Ancient Greece The earliest records of ancient Greece

Ancient Greece The earliest records of ancient Greece geography were maintained by Herodotus, the 'Father of History', Thucydides and Xenophon.

Geography n Greece is a peninsula about the size of Louisiana in the Mediterranean Sea. n It’s very close to: – Egypt – Persian Empire – Rome

Greek geography Greece is mountainous n Greek communities often times developed independently because of the mountains n They were diverse communities independent of each other (City-States) n As a result, they tended to go to war to settle differences n

Terracing saves water and soil in mountainous environments

The Man, the Myth, the Legend What were legends? n How are they important for studying the past? n Where do we see legends in society? n

Marathon: Phidippides

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Legends n A legend is a semitrue story, which has been passed on from person-toperson and has important meaning or symbolism for the culture in which it originates.

n. A legend usually includes an element of truth, or is based on historic facts, but with 'mythical qualities’ n Legends usually involve heroic characters or fantastic places and often spiritual beliefs of the culture in which they originate.

Myths A myth is a story based on tradition or legend, which has a deep symbolic meaning. n A myth 'conveys a truth' to those who tell it and hear it, rather than necessarily recording a true event. n

However… n myths can be accounts of actual events, they have become transformed by symbolic meaning or shifted over time or place. n Myths are often used to explain universal and local beginnings and involve supernatural beings.

Myths live on n The great power of the meaning of these stories, to the culture in which they developed, is a major reason why they survive as long as they do sometimes for thousands of years.

Technology results from necessity n Since Greek coastal cities were sandwiched between the ocean and the sea, they developed a powerful navy for trading and fighting.

Technology results from scarcity All cities need fresh water. This is a Greek aqueduct, basically a brick water pipe. n The first aqueduct was Assyrian, but most ancient societies had them. n

The Greeks were the original Olympiads. Their scientists studied the best way to perform sports

Greek Invention n The Greeks invented the crane.

Greek Architecture Greeks invented arches and columns. n This obviously took advanced mathematics. n

More Greek Architecture

The Polis: Aristotle n “Every State is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good; for mankind always act in order to obtain that which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a greater degree than any other, and at the highest good. ”

The Polis n Unique version of city-states called the Polis. – Typically built on two levels. • Top Level: The acropolis: great for defense of the city – Temples to the gods or goddesses • Lower Level: Main City – Market Place, Theater, Public Buildings, Homes

Early Government First ruler of the Polis was a king. – Government with a king or queen at the center is a monarchy. n Slowly this power shifted to the noble land owners. n Warriors or military defenders gain power as well. – Through this developed an aristocracy. n Middle Classes also emerged and formed an Oligarchy. n

Changes in Warfare – In about 650 B. C. E. iron weapons and tools replaced bronze. • Because iron was cheaper ordinary citizens could afford helmets, shields, and swords. – New methods of fighting emerged. • The phalanx was a massive formation of heavily armed foot soldiers. – A New type of warfare began.

Greek Military This is a phalanx. n Soldiers get in a tight formation. n They each have a large shield and a 9 foot long spear. n

Greek Military This is a hoplite, a Greek infantry soldier. n Hoplites were middle -class freemen who had to pay for their own weapon and shield. n

Athens vs. Sparta n What made the city-states unique? n Let us find out…. n Ladies : examine what life was like in Athens n Gentlemen: jump into the life of the Spartans

Political: Athens was the first democracy. n Democracy: type of government where people vote. n Athens was a direct democracy where people voted on everything.

Direct participation was the key to Athenian democracy. n In the Assembly, every male citizen was not only entitled to attend as often as he pleased but… n

But…. . n also had the right to debate, offer amendments, and vote on proposals. Every man had a say in whether to declare war or stay in peace. Basically any thing that required a government decision, all male citizens were allowed to participate in.

Political terms n All of Greece wasn’t a democracy. n Most of Greece was a monarchy a type of government ruled by a king or queen. n At right is Pericles, a good king of Athens.

Sparta was an isolated city-state that was culturally and politically different from Athens. n Sparta was an oligarchy, government ruled by a few. They had 2 kings. n During the Peloponnesian Sparta sacked Athens. n

Spartan society was obsessed with war. n Boys were sent to military school at a young age. n Boys who are born deformed are left to die on mountainsides n

Athens n Athenians were tough but were encouraged to engage in activities like art, philosophy, music.

Persian Invasion: Section 3 Yes Greek city-states had their differences but in times of difficulty and emergency they united as Greeks. Their Greek culture in times of need united them above all.

Victory at Marathon: 1 st Persian Invasion Persian emperor Darius the Great sent a huge force across the Aegean to punish Athens for its interference. n The Persians outnumbered the Athenians 2 to 1. n Overwhelmed by the furious attacks the Persians retreated to their ships. n Pheidippides, the fastest Athenian runner, was sent to carry the news home to Athens. He ran 26. 2 miles and said “Rejoice, we conquer. ” Then he dropped dead. n

Persian Invasion Background n 500 B. C. E Athens emerged at the wealthiest Greek city-state. n Persians controlled the Greek city-state of Ionia. – In 499 B. C. E. the Ionian Greeks rebelled against the Persians. Athens sent ships to support the Ionian rebellion.

Fact vs. Fiction ? ? n How can we determine and analyze popular culture vs. historical accuracy?

Fact vs. Fiction n In his comic book, he depicts the Persians as effeminate, and presents them as religious devotees. n The traitor is a hunchback. n The Spartans are physically perfect. n It is white versus black, man versus woman, mysticism versus rationalism, healthy versus sick.

Persian Empire at the Time of Xerxes

Second Persian Invasion 480– 479 BC n King Xerxes I of Persia sought to conquer all of Greece. n The invasion was a direct response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece(492– 490 BC) at the Battle of Marathon which ended Darius the First’s attempts to conquer Greece.

n After Darius's death, his son Xerxes spent several years planning for the second invasion, mustering an enormous army and navy. n The Athenians and Spartans led the Greek resistance, with some 70 citystates joining the 'Allied' effort. However, most of the Greek cities remained neutral or submitted to Xerxes.

The Bridge Over the Hellespont n The invasion began in spring 480 BC, when the Persian army crossed the Hellespont n http: //maps. google. com/? ie=UTF 8&om= 1&z=14&ll=40. 368782, 23. 919811&spn= 0. 037209, 0. 069351&t=k

Persian Advance n The Persian advance was blocked at the pass of Thermopylae by a small Allied force under King Leonidas I of Sparta n Persian fleet was blocked by an Allied fleet at the straits of Artemisium.

Results n Battle of Thermopylae: Allied army held back the Persian army for seven days, before they were outflanked by a mountain path : annihilated n The Allied fleet had also withstood two days of Persian attacks at the Battle of Artemisium, but when news reached them of the disaster at Thermopylae, they withdrew to Salamis.

n Victory in the Persian Wars increased the Greek sense of uniqueness. n Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful Greek city-state.

Athens in the Age of Pericles n Pericles was a statesman that pushed the Athenian city-state to thrive economically and allowed the government to become more democratic. n Direct Democracy- a large number of male citizens took part in the day-to-day affairs of government.

Greek v. Greek Peloponnesian Wars n Peloponnesian wars pitted city states of Athens and Sparta against each other – Sparta and other enemies of Athens formed the Peloponnesian League. – Sparta supported an oligarchy and Athens supported democracy.

Alexander the Great Alexander was not from Athens, but Macedonia. n Alexander was a brilliant military strategist. n His favorite book was Homer’s Iliad n

Alexander conquered the Persian empire and controlled the largest empire the world has ever seen.

What happens when cultures collide?

Alexander spread Hellenistic culture throughout Asia. Hellenistic is a fancy word for Greek. n Alexander spread Greek technology and ideas throughout his empire n

The Roman Coliseum has a strong Hellenistic influence.

What buildings in the USA have a Hellenistic influence?