Ancient Greece 1750 133 BC Geography Balkan Peninsula

Ancient Greece 1750 -133 BC

Geography • Balkan Peninsula – Mountains and Valleys

Geography • Balkan Peninsula – Mountains and Valleys – Small City-States

Geography • Balkan Peninsula – Mountains and Valleys – Small City-States – Deep rooted independence

Geography • Balkan Peninsula – Sea Trade

Trade and War in Mycenaean – dominated Aegean 1400 -1200 BC. “Sea People” – Traded/raided Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia DNA similar to those in Palestine (early Philistines? )

Mycenaean and the Trojan War They are best known for the Trojan War in 1250 BC.

The Trojan War Greeks offer up, what appears to be a peace treaty ( a wood horse). Inside, men are hiding… Greeks seize Troy and burn it to the ground. If you were a King, would you sacrifice thousands of men’s lives in a ten year war over the honor of one woman?

The Trojan War “The Truth” War was about the wealth that could be obtained by controlling the Dardanelles straits Taxes on every trading vessel passing from/to Black Sea

Homer & Greek Legends Iliad and Odyssey - Homer Brought us ideals of the Greeks… Honor, Courage, Eloquence

SPARTA

SPARTA Counsel of Elders Advisors Assembly of Citizens Approved Major Decisions

Spartan Society Spartiates Perioeci Craftsmen Helots - Spartan soldiers Merchants and State slaves/serfs

Spartan Citizen • Newborns examined for defects

Spartan Citizen • Newborns examined for defects • @ age 7, assigned to military barracks “With your shield, or on it”

Spartan Citizen • Newborns examined for defects • @ age 7, assigned to military barracks • @ age 20, allowed to marry. Stayed in Barracks

Spartan Citizen • Newborns examined for defects • @ age 7, assigned to military barracks • @ age 20, allowed to marry. Stayed in Barracks • @ age 30, took his place in the assembly

Spartan Women

Spartan Women • Expected to Exercise and strengthen body Girls engaged in sports and receive some public education

Spartan Women • Expected to Exercise and strengthen body • Expected to produce Healthy Sons • Plutarch says, explicitly, that his purpose is not to write political history, but to bring out the subjects' particular virtues and vices and to illustrate his character. This purpose is worth bearing in mind — Plutarch's lives are not necessarily objective historical accounts, but narrative pictures aiming to convey a particular moral point.

Spartan Women • Expected to Exercise and strengthen body • Expected to produce Healthy Sons • Ran the family estate (men at war) women possessed economic power and influence

Spartan Women Allowed many freedoms not seen in ancient world “Spartan women have opinions, they were not afraid to voice them in public; and worse still – their husbands listened to them!” - Athenian

Sparta Stands Alone They looked down on trade and wealth. Had little use for the arts or new ideas. “Spartans are willing to die for their city because they have no reason to live. ” - Athenian

The Phalanx new form of warfare

ATHENS

ATHENS City built on two levels – Highest was the Acropolis Parthenon – Temple dedicated to Goddess Athena in Athens

ATHENS The free residents were called Citizen

ATHENS Monarchy – a Hereditary ruler Aristocracy – 700 BC, Wealthy Landowners who could afford good weapons and chariots Oligarchy – government that included small wealthy Middle Class merchants.

ATHENS Cleisthenes – Demokratia - Direct Democracy "the father of Athenian democracy. “ credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 507 BC. allowed a Lottery (or ‘by Lot’) of the Oligarchy in a selection of Legislators (council of 500)

PERSIAN WARS Thermopylae Pass Initially, 300 Spartan ◦ XERXES, LEONIDAS soldiers held off Persian Army The delay allowed other Greek city-states to unite and plan 5000 Greeks were then defeated in the following battle Within a year, the Greeks defeated the Persians Delian League ◦ Formed to protect the Greek City-States from outside invasion ◦ Each city-state paid a tribute (dues)