Chapter 3Ancient Greece

The Early Greek World

Aegean Civilizations Minoan

› Crete – 2000 BC› Island› Trade and colonization

with Fertile Crescent› Olive oil› Pottery› Ancestors of

Philistines?› Knossos, capital city –

destroyed in 1400 BC

Mycenae› Mainland of Greece› Adopted art,

architecture, and commercial practices from Minoans.

› 1400 BC became leading center of Aegean region.

› Military fervor› 1200 BC conquered

by Dorians.

Troy Western coast of Asia Minor Hellespont – strait separating Asia

Minor from Europe. Linked the land of the Fertile Crescent

with the sea trade of the Aegean world.

Troy Myceneans

attacked them. Ten-year siege. Troy falls. Sneak attack with

Trojan horse. Read Trojan War inset p. 56

The Greek Dark Ages 1150-750 BC New intruders Neglected palace

fortresses for simple life in villages

Blended cultures into a common Greek culture.

The Homeric Age Homer’s epic poems

› Iliad› Odyssey

Greek Mythology Myths (stories)

explain their beliefs about life, the world, and God.

Mount Olympus Zeus Apollo Athena Poseidon

Polytheism – › Worship of many gods

Monotheism – › worship of one god

› Greek gods were anthropomorphic (had human characteristics)

› Had immortality and extraordinary powers› Invented by men, exhibited human sins› Games were held in honor of Zeus every 4

years on Mount Olympus.› Ultimate Goal of the Greeks – to attain

physical perfection› The games were a rare demonstration of

cooperation between the Greeks.

Greek City-States

Greek City-States The mountains of Greece tended to

isolate the Greek city-states and hindered their national unity.

They built their cities at the foot of a hill with a fortress at the top.

They called their city a “polis,” and the fortress an “acropolis.” (acro = high)

Greek City-States The polis was the basic political unit of

Greece. However, it acted like a nation. The ancient Greek’s ultimate source of authority was his polis.

Government Greek city-states experienced 4 basic

forms of government.› Monarchy – rule by one› Oligarchy – rule by a few› Tyranny – government had complete

control› Democracy – rule by the people

Development Greek City-State Period – 750-500 B.C. Two opposing political systems and

poleis› Sparta in southern Greece on the

Peloponnesus› Athens – to the northeast on the mainland

Sparta Conquered by Dorians who enslaved

the Helots who were numerous. Dorians created a militaristic state in

response to fear of uprising of the majority.

Sparta developed a warrior culture.

Sparta Spartan elders controlled all aspects of

the lives of the people. Boys left their mothers at the age of 7

and were placed in army barracks and began their warrior training.

They were beaten to learn to be tough. They were starved to learn to be tough. The weak were culled from the pack

and eliminated.

Sparta They were encouraged to steal to

prove their resourcefulness. At the age of 20 they became part of

the army. At age 30, if they had proved their

worthiness, they could become citizens of Sparta.

They lived in the army camp and were prepared to fight at all times.

Spartan women Spartan girls were trained to be

mothers of warriors They also learned to be self-disciplined

and tough. Spartan mothers expected their sons to

“return with their shields or on them.” Every aspect of their lives were

determined from furniture to food.

Spartan Government Sparta was an oligarchy. It was ruled by a five elders who

guarded against change. They forced the status quo (existing state of affairs).

Sparta often forced oligarchy on neighboring city-states and organized them into the Peloponnesian League to guard against the democracy of the Athenians.

Sparta Sparta was associated with militarism,

isolation, oligarchy, and glorification of the state.

Athens Athens nurtured creativity, commercial

endeavors, democracy, and individualism.

Athenians loved beauty, art, and learning.

Athens Athens was a monarchy during the

Homeric Age. Later the nobles took over and

produced an oligarchy with a chief magistrate called an archon.

Athens Under the statesman Solon, Athens

moved toward democracy in 594 B.C. when he gave representation to all sections of Athens in the Council of Four Hundred.

Athens In the 5th century B.C. under Pericles,

Athens established a “rule of the people.”

The Persian Wars At the beginning of the 5th century B.C.

the Persians advanced across Asia Minor and into Greece.

The Athenians, valuing their independence, rebelled and overthrew the Persians.

The Persian Wars King Darius of Persia crushed the revolt

and landed a Persian force at the Bay of Marathon (490 B.C.).

The outnumbered Athenians met them and surprisingly defeated the Persians.

(Read Herodotus’ quote on p. 63)

Battle of Thermopylae Darius made plans to invade Greece in

revenge but died before he could carry them out.

His son, Xerxes (husband of Esther), followed through on the assault on Greece in 480 B.C.

Battle of Thermopylae As the Persians advanced, the Greeks

disagreed on their strategy. The Spartans wanted to defend the Peloponnesus; the Athenians wanted to defend the mainland.

They finally agreed to take a stand at the mountain pass of Thermopylae.

Battle of Thermopylae At Thermopylae about 7000 Greeks

faced a Persian army numbering at least 200,000.

The Persians attacked several times but could not take the pass.

Battle of Thermopylae Alas, the Greeks were betrayed by one

of their own who showed the Persians a secret pass through the mountains.

All the Greeks except for 300 Spartans retreated. The 300, led by Leonidas, stayed to hold the pass and give the others a chance.

Leonidas and his 300 Spartans fought to the death defending the pass.

Leonidas

Battle of Salamis Bay The Persians pressed on to Athens and

destroyed it by fire; the Athenians fled in retreat to the isle of Salamis, just off the coast.

Battle of Salamis Bay Thermistocles devised a trap for the

Persians. He sent a slave to report to the

Persians that the Greeks were afraid and were sailing northward and that if the Persians sent their navy in at dawn they could catch the Greeks in retreat.

Battle of Salamis Unwittingly, the Persians came into the

Bay of Salamis as the tide was going out. Their ships were stranded, and the Greeks destroyed them.

The Greeks beat back the Persians and preserved their independence.

The Periclean Age (460-429 B.C.)

The Greek victory gave the Greek people pride, self-confidence, and patriotism.

Under Pericles, Athens’ advances in thought, art, science, literature, drama, and architecture were unparalleled anywhere in the ancient world.

The Periclean Age (460-429 B.C.)

Under Pericles, every adult male could vote and participate in government.

Note that the women, slaves, and foreigners (about 90% of the population) were still excluded.

The Peloponnesian War 431-404 B.C. Athens versus Sparta Athens – naval strength Sparta – strong land army A plague weakened Athens and Sparta

dominated, returning Athens to a state of oligarchy and tyranny.

Alexander’s Empire