The Rise of Ancient Greece I Background Information

The Rise of Ancient Greece

I. Background Information • Mediterranean Empire • Mountainous terrain, Coastal plains – Isolated and Protected • Mild climate with rainy winters • Sea trade was the prevalent occupation

Minoan Civilization Palace at Knossos

II. The Minoans • Located on Crete • King Minos’ palace was discovered – Hallways formed a labyrinth (maze) • Minoan information: – – – Minoan women had a higher status than others Minoans earned a living from the sea By 2000 B. C. – controlled the Eastern Med. Sea Civilization peaked @ 1600 B. C. Destroyed by either tidal waves or the Mycenaeans

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Minoan Civilization

The Mycenaean Civilization

The Mask of Agamemnon

III. The Mycenaeans • Originated in Central Asia – moved @ 2000 B. C • Intermarried with the Hellenes • Built hilltop fortresses surrounded by walls – Served as administrative and business centers • Minoans began to trade with the Mycenaeans – Resulted in cultural diffusion • 1450 s B. C. – conquered the Minoans • 1100 s B. C. – inter turmoil led to self-destruction • Invaded by the Dorian's (the “Dark Ages”) – Thousands fled to Ionia (the coast of Asia Minor)

Homer: The “Heroic Age”

IV. A New Start • 750 B. C. – Ionians reintroduced culture, crafts, and skills (Phoenician alphabet) • The new civilization flourished between 750 -300 B. C. • Bards (story-tellers) kept culture alive • The Greeks began to record epic poems that had been passed down by bards – – – The Odyssey and Iliad: taught in Greek schools Be proud of Greek heritage A love of nature Importance of husband-wife relationship Meet fate with dignity

V. Greek Religion • Polytheistic = more than one god • Able to approach gods with dignity • Humanized the Gods – Jealous of one another – Quarreled and played tricks on each other • Gods lived on Mt. Olympus • Festivals to honor gods (Olympic Games) • Gods and Goddesses (over 50 total gods) – Mythography | Olympians - Greek Gods and Goddesses in Myth and Art

Olympia

Greek Art (emphasized the individual) – – Murals were painted (nonexistent today) Pottery artifacts (red and black) Scenes from everyday life Sculptors • Myron – idealized (Discus Thrower) • Phidias – in charge of the Parthenon’s sculptures • Praxiteles – after the “Golden Age” – Favored life-like opposed to idealized – Emphasized grace rather than power

The Classical Greek “Ideal”

The Ancient Olympics: Athletes & Trainers

VI. The Greek Polis • City-state: basic political unit of Hellenic society • Typical polis (city-state): – – – City and surrounding fields Acropolis at the top of a hill (center of polis) Agora at the bottom of the hill (public square) Citizens were native born, landholding, freeman Greek women had no political rights

VII. The Polis (continued) • Greek colonies and Trade – 700 B. C. – not enough crop production – Colonies were set up in coastal regions (support) – Economic Growth: trade throughout the region • 600 s B. C. – money system replaced barter system • Political and Social Change – 700 s B. C. – kings lost power to landholding nobles – Aristocrats gave loans to farmers – Tyrants took control due to political unrest • Seized power; single-handedly ruled – After 500 B. C. city-states became either: • Oligarchy (Sparta): ruled by a few wealthy people • Democracy (Athens): government by the people

The Acropolis Today

The Parthenon

The Agora

Sparta

VIII. Sparta • Descendents of the Dorians (Peloponnesus) • Invaded neighboring city-states – Helots (slaves) were acquired through invasion • Perioecis worked for the Spartans • Combined the helots/perioecis outnumbered the Spartans 20: 1 – 650 B. C. – helots revolted against their masters • Military Society: only way to maintain power – Life revolved around the military – Newborns were examined by officials – Began military training at the age of 7

VIII. Sparta (continued) • Spartan Women: – Wanted women to be healthy and strong – Married later than other Greek women – Had more freedoms than other women • Spartan Government – Set up by Lycurgus in the 800 s B. C. – Two kings ruled jointly; an Assembly passed laws • Results of Militarism: – – Maintained control for 250 years Lagged behind other city-states economically Were exceptional Olympic athletes Played key roles in defending Greece against invaders

Sparta Helots Messenians enslaved by the Spartans.

IX. Athens • • • Descendants of the Mycenaeans (Attica) Named in honor of Athena Forced to reform government in (600 s B. C. ) Metics – non-enslaved foreigners in Athens Expanded citizenship to include more men – 507 B. C – constitution stated that all free Athenianborn men were citizens • Athenian Education: – Citizens educated their sons (Iliad/Odyssey) – Studied Math, Art, Music, Gymnastics – Served in the military for 2 years (age 18)

IX. Athens • Athenian Leaders: – Draco: • 612 B. C. : Issued a code of harsh laws (draconian) – Solon: • Cancelled land debts • Extended citizenship to foreign artisans – Peisistratus: • Divided estates among landless – Cleisthenes: • Est. a democracy for Athens • The Assembly increased its’ power • Ostracism was established

X. Persian Wars • Persians were led by Cyrus II • Greeks aided the Ionians – angered Darius • Marathon: 490 B. C. – Greeks were outnumbered 2: 1; waited to attack – Surprise attack: 6, 400 Persians died – 192 Greeks • Thermopylae: 480 B. C. – Xerxes invaded from the north – Leonidas and the Spartans (200, 000 to 300) • Salamis: – Themistocles was able to lure the Persians into the Strait of Salamis and trap the Persians – Persians then retreated to Asia Minor

Persian Wars: 499 BCE – 480 BCE

XI. The “Golden Age” of Athens • 461 -429 B. C: art and science achievements • Led by Pericles – rebuilt Athens – Built the Parthenon as a temple to Athena • Athenian Daily Life: – Public buildings were lavish – Men worked in the morning – afternoon activities • Exercise, the Assembly, Symposiums • Athenian Women – Stayed close to the home – few privileges – Aspasia, a metic woman, gave advice to women • Was prosecuted for impiety (disloyalty to the gods)

Great Athenian Philosophers Socrates § § § Know thyself! question everything (absolute truth) only the pursuit of goodness brings happiness. § § The Academy The Republic philosopher-king § § Studied at the Academy Believed all government systems were workable § Preferred the power rest with the middle class Tutored Alexander the Great Plato Aristotle §

Golden “Age of Pericles”: 460 BCE – 429 BCE

Athens: The Arts & Sciences DRAMA (tragedians): § Aeschylus - Oresteia § Sophocles – Oedipus Rex § Euripides – Trojan Women THE SCIENCES: § Pythagoras a² + b² = c² § Democritus all matter made up of small atoms. § Hippocrates “Father of Medicine”

Athens: Great Historians • Herodotus: “The Father of History” – Used the Persian Wars as his subject – Recorded his discoveries in Historia • Offered supernatural explanations • Wrote about outstanding individuals/events • Thucydides: first scientific historian – Wrote about the Peloponnesian War – Was as accurate and impartial as possible • Visited battle sites; firsthand accounts – Believed future generations could learn from the past

Peloponnesian Wars

XII. The Peloponnesian War • Delian League formed to protect city-states – Started by Athens (treasury was at Delos) – Athens dominated other city-states • The anti-Athens Alliance – led by Sparta • Spartans deal with Persians • • – Return Ionia in exchange for a fleet of warships 430 B. C. – plague strikes Athenian allies switch sides 404 B. C. – Athens surrendered to Sparta Effects of the War – Decline in population & rise in unemployment – 371 B. C. an alliance led by Thebes overthrew the Spartans – 350 s B. C. Greeks were defeated by the Macedonians

Macedonia Under Philip II

Philip II: King of Macedonia Spent three years in Thebes as a hostage – Gained appreciation of Greek culture and military Three Goals as King 1. 2. 3. Develop a standing army Unify Greek city-states under Macedonian rule Conquer the Persian Empire Philip II married Olympias of Epirus – Alexander was there only son

Macedonian Phalanx

Alexander the Great

XIII. Alexander the Great • Tutored by Aristotle • Imperial Goals: – Punish Persia for its invasion of Greece – Unite Asia and Europe and combine cultures • 334 B. C. E – led 35, 000 men into Persia – Plan: • Defeat weaker cities first • Stay close to the coastline • Acquire men and supplies with each victory • Expanded his empire (Asia Minor & Egypt) – Was declared a pharaoh – Established Alexandria

Alexander the Great • Defeated Darius at Gaugamela – Declared himself ruler of all of the Persian Empire – Walked into Babylon, capital of the Persian Empire in 330 B. C. E. • 327 B. C. E. Married a Bactrian Princess – Roxane • 326 B. C. E – reached the Indus River – Was forced by his men to turn back • 323 B. C. E – died of malaria in Babylon

Alexander the Great’s Empire

The Hellenization of Asia

Pergamum: A Hellenistic City

Economy of the Hellenistic World

Hellenistic Philosophers Cynics: Diogenes § ignore social conventions & avoid luxuries. § citizens of the world. § live a humble, simple life. Epicurians: Epicurus § avoid pain & seek pleasure. § all excess leads to pain! § politics should be avoided.

Hellenistic Philosophers Stoics: Zeno § nature is the expansion of divine will. § concept of natural law. § get involved in politics, not for personal gain, but to perform virtuous acts for the good of all. § true happiness is found in great achievements.

Hellenism: The Arts & Sciences Scientists / Mathematicians: § Euclid: geometry § Archimedes: pulley Hellenistic Art: § More realistic; less ideal than Hellenic art. § Showed individual emotions, wrinkles, and age!

Breakup of Alexander’s Empire divided between 3 Generals – Ptolemy: ruled Egypt, Libya, and Syria • The most “prestigious” domain • Later ruled by Cleopatra – Seleucus: ruled part of Syria, Mesopotamia, Iran, and Afghanistan • Forced to withdraw to Syria – Antigonous: ruled Macedonia and Greece • City-states declared independence • Conquered by the Romans in the 100 s B. C. E

Breakup of Alexander’s Empire