Ancient Greece Geography Located in Southern Balkan Peninsula

Ancient Greece

Geography • Located in Southern Balkan Peninsula and on small rocky islands in Aegean Sea • Mild climate; rainy winters & hot summers- suitable for some types of farming • VERY Mountainous – serves 2 functions – Protects Greece from invasions – Isolates Greeks from one another • (Greeks will have same language & religion, but will NEVER be united under 1 single government)

Early Greek Civilizations • Minoans (2500 -1450 BCE) – 1 st Greek-like civilization, located on island of Crete – Ruins of Minoan capitol of Knossos found in 1900 by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans – Seafaring people, many merchants (traded throughout Med) • Spread their ideas and beliefs to others – Polytheistic – main god was goddess Earth Mother – Greatest king was King Minos

• Mycenaeans – Took over after Minoan decline (some overlap) – Ruins discovered on Greek mainland by Heinrich Schliemann in late 1800 s – Influenced by Minoans, had same religion & similar society – More artisans & more organized gov’t than Minoans – Overtake by Dorians (invaders from the North) • Greece enters Dark Age • Legendary Writing – The Iliad and The Odyssey composed, credited to blind bard known as Homer – Stories based on Trojan War between Greece/Mycenaeans & city of Troy in 1200 s BCE

New Societies • City states begin to emerge from “Dark Ages” between 800 -700 BCE • Greek city-state – Called a polis; usually included city & surrounding villages, orchards, fields, etc. – Acropolis – fortified hill in middle of city • Had temple to local patron deity • Agora- area used to carry out local affairs – Citizens could vote, hold office, own property • Most residents not citizens (many slaves) – Women had little or no political/legal rights

Greek Society • Trade & Economics – Each polis had colony in Mediterranean; used for grain & food – Economy based on barter until 500 s BCE (Lydians & coins) – Had relatively advanced textiles and pottery • Politics – – City-states were ruled at first by kings, but lose power in 700 s BCE Many switch to gov’ts run by aristocracy In 500 s BCE, several switch to democracy (including Athens) 2 most famous & powerful city-states were Sparta & Athens

Sparta • • Founded by descendants of Dorians Patron god Apollo No colonies; just invaded, conquered & enslaved others Slaves try to revolt in 650 BCE – 200, 000 Helot slaves vs. 10, 000 Spartan warriors – Takes around 30 years to fully suppress revolt – Leads Sparta to change society- COMPLETELY focus on military • Spartan Military Society – – – Infants examined at birth; healthy lived, weak killed Spartan boys start military school at age 7 Stay in school until age 20 – then join a company (retired at 60) Spartan men married around age 30 Women married around 19; could own property & express opinions • Gov’t has 2 Kings (ruled jointly); Assembly (all adult males) & Council of Elders (28 men over age 60) • No trade, little wealth, little intellectual achievements

Athens • N. E. of Sparta; descendants of Mycenaeans • Patron goddess Athena • Gov’t began with Kings, switches to democracy – All citizens participated (males only) – Most not citizens in beginning, but definition of citizen expands over time- more allowed to participate • More focused on education – Most intellectual advancements come from Athens – 3 major philosophers all from Athens (Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle) • Men had required military service of 2 years (age 18) – After required service, you could choose to continue in military or choose a different career

Greek Philosophers • Socrates – – 1 st of the great philosophers; born poor Attracted to process of learning “Socratic Method” Sentenced to death for “corrupting the youth of Athens”; drinks hemlock juice and commits suicide • Plato – – Born an aristocrat, attracted to Socrates’ teachings Continues Socrates’ teachings after his suicide opens academy Wrote several works; most famous was The Republic • Aristotle – – Last of 3 great philosophers Studied under Plato; tutors Alexander the Great Creates his own school (Lyceum) Syllogism- system of presenting an argument to test its logic

Persian Wars • Persians conquer great C/S of Ionia in 546 BCE – Ionia revolts w/ help from Athens in 499 BCE (revolt fails) – Persia seeks revenge on Greece for interfering • King Darius I attacks Greece in 490 BCE – Sparta doesn’t help (religious festival) – Athens leads fight against Persians at Plains of Marathon – Legend says Greeks only lost 192 men (Persia lost 6400+) • King Xerxes returns to attack Greece in 480 BCE – Brings 200, 000+ soldiers and supply ships – Sparta has another religious festival, but sends 300 men including King Leonides (Delphi oracle) – Battle of Thermopylae (Spartans delay Persians) – Sea Battle of Salamis • Smaller Greek ships out maneuver larger Persian ships – Persians leave and never return to attack

Peloponnesian War • Threat of Persian Invasion remains after Salamis • Athens convinces most of Greek C/S to ally (not Sparta) • Delian League formed (led by Athenian Pericles) – D. L. frees Ionia from Persia; rids Mediterranean of pirates – Pericles misuses DL money, builds up Athens (Parthenon) – DL becomes Athenian empire • Sparta becomes leader in anti-Athenian alliance • Off and on war between Sparta & Athens from 431 -404 BCE – Athens holds its own against Sparta – Sparta builds navy with help from Persians (in exchange for Ionia) – Plague strikes Athens, killing 1/3 of population • Athens finally surrenders when Sparta lays siege to Athens

Alexander the Great • Sparta & Athens weakened after war; Macedonia gains power in 360 s BCE under Philip • Philip assassinated in 336 BCE, son Alexander takes over • Some resistance from Greek C/S – Alexander crushes revolts & brings Greeks under his control (Thebes) • Alexander attacks Persians, defeating them by 334 BCE • Empire is expanded to Egypt, Middle East, even to India • Alexander dies in 323 BCE from disease; generals fight over empire causing it to quickly fall • Known as beginning of Hellenistic Age (spread of Greek culture to Middle East & India)