athens and even allied with Persia to defeat the Athenians in 404 BCE • The war lasted 25 years

15. Greek City States Defeated by Philip I • By the end of 25 years of fighting the Greek city states had weakened each other • This allowed King Philip of Macedon to conquer them • Philip planned on attacking Persia but was assassinated before he could do so

16. Alexander Creates an Empire • Philip’s son, Alexander, picked up where Philip had left off • He conquered Persia and created the largest empire know up until that time

17. Hellenism • As Greek culture spread with Alexander and his army it was adopted and blended with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian cultures • The blending of these cultures resulted in the Hellenistic Era

18. Greek Contributions • Philosophers: • Socrates • Plato • Aristotle

19. Socrates • Believed in individual’s ability to reason. • “The unexamined life is not worth living.” • Questioned authority, which led him into trouble.

20. Accused and convicted of corrupting Athenian youth by teaching them to question and think for themselves. • Sentenced to die by drinking a poison.

21. Plato • A student of Socrates. • Wrote The Republic. • Distrusted democracies. • Believed an ideal state included “philosopher kings” at the top, followed by warriors and the masses at the bottom.

22. Aristotle • A student of Plato. • Wrote Politics. • Determined that monarchies, aristocracies, and constitutional governments were best forms of governments.

23. Rome’s Beginnings • Rome began as several villages established by the Latins • Latins were conquered by Etruscans in 680 BCE • The Etruscan king was overthrown by Latins in 500 BCE, who swore that they would never again be ruled by a king. • Latins established a republic. At first, the patricians held most power in government, but eventually the plebians gained rights.

24. Rome Expands Expansion successful because: • Skillful diplomacy • Well-disciplined army • Generous to defeated enemies

25. Roman Republic 500 BCE-31 AD

26. Punic Wars • Rome attacked Carthage’s colony in Sicily, beginning a long period of confrontations between the two superpowers of the Mediterranean

27. Rome Continues to Expand • 264-241 BCE-1st Punic War against Carthage • 218-202 BCE-2nd Punic War-Hannibal invades Italy through Alps • Battle of Cannae-40,000 Romans wounded/died • Romans attack Carthage to get Hannibal out of Italy

28. Carthage Destroyed • 149-146-3rd Punic War-Rome totally destroys Carthage

29. Civil Wars 82-31 BCE • 100 BCE-Growing gap between rich and poor, but Rome continues to expand • 44 BCE-Rome controls the Mediterannean-called “Mare Nostrum” or “our sea” • Julius Caesar assassinated • 1st and 2nd Triumvirates battle for control in civil wars (Marcus Antony, Cleopatra, Octavius)

30. The Empire Begins • 31 BCE-End of the Republic when Octavius declares himself “Augustus” or “Honored One”

31. Roman Empire 31 AD-476 AD • 41-54 AD-Claudius adds Britain • 98-117-Empire is at it’s largest during rule of Trajan

32. Pax Romana 96-180 AD • 96-180-Pax Romana • Ends with death of Marcus Aurelius

33. Roman Contributions: • Cicero-philosopher, statesman • Had great influence on ideas on justice, law and liberty found in American founding documents • Proposed natural law, that human nature included reason which could be used to discover justice which was the basis of law.

34. Cicero believed that civic virtue was important and he worried that the loss of virtue was the source of Rome’s difficulties.

35. More Contributions… • Engineering: roads, bridges, aqueducts • Rule of law (12 Tables), justice

36. Beginning of the End

37. 300 years of slow decline • 293 AD-Diocletian divides empire

38. Constantine builds a new capital and names it Constantinople • The eastern half of the empire remains strong and continues to flourish • The Western half of the empire, however, struggles

39. Fall of the Roman Empire • Economic causes • Large empires are expensive • Declining population (wars, invasions, plague) • Fewer people meant higher taxes (costs were not going down) • Many lost land and moved to cities • “Bread and circuses”

40. Economic Woes

41. Social causes • Lost values of loyalty and duty • Many non Romans in government and military • Wealthy less interested in providing leadership

42. Political causes • Empire too large • Capital moved to Constantinople • Civil War (cost money and lost lives)

43. Military causes • Invasions of Vandals, Angles and Saxons, Huns, Visigoths

44. The Visigoth leader, Odoacer, overthrew the emperor and proclaimed himself king in 476 AD