CLASSICAL GREECESam Railey

Origins and Beginnings Started before the

Persian empire, Greek city-states developed an economy based on trade

They were organized by largely populated city-states, surrounded by farming land

They would become a rival power against the Persians, other Mediterranean power

Two Major City-States Athens- At first was ruled by a rich

aristocratic class, but there are problems and social unrest

Next, they established a democratic government ruled by the people around 5th century BCE

While all citizens can attend the meetings in this first organized direct democracy, there are a few who are the best speakers and their ideas dominate

Sparta- Based more on an aristocratic

model, with two kings and an oligarchy underneath them

Militaristic state, where women were expected to bear sons who would grow to be brave and loyal soldiers

Loyalty and bravery were dominating values, opposed to public speaking and knowledge in Athens

Leading Up To The Hellenistic Period

Persian power and land grabs stressed the need for unification and cooperation between Athens and Sparta

The Persian Wars resulted- where some of the most epic battles of all time would happen: Thermopylae, Marathon, etc.

After the defeat of Persia, Athens built a Delian League made up of many small states under one empire

Tensions grew between Athens and Sparta with their large borders touching and sometimes overlapping

The Peloponnesian War started over Corcyra land disputes, but ultimately was about taking over the other city-state and conquering its money and glory

While Sparta technically won by cutting Athens off, the War was bad for both city-states in that it greatly weakened them and made their land look appealing to a new group of people: The Macedonians

Achievements of Pre-Hellenistic Greece

Homer’s epics the Iliad and the Odyssey-great works of poetry

Democracy and trial and jury were first developed in Greece

Athletic competitions such as the Olympic Games: these were for entertainment as well as an attempt to improve relations among people from different lands

The oracles at Delphi were a religious organization that made predictions and gave advice

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle set up philosophical ways of thinking that stressed logic, ethics, and the need for intelligent rule

The Dawn Of The Hellenistic Period

Macedon came to take Greece from the North, then also took the Persians

Phillip II takes over and makes his empire, and on his death his son Alexander rose to power

He became a series of militaristic and political conquests that together made the largest empire that had ever been

Hellenistic Culture As had happened with Greece

before Macedonian conquest, former warriors settled down and started to build large aristocratic homes and positions

There was still a peasant class, though they were not used as an army any more, because of all of the trained warriors who wanted glory and riches

Merchants also had high positions in society, having a better social position than other merchants in most other classical societies

The warrior class was one of prestige, and being a brave soldier was something that increased your status and money

Achievements of the Hellenistic Period

With all of the wealth acquired by the military conquests, there was enough money, time, and manpower to make great public works and achievements in art and culture

The great library in Alexandria was built, along with museums around the empire

The earth’s rotation and revolution were correctly guessed, and mathematical ideas flourished

Sculpture and art followed the earlier Greek method of realistic sculpture with heroic qualities

Philosophy also made gains in new ideas; the Stoics who preached the living under virtues, which would make happiness

Contributions to the Modern World

While many of these accomplishments are known and widely credited to Classical Greece, a great deal of them made large impacts on life for the modern world. They include:

Geometry-many of the postulates and theorems came form Greece

Greco-Roman architecture is found in the capital building and the White House

Medicine- Hippocrates pioneered in treatment of common ailments

The Scientific Method comes from early philosophical methods of thinking and learning through logic and fact

The Olympic Games were made in Greece, as was wrestling, discus throwing, and other events in track and field

Achievements and Contributions

Works Cited

Carr, Dr. Karen. “Classical Greece.” Kidipede. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. <http://www.historyforkids.org/ learn/ greeks/ history/ classical.htm>.

“Classical Greece.” Wikipedia. N.p., 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Classical_Greece>.

Gill, N S. “Classical Greece.” About.com. New York Times Co., 2009. Web. 28 Sept. 2009. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/ cs/ greecehellas1/ a/ classicalgreece.htm>.

Kreis, Steven. “Classical Greece.” The History Guide. N.p., 2000. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.historyguide.org/ ancient/ lecture7b.html>.

Stearns, Peter N. World Civlizations: The Global Experience. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. Print.