BASICS OF GREEK HISTORYBASICS OF GREEK HISTORY

PRE-1600 BCE or Middle Helladic PPRE-1600 BCE or Middle Helladic Perioderiod

Sometime around 2000 bce people entered“Greece” Sometime around 2000 bce people entered“Greece” who would develope into the historical Greeks. who would develope into the historical Greeks. Mainland Greece was widely populated and a distinctive Mainland Greece was widely populated and a distinctive pottery style was used. pottery style was used. These early Greeks eventually were influenced by These early Greeks eventually were influenced by Crete’s Minoans and developed intoCrete’s Minoans and developed into the Mycenaeans.the Mycenaeans.

Late Helladic or Mycenaean Greece 1600-1100 bceLate Helladic or Mycenaean Greece 1600-1100 bce

The Mycenaeans were organized in communities led The Mycenaeans were organized in communities led by warrior-kings in palace complexes. They engaged in by warrior-kings in palace complexes. They engaged in warfare, colonization and trade throughout the warfare, colonization and trade throughout the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.Their leaders were buried in tholos tombs and their Their leaders were buried in tholos tombs and their records, in Linear B script, show evidence of their law and records, in Linear B script, show evidence of their law and religion.religion.The period ended abruptly, perhaps due to natural disaster The period ended abruptly, perhaps due to natural disaster and invasion by Dorian Greeks.and invasion by Dorian Greeks.

1350 bce

1250 bce

http://www.bsu.edu/classes/magrath/HON201/minvmyc/minvmyc.html

DARK AGES (Geometric Period) 1100-800 bceDARK AGES (Geometric Period) 1100-800 bce

Following the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization Greece reverted to village organization, presumably ruled by the better-off agrarian families in villages, with chief magistrates known as basileis.Writing, trade, large scale organization disappear for centuries.The beginning and end of this period are marked by colonization of Ionia and Magna Grecia (Italy).Geometric pottery dominates.

1100 bce850 bce

800 bce

ARCHAIC AGE 800-500 bceARCHAIC AGE 800-500 bce

The period begins with colonization, expanded trade and The period begins with colonization, expanded trade and Homeric poetry. The period witnesses the development of Homeric poetry. The period witnesses the development of hoplite warfare, use of the alphabet, coinage, lyric poets, hoplite warfare, use of the alphabet, coinage, lyric poets, the rise of tyrants and the formation of the POLIS or the rise of tyrants and the formation of the POLIS or city-state. Panhellenic institutions like the Olympic Games and city-state. Panhellenic institutions like the Olympic Games and the Delphic oracle coexist with endless inter-city warfare.the Delphic oracle coexist with endless inter-city warfare.The Olympian gods form the basis of state religion. Corinth, The Olympian gods form the basis of state religion. Corinth, Sparta and above all Athens develop distinctive pottery.Sparta and above all Athens develop distinctive pottery.

Corinth 600 bce

Laconia550 bce

Athens 550 bce

CLASSICAL AGE 500 - 400 (350) bceCLASSICAL AGE 500 - 400 (350) bce

The GOLDEN AGE of Greece when Athens and Sparta reach their heights. Also the century plus of internicean warfare among the Greek city-states and with Persia.Architecture, sculpture and painting as well as tragic and comic theatre flourish.Philosophy, mathematics and medicine see their beginnings and practiced by Plato and Aristotle, Hippocrates and Pythagoras.Rhetoric emerges from the law courts and democracy is expanded in range and meaning.

HELLENISTIC GREECE 350-150 bceHELLENISTIC GREECE 350-150 bce

The Greek city states lost their independency to kingdoms established by Alexander’s political descendants. This loss of freedom was matched by an increase of peace and prosperity and a broader definition of Greece.

The period witnessed increased urbanization of the culture and interchange among its members.

Philosophy and architecture, the arts and the sciences all prospered under the kings.The middle class became more active in political matters but Its tastes and concerns were also expressed in more baroque art and more personal religion.

AND THEN CAME THE ROMANS!AND THEN CAME THE ROMANS!