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Classical greece. Sam Railey. Origins and Beginnings. Started before the Persian empire, Greek city-states developed an economy based on trade They were organized by largely populated city-states, surrounded by farming land
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Classical greece Sam Railey
Origins and Beginnings • Started before the Persian empire, Greek city-states developed an economy based on trade • They were organized by largely populated city-states, surrounded by farming land • They would become a rival power against the Persians, other Mediterranean power
Two Major City-States • Athens- • At first was ruled by a rich aristocratic class, but there are problems and social unrest • Next, they established a democratic government ruled by the people around 5th century BCE • While all citizens can attend the meetings in this first organized direct democracy, there are a few who are the best speakers and their ideas dominate • Sparta- • Based more on an aristocratic model, with two kings and an oligarchy underneath them • Militaristic state, where women were expected to bear sons who would grow to be brave and loyal soldiers • Loyalty and bravery were dominating values, opposed to public speaking and knowledge in Athens
Leading Up To The Hellenistic Period • Persian power and land grabs stressed the need for unification and cooperation between Athens and Sparta • The Persian Wars resulted- where some of the most epic battles of all time would happen: Thermopylae, Marathon, etc. • After the defeat of Persia, Athens built a Delian League made up of many small states under one empire • Tensions grew between Athens and Sparta with their large borders touching and sometimes overlapping • The Peloponnesian War started over Corcyra land disputes, but ultimately was about taking over the other city-state and conquering its money and glory • While Sparta technically won by cutting Athens off, the War was bad for both city-states in that it greatly weakened them and made their land look appealing to a new group of people: The Macedonians
Achievements of Pre-Hellenistic Greece • Homer’s epics the Iliad and the Odyssey-great works of poetry • Democracy and trial and jury were first developed in Greece • Athletic competitions such as the Olympic Games: these were for entertainment as well as an attempt to improve relations among people from different lands • The oracles at Delphi were a religious organization that made predictions and gave advice • Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle set up philosophical ways of thinking that stressed logic, ethics, and the need for intelligent rule
The Dawn Of The Hellenistic Period • Macedon came to take Greece from the North, then also took the Persians • Phillip II takes over and makes his empire, and on his death his son Alexander rose to power • He became a series of militaristic and political conquests that together made the largest empire that had ever been
Hellenistic Culture • As had happened with Greece before Macedonian conquest, former warriors settled down and started to build large aristocratic homes and positions • There was still a peasant class, though they were not used as an army any more, because of all of the trained warriors who wanted glory and riches • Merchants also had high positions in society, having a better social position than other merchants in most other classical societies • The warrior class was one of prestige, and being a brave soldier was something that increased your status and money
Achievements of the Hellenistic Period • With all of the wealth acquired by the military conquests, there was enough money, time, and manpower to make great public works and achievements in art and culture • The great library in Alexandria was built, along with museums around the empire • The earth’s rotation and revolution were correctly guessed, and mathematical ideas flourished • Sculpture and art followed the earlier Greek method of realistic sculpture with heroic qualities • Philosophy also made gains in new ideas; the Stoics who preached the living under virtues, which would make happiness
Contributions to the Modern World • While many of these accomplishments are known and widely credited to Classical Greece, a great deal of them made large impacts on life for the modern world. They include: • Geometry-many of the postulates and theorems came form Greece • Greco-Roman architecture is found in the capital building and the White House • Medicine- Hippocrates pioneered in treatment of common ailments • The Scientific Method comes from early philosophical methods of thinking and learning through logic and fact • The Olympic Games were made in Greece, as was wrestling, discus throwing, and other events in track and field
Works Cited • Carr, Dr. Karen. “Classical Greece.” Kidipede. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/classical.htm>. • “Classical Greece.” Wikipedia. N.p., 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Greece>. • Gill, N S. “Classical Greece.” About.com. New York Times Co., 2009. Web. 28 Sept. 2009. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/greecehellas1/a/classicalgreece.htm>. • Kreis, Steven. “Classical Greece.” The History Guide. N.p., 2000. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture7b.html>. • Stearns, Peter N. World Civlizations: The Global Experience. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. Print.
