B G Ancient Greece 1750 B C 133
B G
Ancient Greece (1750 B. C. – 133 B. C. )
Asia Minor Delphi Mycenae Olympia Mediterranean Sea
Shrine Areas dedicated to the honor of gods and goddesses.
Early People of the Aegean
The Minoans Reached their height between 1600 -1500 B. C. Brilliant civilization on the island of Crete. Named after Minos, a legendary king of Crete. Minoans were successful traders who set up trading places around the Aegean Sea. They also crossed the Mediterranean Sea south to the Nile Valley civilization (Egypt), and east to the Mesopotamian civilizations.
From this interaction with other cultures, the Minoans acquired ideas and technology in fields such as writing and architecture, which they adapted to their own cultures. What do we call this exchange of cultures?
Minoans Disappear Around 1400 B. C. , Minoans had vanished. Possible explanations…. Volcanic eruption Earthquake followed by a tsunami style wave. Invaders did play some role in all this.
The Invaders – The Mycenaeans. First Greek-speaking people of whom we have written record. Swept into the Greek mainland, conquering it and then the island of Crete. (Indo-European people, much like the Aryans who swept into India) Dominated the Aegean world from about 1400 -1200 B. C. . Sea Traders like the Minoans. They also traded with the island of Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
Mycenaean City-States Mycenaeans lived in city-states on the Greek mainland. Each city-state was led by a warrior-king who built a thick -walled fortress from which he ruled the surrounding villages.
The Trojan War (~1250 B. C. ) May have been started because of economic rivalry between the Mycenaeans and Troy, a rich trading city in modern Turkey. Troy controlled the straits connecting the Mediterranean and Black seas. Greek legend romanticizes this war. Stories claim that Paris, a Trojan prince, kidnapped Helen, the beautiful wife of a Greek king. This causes the Mycenaeans to sail for Troy to rescue her.
For ten years the war was fought, ending only when the Greeks finally seized Troy and burned it to the ground. (Trojan Horse) Most people use to think the Trojan war was a pure legend. 1870 a German businessman excavated the site of ancient Troy, discovering much evidence of fire and war. Modern scholars now feel the Trojan war was an actual event.
Mycenaean Decline Not long after the Trojan war, the Mycenaeans were invaded by sea, as well as by another Greek speaking people, the Dorians. Mycenaean power faded, resulting in abandoned cities and a decline in trade. Art and writing seem to have been forgotten along with many other skills. The Mycenaean civilization ended around 1100 B. C. After the Dorian invasion, Greece would spend a few hundred years as only a collection of small, isolated villages.
Homer (~750 B. C. ) Blind poet who recited epic poems orally from village to village. Most of what we know about the Trojan war comes from two great epic poems by Homer, the Illiad and the Odyssey. The Illiad and the Odyssey reveal key ancient Greek values such as honor, courage, and eloquence.
The Illiad Full of gods and goddesses. Chief source of information on the Trojan war. Tells the story of the great Greek warrior Achilles.
The Odyssey Tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan war. Odysseus and his men encounter a sea monster, Cyclops giants, and a beautiful sorceress who turns his men into pigs.
Wrap up Question? ? ? How did trade contribute to the development of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures? Sea trade meant that both the Minoans and Mycenaeans traveled widely, acquiring many ideas and technologies through cultural diffusion which they then adapted to their own societies.
The Rise of Greek City-States.
Asia Minor Delphi Mycenae Olympia Mediterranean Sea
Polis A Greek city-state; major city or town and its surrounding countryside.
Monarchy Rule by a King or other hereditary ruler who centralizes power.
Aristocracy Rule by a hereditary landholding elite.
Oligarchy Rule by a small group of wealthy elites.
Democracy Government by the people. (Demos is the Greek word for the “people”)
Legislature A law making government body.
Tyrant Someone who gains power by force.
Overarching Questions How did the Spartans cripple cultural diffusion in/for their society? Spartans isolated themselves from other Greeks. They looked down on trade and wealth, they forbade travel, and they had little use for new ideas or the arts. As a result, Spartans kept their exposure to cultural diffusion to a minimum. “Spartans are willing to die for their city, because they have no reason to live”
How is the Greek city-state of Athens connected to our own country? Athens was the first to experiment with having a democratic form of government which included a legislature to discuss and make their laws. The U. S. is a democratic nation and the legislature is the branch of our government which discusses and passes new laws.
Conflict in the Greek World
Alliance Formal agreement between two or more nations or powers to cooperate and come to one another’s defense.
Direct Democracy System of government in which citizens (demos) take part directly in the day-to-day affairs of government.
Ostracism Athenian tradition of voting to banish , or send away, a public figure whom they saw as a threat to their democracy.
The Persian Wars The Persian empire was one of the largest in history, stretching from Asia minor to India.
Persian Empire
Greek city-states in Asia minor had fallen under Persian rule. 499 B. C. – Despite being aloud to be mostly selfgoverning, these Greek city-states rebelled against Persian rule. Athens sent ships to support its fellow Greeks. Persia crushed the rebelling city-states.
Persian Empire
The Battle of Marathon Darius I. was furious at Athens for supporting the rebellion. He sent a huge force across the Aegean to punish Athens for interfering. 490 -B. C. - The Persian army landed at Marathon, north of Athens asked for, but received very little help from its neighboring city-states.
Though they were greatly outnumbered, the Athenian forces rushed the Persians. Despite arrows raining down on them from Persian archers, the Athenians broke through the Persian line, fighting so furiously that the Persians retreated to their ships. Though they celebrated the victory, the Athenian leader Themistocles urged Athenians to build warships and defenses to prepare for future attacks.
Greek City-States Unite Darius I. died before he could mass his troops for another attack. 480 B. C. – Darius’ son Xerxes sent a larger force to Greece. Athens had persuaded Sparta and other city-states to unite in the fight against Persia.
The Invasion The Persian army invaded again from northern Greece. A small Spartan force blocked the way at Thermopylae. (300? ) Led by their warrior king Leonidas, the Spartans heroically held a small mountain pass against the massive Persian army. These Spartans were defeated in the end.
The Trap The Persians continued south and burned Athens, which was already evacuated. The Greek ships that Themistocles had built, lured the Persian navy into a narrow strait at Salamis. Athenian warships with underwater rams, drove into the Persian boats. Xerxes watched from land as his navy was sunk. The Persian invasion was again stalled.
The next year, Greeks defeated the Persians on Asia minor, ending the Persian invasions. With their temporary unity, the Greek city-states had thrown back the most powerful empire in their time. This victory increased the Greeks’ feeling of uniqueness. The gods, they felt, had protected their superior citystates from the invaders.
Athens Emerges as Leader Athens, in order to defend against future Persian invasions, organized an alliance of Greek city-states. This alliance of city-states agreed to come to each others’ defense. From this alliance, Athens slowly began to form an Athenian empire.
Pericles and Direct Democracy. 460 B. C. – 429 B. C. was a golden age for Athens.
Pericles Wise and skillful leader in Athens. Helped Athens’ economy thrive, and helped Athens become more Democratic. Believed that all citizens, regardless of wealth or social class, should take part in government.
Direct Democracy in Athens. Form of government in which citizens take part directly in the day to day affairs of government. Council of 500, selected by lot, took care of daily government business. To help poor men be able to serve in the government, Athens began to pay a stipend (fixed salary) to men who participated. Athenians also served on juries made up of hundreds or even thousands of jurors.
Ostracism Athenians could vote to banish (send away) a person who they felt was a threat to their democracy. The person who received the most votes was banished, usually for about ten years.
Athens’ Culture During the golden age (460 -429 B. C. ) Pericles rebuilt the Acropolis, which had been destroyed by the Persians. Arts were encouraged through public festivals, dramatic competitions, and building projects. These building projects increased prosperity by creating jobs for artisans and workers.
The Peloponnesian War Athens’ domination led to resentment from other city- states. 431 B. C. – War erupted between Athens and Sparta. Known as the Peloponnesian War, fighting would last 27 years. Athens’ great navy didn’t help them in a land war against Sparta, who marched north to Athens.
Pericles allowed people outside Athens to come inside the protective walls. Overcrowding led to a plague which killed many Athenians, including Pericles. Sparta allied itself with Persia, its long time enemy. 404 B. C. – With the help of Persia’s navy, Sparta captured Athens, stripping it of its empire.
Athens’ Domination Ended Athens would eventually rise again economically, and it would remain the cultural center of Greece. However, fighting would continue among the Greek city-states. This would open the door to the conquest of Greece by the Macedonians under Phillip II and his son Alexander the Great.
Overarching Question? ? ? How was Athens’ use of Democracy, different from our own form of Democracy in the United States? Athens exercised Direct Democracy, which means that the citizens take part directly in the day-to-day affairs of government. In the U. S. , we use a representative form of democracy, in which we elect people to represent us in the government and take care of the day-to-day affairs for us.
The Glory That Was Greece.
Philosophers Word for Greek thinkers which means “lovers of wisdom”.
Rhetoric The art of skillful speaking.
Logic Rational or sensible way of thinking.
Greek Thinkers Greeks promoted the power of the human mind to understand the universe. Greek thinkers, called Philosophers, challenged the old views that natural events were caused by the whims of the gods.
Philosophers sought to understand the universe through observation and reason. These philosophers explored mathematics, music, logic, and science. Much of what we know today in science, traces its roots to Greece.
Morality and Ethics Greek philosophers also studied morality and ethics, debating questions about the best kind of government and standards of human behavior.
Sophists Greeks who believed that success was more important than morality. Developed skills in rhetoric which they used to cleverly and persuasively advance themselves in their careers. Older Athenians felt Sophists undermined traditional Greek values. Honor, loyalty, etc. Sophists are Selfish.
Famous Greek Teachers and Students. Socrates, teacher of…. Plato, teacher of…. Aristotle
Socrates Athenian stonemason and philosopher. Outspoken critic of Sophists. Socratic method Socrates would sit in the town square posing a series of questions to people, challenging them to examine their answers to those questions. This patient examination, he felt, would help people to seek truth and self-knowledge.
Socrates’ Death Many Athenians felt Socrates was threatening accepted values and traditions. Around the age of 70, Socrates was tried on charges of corrupting Athens’ youth and disrespecting the gods. Despite his calm and reasoned defense, Socrates was condemned to death. Forced to drink a cup of hemlock, a popular poison of the day.
Plato Student of Socrates. The execution of Socrates led Plato to distrust democracy. Plato fled Athens for ten years, but returned to open the “Academy”, a school where he taught and wrote his own ideas. Plato emphasized reason/philosophy as the way to understand the universe.
“The Republic” Plato’s book in which he outlined his ideal form of government, rejecting Athenian democracy. Plato felt the state (government) should regulate every aspect of citizens lives in order to provide for their best interests.
Plato’s Government Hierarchy. Philosopher-King (The wisest of them all) All other Philosophers as rulers. Soldiers to defend the state. Workers to produce the necessities of life.
Aristotle Plato’s most famous student. Had different ideas from Plato about government. Examined all forms of government, from monarchy to democracy, finding good examples of each.
Aristotle disliked democracy, feeling it led to mob rule. Instead he favored rule by a single strong and virtuous ruler.
Also promoted reasoning, by which he felt people could achieve the “Golden Mean”, a moderate balance between morality and self-interest. Left us writings on politics, ethics, logic, biology, and literature.
Overarching Question? ? ? Why might some of the Greek philosophers’ ideas be seen as a threat to Greek traditionalists? Philosophers questioned and examined many aspects of life. Many of the conclusions they made challenged or disproved existing traditions and beliefs. This caused conflict between them and the traditionalists.
Greek Art and Architecture Greek artists and architects sought to display balance, order, and beauty. The most famous example of Greek architecture is the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena on top of the Acropolis in Athens. Greek architecture has influenced many buildings throughout the world.
Sculptors Greek sculptors created natural forms in their most idealistic/perfect states. These sculptors made sculptures of stone and marble appear graceful and life like.
Greek Literature Began with Homer’s famous epics, the “Illiad” and the “Odyssey”. Greek literature has been referred to as the “classical style” which all other literature is compared to.
Greek Drama/Plays Perhaps the most important Greek contribution to literature. Plays were performed in outdoor theatres by actors wearing elaborate costumes and masks. Singers sang and chanted narration about the action on stage. Dramas were often based on myths and legends, but were used to discuss moral and social issues, or the relationship between people and the gods.
Tragedies Plays which told stories of human suffering that usually ended in disaster.
Comedies Humorous plays which mocked people or customs. Very much an ancient form of Saturday Night Live. Political figures, philosophers, and other prominent members of society were poked fun at, usually to draw attention to real issues.
Recorded History Herodotus The “Father of History” Rather than just recording names and dates, Herodotus actually visited and interviewed witnesses to historical events (such as the Persian Wars) before writing about them. The Greek word “Historie” actually means inquiry. Greek Historians set an example of the importance of researching and an unbiased approach to recording history.
Overarching Question? ? Why are you so incredibly thankful for Herodotus? Thanks to Herodotus, you get to enjoy such an amazing and exciting class with Mr. Hartong as your teacher…. lucky…lucky you!!
Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age.
Classical Civilization/Age Of or relating to the most artistically and socially developed stage of a civilization.
The Empire of Alexander Mountainous kingdom of Macedonia lay to the North of Greece. Considered backwards and half-civilized by Greeks. Macedonian rulers actually had Greek origins. Phillip II had lived in Greece, and had hired Aristotle as a tutor for his son Alexander (the Great).
Conquest of Greece Philip II gained the Macedonian throne in 359 B. C. Built a powerful army. Formed alliances with many Greek city-states, conquered others. Athens and Thebes tried to unite against him, but were defeated. All of Greece soon followed.
Phillip’s Ambitions Phillip II had dreamed of conquering the Persian empire. He was assassinated at his daughter’s wedding before he could achieve his dream. Phillip’s son Alexander was placed on the throne.
Alexander the Great 20 years old when he was placed on the throne. Already an experienced soldier, shared his father’s dream of conquering the Persian empire. Began organizing forces to conquer Persia. By 334 B. C. , he was ready to invade Asia Minor, and the rest of the Persian empire.
Alexander’s Campaign Alexander won victory after victory against Persia. Moved through Asia Minor, into Palestine, then Egypt. He then turned east, conquering Babylon in 331 B. C. Persia’s emperor, Darius III, had been murdered before Alexander could capture him.
India Campaign Alexander sought to bring even more territory under his control. He crossed the Hindu Kush mountains into northern India, where his men faced and defeated soldiers mounted on elephants. Alexander’s men, sick of war despite never having lost, forced him to turn back for home.
Alexander reached Babylon and began planning his next campaign, however, before he could begin this new campaign, he fell sick with fever and died. With Alexander the Great dead, the empire was left up for grabs. After a period of disorder, three generals divided the empire up into three regions. Macedonia/Greece Egypt Most of Persia These three powers and their descendents would compete for power over Alexander’s empire for the next 300 years.
The Legacy of Alexander the Great.
Assimilate To absorb or adopt aspects of another culture.
The Hellenistic Civilization Despite the fact that his empire didn’t last long, Alexander the Great had spread Greek culture across the ancient world. As his army conquered a massive empire, they also established new cities (most named after him).
Greek soldiers, traders, and artisans settled into these cities and brought with them Greek culture. Local people assimilated Greek ideas and in turn Greek settlers adopted local customs. Alexander encouraged further cultural blending by marrying a Persian woman, and encouraging his men to do the same. A new culture emerged from this blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences. It is called the Hellenistic civilization and it flourished for several centuries.
Alexandria (Egypt) Heart of the Hellenistic civilization, cultural capital. Perfect location, on the Mediterranean sea, between European and Asian traders. Markets boasted a wide range of goods. Greek Marble Arabian Spices African Ivory
The Pharos An enormous lighthouse. 440 ft. tall One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Alexandria Museum/Library Alexander and his successors stressed learning. The museum contained laboratories, lecture halls, and a zoo. The library portion contained thousands of scrolls, representing the accumulated knowledge of the ancient world. This library was later destroyed by a fire.
New Roles for Women During the Hellenistic Period women experienced more freedom. No longer restricted to homes. More women learned to read and write. Some became philosophers and poets. Royal women worked alongside their husbands and sons, exercising more power. (under this new power, Cleopatra VII became Queen of Egypt. )
Hellenistic Arts and Science Hellenistic architects and artists built temples, palaces, and other public buildings that were much larger and grander than those in Classical Greece. Hellenistic rulers wanted their buildings to make them seem godlike.
New Philosophies Stoicism Founded by Zeno Urged people to avoid desires and disappointments by accepting calmly whatever life brought. Taught high moral standards, like protecting the rights of fellow humans. Taught that while people may be unequal in society (women, slaves, etc. ), they were morally equal because they all had the power of reason.
Math and Astronomy
Pythagoras Developed the Pythagorean theorem to find the sides to a right triangle.
Euclid Wrote “the Elements”, a textbook on geometry.
Aristarchus Developed the heliocentric theory, using math and observations to theorize that the Earth rotated on its axis and orbited the sun.
Erastosthenes Showed that Earth was round accurately calculated it’s circumference.
Archimedes Used Physics to make practical inventions. Mastered the lever and pulley. “Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand on, and I will move the world. ”
Medical Improvements Hippocrates Father of modern medicine. Studied the causes of illnesses and looked for cures to them. Hippocratic oath Taken by modern doctors, sets a standard for ethics in medicine.
Rome Takes Over After the fall of Greece as a world empire, Rome would take over. When we study Rome, we will see how much influence Greece still had.
Overarching Question? ? In what ways did Alexander the Great and his Hellenistic Civilization, advance civilization? Alexander the Great spread Greek culture throughout the ancient world. As he connected geographic regions, different cultures were blended together, resulting in cultural diffusion on a large scale. The Hellenistic civilization made significant advances in art, science, mathematics and medicine which still impact our world today.
B G
- Slides: 144