Ancient Ancient GreeceGreece
Cornerstone of Western Cornerstone of Western CivilizationCivilization
CornerstCornerstoneone
• First well-organized European First well-organized European civilizationcivilization– The West looks back to Greece as its The West looks back to Greece as its
beginningbeginning
• Foundations of European:Foundations of European:– Government, History, Science, Math, Government, History, Science, Math,
Medicine, Medicine, Philosophy and ArtsPhilosophy and Arts
““Axial Age”Axial Age”
• Eastern Mediterranean becomes a Eastern Mediterranean becomes a hybrid societyhybrid society– Mixture of old & newMixture of old & new
• Traders carry ideasTraders carry ideas– Coins, political ideas, alphabetCoins, political ideas, alphabet
• Similar to Zhou dynasty and Similar to Zhou dynasty and developments in South Asiadevelopments in South Asia
Legacies of the Greco-Roman Legacies of the Greco-Roman WorldWorld
• RationalismRationalism– Philosophy, science and historyPhilosophy, science and history
• HumanismHumanism– Truth, art and athleticsTruth, art and athletics
• Inherent OrderInherent Order– Natural law, physics and taxonomyNatural law, physics and taxonomy
• PoliticsPolitics– Government, civic responsibility and Government, civic responsibility and
democracydemocracy
Delphi
Government and Government and LawLaw
• Athens: the first democracyAthens: the first democracy– Demos Demos (the people)(the people) Cratien Cratien (rule)(rule)– Later copied by the Roman Republic…Later copied by the Roman Republic…
then dropped by the Roman Empire and then dropped by the Roman Empire and lostlost
– Re-appeared about 1500 years later, Re-appeared about 1500 years later, still spreadingstill spreading
• First trial by jury (400 members)First trial by jury (400 members)
The Trial The Trial of of
SocratesSocrates
PhilosophyPhilosophy
• Philo Philo (lover of) (lover of) SophiaSophia (wisdom) (wisdom)• Seek knowledge, organized system Seek knowledge, organized system
of thoughtof thought• The Big 3: Socrates, Plato, AristotleThe Big 3: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Early Philosophy Early Philosophy (600-470 BCE)(600-470 BCE)
Is the world permanent or Is the world permanent or changing?changing?
• Democritus – all physical things are Democritus – all physical things are formed by combinations of tiny formed by combinations of tiny particles called atoms.particles called atoms.
• Sophists – Sophists – “Man is the measure of all “Man is the measure of all things”things”– There is no common objective reality There is no common objective reality
that all persons grasp the same way.”that all persons grasp the same way.”– Truth is relative to each individualTruth is relative to each individual– Pleasure is the highest good - hedonismPleasure is the highest good - hedonism
Socratic PhilosophersSocratic Philosophers (470-322 BCE) (470-322 BCE)
“Truth and reality are “Truth and reality are absolute”absolute”
•SocratesSocrates – Truth is in the mind but hidden by false Truth is in the mind but hidden by false
impressionsimpressions– You can only know the truth through You can only know the truth through
inquiryinquiry– Stressed importance of honor & Stressed importance of honor &
integrityintegrity
“The unexamined life is not worth living”
• PlatoPlato– Dualism – the world is imperfect, Dualism – the world is imperfect,
changeable and different in appearance to changeable and different in appearance to every individual; the world we perceive is every individual; the world we perceive is an illusion, the real world is a world of an illusion, the real world is a world of “ideal” forms.“ideal” forms.
– Philosophers will discover the perfect, Philosophers will discover the perfect, eternal, real worldeternal, real world
– RepublicRepublic – society should be governed by – society should be governed by “Philosopher kings”“Philosopher kings” There is
only one real tree.
• AristotleAristotle– Reality = form and matterReality = form and matter– Logic - key to truth and Logic - key to truth and
happiness, by logic people happiness, by logic people can gain knowledgecan gain knowledge
– ““Golden Mean” – perfection, Golden Mean” – perfection, virtuous and excellentvirtuous and excellent• between extremes, when neither between extremes, when neither
adding something nor taking adding something nor taking something away will make something away will make improvements.improvements.
– Government – rule by the Government – rule by the middle class, devoted to middle class, devoted to general welfare of the people.general welfare of the people.
– Use senses to classify science Use senses to classify science (taxonomy)(taxonomy)
– Develops inductive thinking- Develops inductive thinking- The PoliticsThe Politics
– Wants to strengthen urban Wants to strengthen urban communitiescommunities
OK, everyone with an
exoskeleton, over there.
The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself
Men create the gods in their own image
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space;
everything else is opinion
Thales
Democritus
Xenophanes
HistoryHistory
• Herodotus, the “Father Herodotus, the “Father of History”of History”– First to separate fact and First to separate fact and
legend, use witnesseslegend, use witnesses
Science and Science and MathMath
• Astronomy- first heliocentric theory Astronomy- first heliocentric theory (earth around sun)(earth around sun)
• Geometry- remember Pythagoras!Geometry- remember Pythagoras!• Medicine- Hippocrates, “Father of Medicine- Hippocrates, “Father of
Medicine,” separated superstition Medicine,” separated superstition and magic from treatmentand magic from treatment
The The ArtsArts• LiteratureLiterature: :
– Homer’s Homer’s Iliad Iliad and and Odyssey Odyssey were THE were THE textbooks of Europe for 2000 yearstextbooks of Europe for 2000 years
– Greek mythology stories still popular todayGreek mythology stories still popular today
The ArtsThe Arts
• Greek Theater: from Athens to Greek Theater: from Athens to Shakespeare to BroadwayShakespeare to Broadway
The The ArtsArts
• Sculpture – Set the ideal body type, Sculpture – Set the ideal body type, realistic portrayal, action in marblerealistic portrayal, action in marble
ArchitectArchitectureure
• Greek design is known for use of columns and Greek design is known for use of columns and the the Golden MeanGolden Mean or or Golden ProportionGolden Proportion, 1 : , 1 : 1.618...1.618...
Golden Mean Used in Golden Mean Used in ArchitectureArchitecture
Golden Mean in ArtGolden Mean in Art
Independent City-StatesIndependent City-States
There is no “Greece” There is no “Greece” in Ancient Greecein Ancient Greece
• Being Greek = you spoke Greek and believed Being Greek = you spoke Greek and believed in the Greek gods, no matter where you livedin the Greek gods, no matter where you lived
• Each of the Greek cities were self-controlledEach of the Greek cities were self-controlled– Athens was a democracyAthens was a democracy– Sparta was an oligarchySparta was an oligarchy– Corinth was a monarchyCorinth was a monarchy
• Fought each other, but allied to fight non-Fought each other, but allied to fight non-GreekGreek– As in: Vs Troy in the As in: Vs Troy in the IliadIliad, Vs Persia , Vs Persia 300300
Was there a Greek Was there a Greek Empire?Empire?
• Greek city-states launched colonies, Greek city-states launched colonies, but never really made an empirebut never really made an empire– Why mess around with Barbarians?Why mess around with Barbarians?
Then Came Alexander…Then Came Alexander…
Alexander the Who?Alexander the Who?
• ““Proper” Greeks laughed at the Proper” Greeks laughed at the MacedoniansMacedonians– Talked with funny accentsTalked with funny accents– Not allowed to be in OlympicsNot allowed to be in Olympics– Considered “barbarians”Considered “barbarians”
• Until King Philip IIUntil King Philip IIshut them right upshut them right up
Like Father, Like SonLike Father, Like Son
• Prince Alexander tutored by AristotlePrince Alexander tutored by Aristotle
• Became king at age 20Became king at age 20
Ain’t no stoppin’ us now! Ain’t no stoppin’ us now! **
*For 13 years*For 13 years
Alexander’s conquestAlexander’s conquestleads to the Hellenistic leads to the Hellenistic
AgeAge
Hellenistic -derived from Héllēn –Greek word for “Greek”
Now That’s Hellenizing!Now That’s Hellenizing!
• Alexander’s conquest Alexander’s conquest HellenizedHellenized the landthe land– Spread Greek language, art, knowledge Spread Greek language, art, knowledge
and thinkingand thinking
• After his sudden death (with no son) After his sudden death (with no son) his Empire passed to his generalshis Empire passed to his generals– In 5 piecesIn 5 pieces– After 40 years of civil warAfter 40 years of civil war
Influence of Hellenistic Influence of Hellenistic CultureCulture• Hellenistic is not one single culture Hellenistic is not one single culture
• Political expansion leads to cultural Political expansion leads to cultural diffusiondiffusion
• Lays foundation for state systems/leads to Lays foundation for state systems/leads to more warfaremore warfare
• Leads to stability in tradingLeads to stability in trading– Growth of “Silk Road”Growth of “Silk Road”– Use of money & common languageUse of money & common language
Influence of Hellenistic Influence of Hellenistic CultureCulture• LanguageLanguage
– Replaced dialects with a “common” GreekReplaced dialects with a “common” Greek– easier communication between Egyptians, Syrians, easier communication between Egyptians, Syrians,
JudeansJudeans
• ReligionReligion– Led to worship of Greek godsLed to worship of Greek gods– Not accepted universallyNot accepted universally
• ex. Jews in Judea rebelled vs. Hellenistic cultureex. Jews in Judea rebelled vs. Hellenistic culture(Maccabean Revolt – Diaspora)(Maccabean Revolt – Diaspora)– JudaismJudaism HellenismHellenism
One God One God Gods, Goddesses and Gods, Goddesses and Who Knows What! Who Knows What!
Man in the Image of God Man in the Image of God Gods in the Image of Gods in the Image of Man Man
Influence of Hellenistic Influence of Hellenistic CultureCulture• ArtsArts
– Sculpture more realisticSculpture more realistic• Cosmopolitan CitiesCosmopolitan Cities
– Alexandria becomes the model – huge libraryAlexandria becomes the model – huge library– Inhabitants become “cosmopolitan” – Not just Inhabitants become “cosmopolitan” – Not just
citizens of a particular citizens of a particular polispolis• Becomes ultimately the culture of Becomes ultimately the culture of
eliteselites – base of later Roman culturebase of later Roman culture
• Penetrated into sub Saharan Africa - MeroePenetrated into sub Saharan Africa - Meroe
Hellenistic Philosophers Hellenistic Philosophers (340 BCE)(340 BCE)
• Philosophy becomes Philosophy becomes accessibleaccessible to a wider to a wider audience audience
• Affluent members of Affluent members of the population, the population, including women, begin including women, begin to study philosophyto study philosophy
• focuses on the problem focuses on the problem of human happiness of human happiness
What is the meaning of
this?
• EpicureansEpicureans– knowledge originates and stops in the knowledge originates and stops in the
senses senses – pleasure is the sole good and that pain pleasure is the sole good and that pain
is the sole evil is the sole evil – man must moderate himself in man must moderate himself in
reference to these desires reference to these desires
Cake is yummy!
But, eating an entire
cake would make you
sick. That’s evil.
• Stoics - Stoics - ZenoZeno– Named after Named after Stoa PoikilStoa Poikilēē in Athens where Zeno in Athens where Zeno
taughttaught• The universe functions according to a plan The universe functions according to a plan
of goodness – “Natural Law”of goodness – “Natural Law”– Nature is understood through reasonNature is understood through reason– All persons are inherently equal as all share a All persons are inherently equal as all share a
spark of reasonspark of reason– You can live in harmony with nature but need to You can live in harmony with nature but need to
control your passions (Get over it!)control your passions (Get over it!)
• CynicsCynics – preached a return to nature and a preached a return to nature and a
rejection of conventional mores as rejection of conventional mores as the key to man's happinessthe key to man's happiness
– Did not consider themselves Did not consider themselves members of any nationsmembers of any nations
Diogenes made his home in thestreets of Athens, made a virtueof extreme poverty.Lived in a large tub, walked the streets carrying a lamp in the daytime claiming to be looking for an honest man.
• Skeptics Skeptics – by doubting everything, believed by doubting everything, believed
that they could attain a state of that they could attain a state of perfect tranquilityperfect tranquility
– But did they even believe that?But did they even believe that?
Hellenistic ScienceHellenistic Science• MathMath
– Hipparchus - trigonometric tables and Hipparchus - trigonometric tables and gave methods for solving spherical gave methods for solving spherical triangles.triangles.
– Pythagoras - The Pythagorean Theorem Pythagoras - The Pythagorean Theorem – Euclid – wrote about triangles and Euclid – wrote about triangles and
circles, irrational numbers, and three-circles, irrational numbers, and three-dimensional geometry. dimensional geometry.
Hellenistic Hellenistic ScienceScience
• PhysicsPhysics– Archimedes – lever and hydrostatic Archimedes – lever and hydrostatic
discoveriesdiscoveries– Aristotle's - "Physics" and "Metaphysics” Aristotle's - "Physics" and "Metaphysics”
Not heavy, not heavy, not heavy.
Hellenistic ScienceHellenistic Science
• Astronomy Astronomy (applying logical thinking and geometry)(applying logical thinking and geometry)
– Anaxagoras - cause of eclipsesAnaxagoras - cause of eclipses– Aristarchus - the earth goes around the sunAristarchus - the earth goes around the sun– Thales - the earth is round. Thales - the earth is round.
Hellenistic ScienceHellenistic Science• MedicineMedicine
– You could learn to understand and treat You could learn to understand and treat diseases by using careful observation diseases by using careful observation and logical thought.and logical thought.
– Hippocrates - dismissed the notion that Hippocrates - dismissed the notion that Magic or spirits caused or cured Magic or spirits caused or cured disease. disease. Chant
after me:
Black bile,
yellow bile,
phlegm and
blood.
Hellenistic ScienceHellenistic Science• Cartography Cartography
– The earth is a sphereThe earth is a sphere– Claudius Ptolemy wrote Claudius Ptolemy wrote Guide to Guide to
Geography (Geographike hyphygesis)Geography (Geographike hyphygesis)--remained an authorative reference on remained an authorative reference on world geography until the Renaissance.world geography until the Renaissance.
Discuss changes and Discuss changes and continuities in intellectual continuities in intellectual
development in Greek-development in Greek-influenced areas from 500 influenced areas from 500
B.C.EB.C.E. to 30 . to 30 B.C.E.B.C.E.
