A Review of the A Review of the Classical Civilizations of Classical Civilizations of

Greece and RomeGreece and Rome

Classical: a period marked by Classical: a period marked by vast contributions to arts and vast contributions to arts and

sciencessciences

Before Classical Greece & Before Classical Greece & Rome…Rome…

► MinoansMinoans Island of Crete in Island of Crete in

Aegean SeaAegean Sea Empire based on Empire based on

tradetrade Palace complex at Palace complex at

KnossesKnosses Advanced building Advanced building

& art& art Sudden & Sudden &

catastrophic catastrophic collapsecollapse

►MycenaeMycenae Powerful Powerful

monarchsmonarchs Fortified palacesFortified palaces Warrior Warrior

aristocracyaristocracy Homer’s Homer’s IlliadIlliad and and

Trojan WarTrojan War

After the Minoans and After the Minoans and Mycenaeans…Mycenaeans…

► Dorians invaded Mycenae from north causing many Dorians invaded Mycenae from north causing many Mycenaeans to flee to Asia Minor-Dark AgesMycenaeans to flee to Asia Minor-Dark Ages

► The Ionian city states were established on coast of Asia MinorThe Ionian city states were established on coast of Asia Minor► Greeks became known as Hellenes after this point in timeGreeks became known as Hellenes after this point in time

After the Dark Ages…After the Dark Ages…

►Prosperity increased Prosperity increased which resulted in which resulted in population growthpopulation growth

►Population growth Population growth resulted in not resulted in not enough land to raise enough land to raise crops such as wheat crops such as wheat and barley to feel and barley to feel the larger populationthe larger population

What Could They Do?What Could They Do?► Greek city-states decided to start colonies to raise the crops (mainly Greek city-states decided to start colonies to raise the crops (mainly

wheat) they neededwheat) they needed► Colonies were established all around the Mediterranean and Black Colonies were established all around the Mediterranean and Black

Seas. These colonies would then send back wheat and barley to the Seas. These colonies would then send back wheat and barley to the mainland.mainland.

But Wait! There’s More!But Wait! There’s More!

► As more colonies were As more colonies were established (about established (about 250!) more land 250!) more land became available in became available in Greece for cash cropsGreece for cash crops

►Olives and grapes Olives and grapes were the most were the most important cash crops important cash crops in Greecein Greece

► The production of cash The production of cash crops increased tradecrops increased trade

And That’s Not All…And That’s Not All…

►Since plenty of food was now available Since plenty of food was now available and with trade increasing, many and with trade increasing, many people were able to specialize, people were able to specialize, becoming craftsmen and artisansbecoming craftsmen and artisans

►More craftsmen and artisans meant More craftsmen and artisans meant more products available for trade…more products available for trade…and this also increased trade!and this also increased trade!

Greek City-statesGreek City-states

►City-state-polisCity-state-polis►AthensAthens

Limited & direct Limited & direct democracydemocracy

►SpartaSparta Warrior societyWarrior society

The Ionians (and Cyrus the The Ionians (and Cyrus the Great) Started It!Great) Started It!

► Greek city states in Ionia (Asia Minor) revolted Greek city states in Ionia (Asia Minor) revolted against Persian ruleagainst Persian rule

► Mainland Greeks sent help but were defeated by Mainland Greeks sent help but were defeated by the Persiansthe Persians

Battle of MarathonBattle of Marathon

► Persian king, Darius I, Persian king, Darius I, decided the Greeks decided the Greeks needed to be punished needed to be punished for helping the Ionians for helping the Ionians revoltrevolt

► He sent ships and men He sent ships and men to Marathon, about 26 to Marathon, about 26 miles from Athensmiles from Athens

► Athenians Athenians outnumbered 20,000 to outnumbered 20,000 to 10,000, but defeated 10,000, but defeated the Persiansthe Persians

Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae

► Spartan King Leonidas Spartan King Leonidas with 300 Spartans and with 300 Spartans and about 7,000 other about 7,000 other Greeks held the Greeks held the Persians off for three Persians off for three days at this mountain days at this mountain pass.pass.

► After the Greeks were After the Greeks were betrayed, Leonidas sent betrayed, Leonidas sent the other Greeks back the other Greeks back while he and the 300 while he and the 300 Spartans stayed to hold Spartans stayed to hold the pass as long as they the pass as long as they couldcould

Battle of SalamisBattle of Salamis

► After the Persians After the Persians defeated the Greeks defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae, the at Thermopylae, the proceeded to Athens.proceeded to Athens.

► Athenians had already Athenians had already deserted the city.deserted the city.

► Persian and Greek Persian and Greek navies met at Salamis navies met at Salamis where the Persians where the Persians were defeatedwere defeated

And Now, They Fight Each And Now, They Fight Each Other…Other…

► The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War began after Athens began after Athens formed the Delian formed the Delian League and became very League and became very powerful under Periclespowerful under Pericles

► Sparta formed an Sparta formed an alliance against Athens alliance against Athens and even allied with and even allied with Persia to defeat the Persia to defeat the Athenians in 404 BCEAthenians in 404 BCE

► The war lasted 25 yearsThe war lasted 25 years

Greek City States Defeated by Greek City States Defeated by Philip IPhilip I

► By the end of 25 By the end of 25 years of fighting the years of fighting the Greek city states had Greek city states had weakened each otherweakened each other

► This allowed King This allowed King Philip of Macedon to Philip of Macedon to conquer them conquer them

► Philip planned on Philip planned on attacking Persia but attacking Persia but was assassinated was assassinated before he could do before he could do soso

Alexander Creates an EmpireAlexander Creates an Empire

► Philip’s son, Alexander, picked up where Philip’s son, Alexander, picked up where Philip had left offPhilip had left off

►He conquered Persia and created the largest He conquered Persia and created the largest empire know up until that timeempire know up until that time

HellenismHellenism

► As Greek culture As Greek culture spread with spread with Alexander and his Alexander and his army it was adopted army it was adopted and blended with and blended with Egyptian, Persian, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culturesand Indian cultures

► The blending of The blending of these cultures these cultures resulted in the resulted in the Hellenistic EraHellenistic Era

Greek ContributionsGreek Contributions

► Philosophers:Philosophers: SocratesSocrates PlatoPlato AristotleAristotle

SocratesSocrates

► Believed in Believed in individual’s ability individual’s ability to reason.to reason.

► ““The unexamined The unexamined life is not worth life is not worth living.”living.”

►Questioned Questioned authority, which led authority, which led him into trouble.him into trouble.

► Accused and Accused and convicted of convicted of corrupting corrupting Athenian youth by Athenian youth by teaching them to teaching them to question and think question and think for themselves.for themselves.

► Sentenced to die Sentenced to die by drinking a by drinking a poison.poison.

PlatoPlato

► A student of Socrates.A student of Socrates.► Wrote Wrote The Republic.The Republic.► Distrusted Distrusted

democracies.democracies.► Believed an ideal Believed an ideal

state included state included “philosopher kings” at “philosopher kings” at the top, followed by the top, followed by warriors and the warriors and the masses at the masses at the bottom.bottom.

AristotleAristotle

► A student of Plato.A student of Plato.►Wrote Wrote Politics.Politics.►Determined that Determined that

monarchies, aristocracies, monarchies, aristocracies, and constitutional and constitutional governments were best governments were best forms of governments.forms of governments.

Rome’s BeginningsRome’s Beginnings

► Rome began as several villages established Rome began as several villages established by the Latinsby the Latins

► Latins were conquered by Etruscans in 680 Latins were conquered by Etruscans in 680 BCEBCE

► The Etruscan king was overthrown by Latins The Etruscan king was overthrown by Latins in 500 BCE, who swore that they would in 500 BCE, who swore that they would never again be ruled by a king. never again be ruled by a king.

► Latins established a republic. At first, the Latins established a republic. At first, the patricians held most power in government, patricians held most power in government, but eventually the plebians gained rights.but eventually the plebians gained rights.

Rome ExpandsRome ExpandsExpansion successful Expansion successful because:because:

► Skillful diplomacySkillful diplomacy► Well-disciplined Well-disciplined

armyarmy► Generous to Generous to

defeated enemiesdefeated enemies

Roman Republic 500 BCE-31 Roman Republic 500 BCE-31 ADAD

Punic WarsPunic Wars

► Rome attacked Rome attacked Carthage’s colony in Carthage’s colony in Sicily, beginning a Sicily, beginning a long period of long period of confrontations confrontations between the two between the two superpowers of the superpowers of the MediterraneanMediterranean

Rome Continues to ExpandRome Continues to Expand

► 264-241 BCE-1264-241 BCE-1stst Punic Punic War against CarthageWar against Carthage

► 218-202 BCE-2218-202 BCE-2ndnd Punic Punic War-Hannibal invades War-Hannibal invades Italy through AlpsItaly through Alps Battle of Cannae-Battle of Cannae-

40,000 Romans 40,000 Romans wounded/diedwounded/died

Romans attack Romans attack Carthage to get Carthage to get Hannibal out of ItalyHannibal out of Italy

Carthage DestroyedCarthage Destroyed

► 149-146-3149-146-3rdrd Punic War-Rome totally destroys Punic War-Rome totally destroys CarthageCarthage

Civil Wars 82-31 BCECivil Wars 82-31 BCE

► 100 BCE-Growing gap 100 BCE-Growing gap between rich and poor, between rich and poor, but Rome continues to but Rome continues to expandexpand

► 44 BCE-Rome controls 44 BCE-Rome controls the Mediterannean-the Mediterannean-called “Mare Nostrum” or called “Mare Nostrum” or “our sea”“our sea” Julius Caesar assassinated Julius Caesar assassinated 11stst and 2 and 2ndnd Triumvirates Triumvirates

battle for control in civil battle for control in civil wars (Marcus Antony, wars (Marcus Antony, Cleopatra, Octavius)Cleopatra, Octavius)

The Empire BeginsThe Empire Begins

► 31 BCE-End of the Republic when Octavius declares 31 BCE-End of the Republic when Octavius declares himself “Augustus” or “Honored One”himself “Augustus” or “Honored One”

Roman Empire 31 AD-476 ADRoman Empire 31 AD-476 AD

► 41-54 AD-Claudius adds Britain41-54 AD-Claudius adds Britain► 98-117-Empire is at it’s largest during rule of Trajan98-117-Empire is at it’s largest during rule of Trajan

Pax Romana 96-180 ADPax Romana 96-180 AD

► 96-180-Pax Romana96-180-Pax Romana Ends with death of Marcus AureliusEnds with death of Marcus Aurelius

Roman Contributions:Roman Contributions:

► Cicero-philosopher, Cicero-philosopher, statesmanstatesman

► Had great influence on Had great influence on ideas on justice, law and ideas on justice, law and liberty found in American liberty found in American founding documentsfounding documents

► Proposed natural law, Proposed natural law, that human nature that human nature included reason which included reason which could be used to could be used to discover justice which discover justice which was the basis of law.was the basis of law.

►Cicero believed that civic virtue was Cicero believed that civic virtue was important and he worried that the important and he worried that the loss of virtue was the source of loss of virtue was the source of Rome’s difficulties.Rome’s difficulties.

More Contributions…More Contributions…

►Engineering: Engineering: roads, bridges, roads, bridges, aqueductsaqueducts

►Rule of law (12 Rule of law (12 Tables), justiceTables), justice

Beginning of the EndBeginning of the End

► 300 years of slow 300 years of slow declinedecline

► 293 AD-Diocletian 293 AD-Diocletian divides empiredivides empire

► Constantine builds a Constantine builds a new capital and new capital and names it names it ConstantinopleConstantinople

► The eastern half of The eastern half of the empire remains the empire remains strong and strong and continues to flourishcontinues to flourish

► The Western half of The Western half of the empire, the empire, however, struggleshowever, struggles

Fall of the Roman EmpireFall of the Roman Empire

►Economic causesEconomic causes Large empires are expensiveLarge empires are expensive Declining population (wars, invasions, Declining population (wars, invasions,

plague)plague) Fewer people meant higher taxes (costs Fewer people meant higher taxes (costs

were not going down)were not going down) Many lost land and moved to citiesMany lost land and moved to cities ““Bread and circuses”Bread and circuses”

Economic WoesEconomic Woes

► Social causesSocial causes Lost values of loyalty and dutyLost values of loyalty and duty Many non Romans in government and militaryMany non Romans in government and military Wealthy less interested in providing leadershipWealthy less interested in providing leadership

►Political causesPolitical causes Empire too largeEmpire too large Capital moved to ConstantinopleCapital moved to Constantinople Civil War (cost money and lost lives)Civil War (cost money and lost lives)

►Military causesMilitary causes Invasions of Vandals, Angles and Saxons, Huns, Invasions of Vandals, Angles and Saxons, Huns,

VisigothsVisigoths

► The Visigoth leader, Odoacer, overthrew the The Visigoth leader, Odoacer, overthrew the emperor and proclaimed himself king in 476 ADemperor and proclaimed himself king in 476 AD