Key elements begin in the classical era Classical

• Key elements begin in the classical era • Classical civilizations expand on the areas where the river valley civilizations began • At height of civilizations, China has about 54 million people, Rome about 52 million • Classical world is still not the whole world

Crete: Minoan Civilization • Center of Mediterranean commerce between 2200 -1450 BCE – heavily influenced by Phoenicia & Egypt • By 1100 BCE, under foreign domination

The Mycenaean Civilization • Indo-European nomads settled around 2000 BCE • Greece of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Citadel of Mycenae

SPARTA • Becomes powerful during 8 th & 7 th centuries BCE • Dominate with powerful military machine • Discouraged social distinction, austere lifestyle • Discipline & military training important

Athens • Citizenship open to free adult males, not to foreigners, slaves, or women • Strong maritime trade • Pericles (443 -429 BCE) most popular & powerful democratic leader of Athens

Greek Economy & Society • More than 400 colonies • Spread Greek language & cultural traditions • Trade very important • Patriarchal society • Spartan women had higher status than women of the other poleis • Slavery – property of owners

Cultural Life of Classical Greece • Philosophy based on human reason • Socrates - Know thyself! - question everything - accused of corrupting Athenian youths • Plato - The Republic philosopher-king

• Aristotle - rules of logic to construct powerful arguments - Scientific method. • Legacy of Greek Philosophy • Authority for European philosophers until 18 th century • Intellectual inspiration for Christian and Islamic theologians

• DRAMA (comedy and tragedy): - Aeschylus - Sophocles - Euripides

• THE SCIENCES: - Pythagoras - Democritus all matter made up of small atoms. - Hippocrates “Father of Medicine”

Persian Wars • Greek Colonies on Ionian Coast revolted against Persian rule • Delian League formed to counter the Persian threat • Persia defeated at Battle of Salamis • Athens feels that it is now the center of Greek Culture……. . Leads to issues with other polis, especially Sparta….

Peloponnesian Wars • Tensions rise between Athens and Sparta • Army vs. Navy • Unconditional surrender of Athens in 404 BCE (plague also helped) • End of the Golden Age of Greece

• Greece brought under control of Macedonia • Alexander (the Great) succeeds Philip at age 20 • Begins conquests • 331 BCE controls Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia • Invades Persia & burns Persepolis • Crosses Indus River by 327 BCE • Dies at age of 33 in 323 BCE

Empire of Alexander the Great

Alexander’s Legacy • Unified Greek language & culture – Mediterranean east to India, Afghanistan, borders of Russia & south to Egypt • Greek administrators, businessmen, soldiers • Persia – blend with Hellenic culture • India – Buddha

The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire

• Legendary founding 753 B. C. - Latins, Greek, Carthaginians, dominated by Etruscans • By 510 BCE, Roman aristocracy rebelled and created independent republic • Controlled all Italy 268 B. C.

The Republic 509 BCE– 27 BCE 2 Consuls (elected for a single year, rulers Senate (aka patricians – representative) Tribunes (represented plebians–veto power!!!!)

Rome Expands

Policies of Expansion • Primary role of government – maintain order, provide food supply, maintain public works • Religious toleration as long as all citizens participated in the cults of the state • Expansion ends by 180 CE

Octavian Augustus

Dysfunctional Emperors • Some good, some bad, some really baaaadddd…………. . • Caligula – troubled…. • Nero – evil……. • Domitian – strange…. • Elagalbus – even stranger. .

Pax Romana 27 BCE – 180 CE CE

Results of Roman Expansion • Treatment often brutal • Patricians monopolized land – cheap slave labor puts small farmers out of business • “Bread & Circuses” • Economy dependant on slave labor – military grew to control • Little technological development – advances limited to urban engineering

Roman Society • Patriarchal society • Woman have more privileges than in other classical societies (in particular, Patrician women could have public role)

Roman Achievements • Encyclopedias • Satire • City planning – water, lead pipes (caused a few problems), sewage, fire protection • Bridges and aqueducts • Concrete!!!!!! • Water mills (late in the Empire • Roads – 60 K • Roman Law – basis for our legal system

Rise of Christianity • Tolerance, but……required loyalty to Roman gods and emperors • 63 -135 CE – Jewish revolts in Judea set stage for rise of Christianity • 10% of population Christian by 4 th century CE • Spreads rapidly among poor & disadvantaged • Sporadic persecution for refusal to participate in state rituals • Eventually the State allotted Christianity a legitimate, subordinate place in the Empire………. foundation for Western Civ.

The Empire in Crisis • Threat of Barbarians • Quality of Emperors (Barracks Emperors) • Diocletian splits the Empire – 294 CE • The end is near………. . the Huns…….

Constantine 312 -337 CE • Moves capital from Rome……to Constantinople in 330 • Converts to Christianity

Barbarian Invasions were the immediate cause of the Fall of the Roman Empire but……………many things contributed as well……………….

• Economic • Military • High Taxes • Germanic • High Inflation Invasions • Loss of war loot • High cost of • Decline of manufacturing defense • Decline of agriculture • Dependence on mercenary • Social troops • Growing division • Loss of between rich & poor soldier’s loyalty • Loss of values to Rome • Loss of patriotism • Military interference in • Political the government • Division of Empire • Growing power of Eastern Empire • Corruption & unstable leadership

Legacy of Greece & Rome • Republic Government • Roman Law • Latin Language • Roman Catholic Church • City Planning • Romanesque Architectural Style • Rational Thought • Engineering – aqueducts, sewage systems, dams, cement, arch • Drama – tragedy & comedy