ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL

GREECECIVILIZATION COMES TO

EUROPE

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY• The Land

– Mountains dominate land; cross land travel difficult

– Fertile river valleys were center of settlement– River valleys formed basis of polis– No place more than a few miles from sea– Outdoor life common due to temperate climate

• The Sea– Greece is a series of peninsulas, islands– Sea travel easier than land communication– Most Greeks took to the sea

• Economy– Agriculture: Grains, honey, olives, grapes– Herding: Goats, sheep, cattle– Trade: Necessary to make up for lack of

resources

PHYSICAL MAP OF AREA

MINOAN SOCIETY• Knossos

– Minoan society arose on Crete, late 3rd millennium B.C.E.– Takes name from legendary king of Knossos, Minos – Lavish palaces at Knossos, between 2000 and 1700 B.C.E. – Linear A, a kind of written language, is found

• Island of Crete – From 2200 to 1450 B.C.E., center of Mediterranean commerce – Received early influences from Phoenicia and Egypt – Established colonies on Cyprus and islands in the Aegean Sea

• Society– Much evidence of egalitarian society; women had rights– Agriculture was important: grapes, olives, fishing, wheat– Trade was very important: marble, artifacts, cloth

• Decline of Minoan Society – After 1700 B.C.E., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis – After 1450 B.C.E., wealth attracted a number of invaders – By 1100 B.C.E., Crete fell under foreign (Hellenic) domination

THE ISLAND OF CRETETHE ISLAND OF CRETE

MYCENAEAN GREECE• Mycenaean society

– Indo-European immigrants settled in area, 2000 B.C.E.– Adapted Minoan Linear A into their script Linear B – Fortified agricultural settlements in Peloponnesus – Most important settlement was Mycenae – Society resembled Aryan: emphasis on war, trade– Kingdoms ruled by strongest of nobles; constant strife

• Chaos in the eastern Mediterranean 1100 to 800 BCE– Mycenaeans engaged in Trojan war, about 1200 B.C.E.

• Troy may have been a Hittite city-state and trade rival• Tomb of Agamemnon, Troy excavated by von Schliemann • Recorded by Homer in the Illiad and the Odyssey

– More invasions by Hellenic tribes – “Sea Peoples”

• Later Hellenic invaders moved by sea along coasts• Seemed to have raided into Palestine, Egypt as Philistines

ANCIENT GREECEANCIENT GREECE

THE GREEK DARK AGES• 800 TO 500 BCE

– Called Dark Ages due to loss of writing– Age remembered through oral traditions– A period of migration and warfare– Hellenes spread to Italy, Sicily, Asia

Minor, Cyprus

• The Hellenes– Indo-Europeans who settled in area– Tribes include Dorians, Attics, Achaeans– Originally aristocratic societies– Warfare, slavery, and trade common

GREEK TRIBESGREEK TRIBES

THE POLIS• Greek City-State

– Polis = city-state; Poleis = city-states

– Metropolis = city of polis– Acropolis = fortified center of city– Boundaries shaped by geography– Terms of politics come from POLIS

• Politics, politic, politician, polite, polity

• Police, metropolis, metroplex

• Most important– Athens– Sparta

POLIS OF ATTICAPOLIS OF ATTICA

POLITICAL FORMS• Archon: Greek for “ruler” – English “archy”• Kratien: Greek for “to rule” – English “cracy”

– Demos: People – Democracy (direct election)– Aristos: The Best – Aristocracy (nobles)– Oligos: The Few – Oligarchy (rule by select few)– Monos: One – Monarchy (rule by a king)– Di: Two – Diarchy (Sparta’s state had 2 kings)– An: None – Anarchy (No government)– Theos: God – Theocracy (Rule by priests, religion)– Geron: Old Man – Gerontocracy (rule by elderly)– Pater: Father – Patriarchy (rule by males)– Mater: Mother – Matriarchy (rule by women)– Auto: Self – Autocracy (dictatorial rule)– Tyrannos: Tyrant – Tyranny (rule by a dictator)– Ethnos: Ethnic or locals – Ethnarchy (rule by the local

people)

SPARTA• Sparta

– Situated in a fertile region of the Peloponnesus – Began to extend control during the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.E. – Reduced neighboring peoples to the status of helots, or servants – By 6th century B.C.E., helots outnumbered Spartans by 10 to 1 – Maintained domination by a powerful military machine

• Spartan society – Discouraged social distinction, observed austere lifestyle – Distinction was drawn by prowess, discipline, and military talent – Commitment to military values was strong– Society was a military aristocracy; state ruled by two kings– Young boys, girls educated in military barracks– After marriage, men still lived at barracks; women ran homes– Women: surprisingly free in comparison to other Greek women– All merchants were foreigners licensed by state

LACONIA: SPARTA

ATHENS• Athens

– Population growth, economic development caused political strain

– Sought to negotiate order by democratic principles – Citizenship was open to free adult males– Foreigners, slaves, and women had no rights

• Athenian society – Maritime trade brought about prosperity– Aristocratic landowners were principal beneficiaries – Owners of small plots began to sell lands, some became

slaves – Class tension became intensified, the 6th century B.C.E.

• Solon and Athenian democracy – Solon forged a compromise between the classes – Opened polis councils for any male citizen

• Pericles (ca. 443-429 B.C.E.) – The most popular democratic leader of Athens– Ruled Athens during its Golden Age

GREECE & THE LARGER WORLD

• Greeks founded more than 400 colonies– Controlled Black, Aegean, Adriatic, Ionian Seas– Settled Sicily, S. Italy, Corsica, France, Spain, Africa– Settled Coasts of Yugoslavia, Albania, Turkey, Cyprus

• Effects of Greek colonization – Facilitated trade among Mediterranean lands– Facilitate exchanges between peoples, cultures – Spread of Greek language and cultural traditions – Stimulated development of surrounding areas– Spread civilization to ancient, Neolithic areas– Warfare increased– Technology stimulated: naval, navigation, astronomy

THE GREEK WORLDTHE GREEK WORLD

GREEK MILITARY• Based on citizen soldiers

– Lightly armed, armored foot soldiers (Hoplites)• Carry shields, long spear• All citizens had to furnish own arms, armor• All citizens expected to fight in army, navy• All citizens had military training in school

– Fought in massed formations called Phalanx• Very useful in rugged terrain; used 10’ long pikes• Easily defeats massed cavalry favored by others

• Greek navy– Rowed vessels called galleys

• Most famous was the trireme or three oar banked• Rowed by free citizens• Fought by ramming other vessels; than hand to

hand– Greek fleets included larger vessels

• Equites or mounted troops were aristocrats

THE PERSIAN WARS

• The Persian War (500-479 B.C.E.) – Cyrus and Darius controlled Anatolia – Greek cities on Ionian coast revolted, 500 B.C.E. – Darius’ Invasion

• The battle of Marathon, 490 B.C.E.• Greeks led by Spartans and Athens battled Persia to a draw

– Xerxes Invasion• To fight Persians, Athenians build a wall of wood, or a navy• Xerxes seized, burned Athens • Athenian navy destroys Persian in the battle of Salamis, 480

B.C.E. • Persian army retreated back to Anatolia, 479 B.C.E.

• The Delian League – Alliance among Greek poleis against Persian threat – Military force from Athens, finance from other poleis – As Persian threat subsided, poleis no longer wanted to

participate– Athens uses navy to turn Delian League into Athenian

Empire

PELOPONNESIAN WAR video clip

• The Peloponnesian War - Song from History.com - 2 ½ minutes

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzyuw_lBTM&feature=player_detailpage

PELOPONNESIAN WAR• Pericles Rebuilds Athens

– Athens experiences a Golden Age– Pericles turns Delian states into Athenian

colonies

• 30 Year Civil War (431-404 B.C.E.) – Athens and Allies vs. Sparta and Allies– Costly victories/defeats and plague wreck city – Unconditional surrender of Athens, 404 B.C.E.

• Hegemony first by Sparta and then by Thebes– Constant warfare between leagues, allies– Spartan hegemony replaced by Theban– Greece horribly weakened

– Athens remained intellectual center of Greece

RISE OF MACEDONIA

• The kingdom of Macedon– A frontier state north of peninsular Greece– Partially Hellenized society

• Philip of Macedon (re. 359-336 B.C.E.) – Built a powerful army, overcame the power of clan

leaders – Began to offend Greece from 350 B.C.E. – Brought Greece under control by 338 B.C.E.– Murdered possibly by wife and son

• Alexander of Macedon and his conquests – Educated by Aristotle; gifted in many areas– At age 20, Alexander succeeded Philip – Invaded Persia, controlled Ionia and Anatolia, 333 B.C.E. – By 331 B.C.E., controlled Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia – Invaded Persian homeland and burned Persepolis – Crossed Indus River by 327 B.C.E. – Died in 323 B.C.E. at age of 33

ALEXANDER’S EMPIREALEXANDER’S EMPIRE

HELLENISTIC EMPIRES• The Hellenistic Era: Age of Alexander and his successors

– Saw a blending of Hellenic (Greek) and Asian, Egyptian traditions– A Greek layer of upper class ruled over an Asians, Egyptians

• The Antigonid empire in Greece, Macedonia and Thrace– Continuous tension between the Antigonid rulers and Greek cities – The economy of Athens flourished again through trade – Overpopulation, many moved to the Seleucid empire

• The Ptolemaic empire ruled Egypt, Cyprus, often Holy Land– The wealthiest of the Hellenistic empires – Greek rulers did not interfere in Egyptian society – Efficient organization of agriculture, industry, and taxation – Royal monopolies over textiles, salt, and beer – Alexandria

• The capital of Ptolemaic empire, at the mouth of the Nile • Cultural center: the famous Alexandria Museum and Alexandria

Library • The Seleucid empire Mesopotamia, Persia, India

– More Greek influence than in Egypt – Greek, Macedonian colonists flocked to new Greek – Colonists created a Mediterranean-style urban society

• Parthians, Bactrians, Mauryans, Romans were all Hellenistic

HELLENISTIC WORLDHELLENISTIC WORLD

INTEGRATION OF MEDITERRANEAN

• Trade – Olive oil, wine, in exchange for grain and other items – Trade brought prosperity, population growth,

colonization – Merchant ships with 400 tons capacity were common – Some cities relied more on commerce than on

agriculture– Controlled slave markets of Eastern Mediterranean– Trade rivalry with Carthage in North Africa– Athenian silver drachma was common currency

• Panhellenic festivals – Sense of being Greek prevailed among all Greeks– Romans later admitted to Panhellenic, Olympic games – Colonists shared the same religion and language – Periodic panhellenic festivals reinforced their common

bonds – Olympic games, the best known panhellenic festival

FAMILY AND SOCIETY• Greek society in Homer's works

– Heroic warriors and outspoken wives in Homer's world – Strong-willed human beings clashed constantly– Highest achieve was arete

• Aristocracy (landed elites) vs. common – Over years, aristocracy gradually came to control most states– Held most of the social, political power

• Patriarchal society – Male family heads ruled households, could abandon newborns – Upper-class women wore veils in public, accompanied by servants – Women could not own land but could operate small business – Priestess was the only public position for women – Spartan women enjoyed higher status than women of other poleis– Common occupation of women was cloth making

• Slavery – By law, slaves were private chattel property of their owners – Worked as agricultural laborers, domestic servants – Educated or skilled slaves worked as craftsmen, business managers– Slaves were commonly prisoners of war

RATIONITY AND PHILOSOPHY• The formation of Greek cultural traditions

– From the 8th century, drew inspirations from Mesopotamia and Egypt – About 800 B.C.E., adapted the Phoenicians' alphabet to their own

language – The Greek cultural feature: a philosophy based on human reason,

rationality • Socrates (470-399 B.C.E.)

– An Athenian philosopher, determined to understand human beings – Encouraged reflection on ethics and morality

• Integrity was more important than wealth and fame • "The unexamined life is not worth living"

– Critical scrutiny to traditional ethical teachings – Was condemned to death on charge of corrupting Athenian youths

• Plato (430-347 B.C.E.) – A zealous disciple of Socrates – The theory of Forms or Ideas – His Republic expressed the ideal of philosophical kings

• Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) – Plato's disciple, but distrusted theory of Forms or Ideas – Devised rules of logic to construct arguments; father of western science – His Nicomedian Ethics became later basis in Christianity

• Legacy of Greek philosophy – Intellectual authorities for European philosophers until 17th century – Intellectual inspiration for Christian and Islamic theologians. – Provided a powerful intellectual framework for future generations

GREEK RELIGION & FINE ARTS• Greek Polytheism

– Atheism considered treason, illogical– Deities: Zeus, Athena, Apollo and many others– Worship tied to patriotism and civics of the polis– Public worship and house gods

• Various types of religious cults– Dionysian Rites– Oracle of Delphi

• The Theatre– Tragic drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides)

• Dramas performed at annual theatrical festivals • Tragedians explored possibilities, limitations of human

action – Comic drama (Aristophanes)

• Lampooned public and political figures

• Art and Architecture– Both were for public consumption and public

enjoyment– Balance, proportion and rationality part of design

HELLENISTIC WORLD VIEWS• Hellenistic philosophers

– Epicureans• Identified pleasure as greatest good; freedom from turmoil,

pressure – Skeptics

• Doubted certainty of knowledge, sought equanimity – Stoics

• Taught individuals duty to aid others, lead virtuous lives• Emphasized inner moral independence and tranquillity • Cultivated by strict discipline of the body and mind.

• Religions of salvation – Many people felt no allegiance to old gods, beliefs– Syncretism: Mixing of Greek, foreign beliefs– Mystery religions

• Promised eternal bliss for true believers – Foreign Cults

• Egyptian cult of Osiris became very popular• Worship of Isis favored by women

– Speculation about a single, universal god emerged