GREECE By Angela Kang LOCATION ANCIENT GREECE like

GREECE By Angela Kang

LOCATION

ANCIENT GREECE like really ancient � 2000 BCE- Cretan island- Minoan civilization. (Minoan writing is still not translated). People start migrating into Greek mainland. � 1600 BCE- Life on mainland changed from a static culture. (Beginning of Mycenaeans) � 1450 BCE- All Minoan palaces destroyed, as Mycenaean Greeks took over Cnossus. Borrowed idea of palace, centralized economy, administrative bureaucracy. Developed Linear B. � 1150 BCE- Political collapse, due to other civilizations fall (disruption of trade). � 1150 -800 BCE- “DARK AGES”. Isolation, poverty.

ARCHAIC GREECE � 800 -480 BCE- Archaic period, pushed by Phoenicians looking for trade. Population explosion, alphabet. � Polis- urban center, rural territory. Acropolis (“top of city”), agora (“gathering place”). � 700 BCE- hoplites- heavily armored infantrymen, usually farmers, fighting in close formation. � 600 BCE- Colonization, coins. Logographers. (“prose”) � 450 BCE- Herodotus writes Histories, becomes father of history- questions globally the causes of Persian/Greek conflict. � 450 s BCE- Pericles turns out tyrant Pisistratus of Athens and establishes a democracy. Assembly of all citizens as well as Council of 500 (leaders). Increased trade and wealth (pottery, olive oil).

GREEKS DON’T LIKE PERSIANS � 499 BCE- Ionian Revolt from the Anatolian Greeks against the Persians that were ruling over that region. 5 years of war that led to failure. � 490 BCE- Failed revolt led to Persian Wars. Darius dispatched fleet to Eretria and Athens. Eretria fell, Athens was defended by its hoplites at Marathon. � 480 BCE- Darius’ successor, Xerxes, sent armies to finish the job. Seized Athens but then was tricked and defeated in strait of Salamis. � Under the Spartans, Hellenic League was formed- an alliance against the Persians. Many Spartans died at Thermopylae to hold true to Hellenic League. � 477 BCE- Delian League, for those who wanted war against Persia. League forces led by Athens took Persians from the Mediterranean.

Major creds to the trireme! 500 BCE. 170 rowers (lower citizens with full rights). Disable other ships by forcing them to collide or smashing their hulls with ram.

CLASSICAL GREECE � 480 BCE- Beginning marked by successful defense against Persians. Athenians exploited the success to become imperial power. Gained money from Delian League, who they viewed as subjects and kept by force. � Economic advantages subsidized cultural advancements with festivals featuring tragedies of Sophocles, Euripides… � 399 BCE- Socrates, philosopher, brought to trial for corrupting the youth. � Period of transition from orality to literacy. Plato wrote dialogues of Socrates. � Inequality- only 10% were true citizens. 1/3 of pop. were slaves, creating a social stigma to working under others. Women had to stay home and raise children. � 431 BCE- Peloponnesian War- power struggle between Athenians and Spartans. � 404 BCE- Sapped Greece of resources until Sparta finally defeated Athens in naval battle. Sparta’s victory created conflicts with more polises. The polis was a great flaw- too independent, detached, rivaled.

PELOPONNESIAN WARS

MACEDONIA � 338 BCE- Phillip II of Macedonia defeated many southern states, established the Confederacy of Corinth to control Greek city-states. � For unification, he planned an all-Greek campaign against Persia. Utilized cavalry, first catapults, and improved hoplite formations. � 336 BCE- Killed by assassination. � 334 BCE- His son, Alexander, defeated Persian forces in 3 battles against King Darius III for revenge against Xerxes. � Alexander the Great replaced Persian officials with Macedonian/Greeks yet kept the administration framework in the conquered lands. Established Greekstyle cities (Alexandria, Egypt). Intermarried, adopted elements of Persian culture.

HELLENISM � 323 BCE- Alexander’s death created a power struggle that resulted in 3 kingdoms, each ruled by a Macedonian dynasty: Seleucid, Ptolemaic, Antigonid. � Hellenism- the spread and influence of Greek culture on these new areas (N. E. Africa, W. Asia) � Large kingdoms with diverse populations. Long distance trade pushed for libraries, science developments, sophisticated arts. � In all states: indigenous adopted Greek language and culture to have a better chance to become part of wealthy class. Synthesis of Greek and indigenous ways.

SELEUCIDS � Bulk of Alexander’s conquests: Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia. Lost Indus Valley, Afghanistan, Iran to Parthians. � Capital at Antioch, Syria. � Open to attack. � Administered like Persians to rule over the diverse populations. � Continued to found Greek style cities for administrative centers and lure colonists from Greece. Needed Greek soldiers, engineers, administrators, etc.

PTOLEMIES � Egypt. Capital at Alexandria. � Only one ethnic group to be controlled, farmers in Nile villages. � Administration like pharaohs, very central and controlled economy (royal treasury from rents of controlled land, taxes, royal monopolies). � Gave land to Greeks to encourage Greek colonists for homeland Greek skills. � Greek ruling class was detached, not learning the Egyptian language (until Cleopatra, last Ptolemy). � 200 BCE- Periodic insurrections that showed the Egyptians’ resentment of Greek arrogance.

ANTIGONIDS � Macedonian homeland/Northern Greece. � Capital of Alexandria. Had famous library and “House of the Muses”, a research institution. Harbors for trading and impressive lighthouse. Greek residents enjoyed citizenship, plays, and other leisure activities. � Small, ethnically homogeneous kingdom. Little hostility and resistance. � Troops at strongpoints in southern Greece. Southern states banded together in the Achaean League to maintain local autonomy and share resources. Sparta tried unsuccessfully to stand against Macedonia, Athens remained neutral.