Greek Society/Persian Greek Society/Persian WarWar

The rise of power and The rise of power and Democracy in GreeceDemocracy in Greece

PolisPolis

City-StateCity-State– Many were small townsMany were small towns– Community of relatives, more than the classic Community of relatives, more than the classic

definition of “state”definition of “state”– A brotherhood of manA brotherhood of man

Where justice prevailsWhere justice prevails Those who fail to follow are animalsThose who fail to follow are animals

– Much different than today?Much different than today?

– Originally meant a citadel-AcropolisOriginally meant a citadel-Acropolis The agoraThe agora

– Market place/civic centerMarket place/civic center

Hoplite PhalanxHoplite Phalanx A military techniqueA military technique

– Armored menArmored men– Spear and shieldSpear and shield– 8 rows, sometimes more 8 rows, sometimes more

sometimes lesssometimes less– Could withstand a Could withstand a

cavalry chargecavalry charge– Hold your groundHold your ground

Failure to do so would Failure to do so would surely mean defeatsurely mean defeat

– Citizen SoldiersCitizen Soldiers Used to defend lands, Used to defend lands,

especially during especially during harvestharvest

Magna GraeciaMagna Graecia

Expansive Greek ColonizationExpansive Greek Colonization– Establishment of polis’Establishment of polis’

Asia Minor and the Black SeaAsia Minor and the Black Sea Italy and SicilyItaly and Sicily SpainSpain FranceFrance

– Independent and at times beholden to the Independent and at times beholden to the mother citiesmother cities

– Pan-Hellenic: “all-Greek”Pan-Hellenic: “all-Greek” A sense of pride when confronted with different A sense of pride when confronted with different

peoplespeoples

TyrantsTyrants AristocratsAristocrats

– Move up and gain powerMove up and gain power Use of military and supportUse of military and support

– Ability to hold supportAbility to hold support Drainage systemsDrainage systems Water supplyWater supply Support of arts and literatureSupport of arts and literature DefenseDefense

– Their fallTheir fall Repression and crueltyRepression and cruelty Went against the very ideas of the polisWent against the very ideas of the polis

– Rule without answering to a people who admire law Rule without answering to a people who admire law and justice doesn’t workand justice doesn’t work

SpartaSparta

Not much different than any other polisNot much different than any other polis 11stst Messenian War: 725 bce Messenian War: 725 bce

– Increased population and lack of landIncreased population and lack of land – Attack MessinaAttack Messina– Reduced population to serfs: HelotsReduced population to serfs: Helots

22ndnd Messenian War: 650 bce Messenian War: 650 bce– Helots rebelHelots rebel with help of other Peloponnesian with help of other Peloponnesian

statesstates– Spartans put down rebellionSpartans put down rebellion– A shift occurs in Spartan societyA shift occurs in Spartan society

Spartan SocietySpartan Society Its all about preparing for war and Its all about preparing for war and

commitment to the Poliscommitment to the Polis– BirthBirth

Male and female survival depends on being physically fitMale and female survival depends on being physically fit– 7 yrs old: males are taken from their mothers and 7 yrs old: males are taken from their mothers and

given to instructorsgiven to instructors– Athletics, military, and enduranceAthletics, military, and endurance

– 20 yrs old: enrolled in the Army until 3020 yrs old: enrolled in the Army until 30– Barracks, companionshipBarracks, companionship

– 30 yrs old: citizenship, plot of land, ability to 30 yrs old: citizenship, plot of land, ability to marrymarry

– 60 yrs old: retirement60 yrs old: retirement– Women: more freedom than most of Greece, but Women: more freedom than most of Greece, but

still beholden to the statestill beholden to the state

Spartan Gov’tSpartan Gov’t Two kingsTwo kings

– Shared powerShared power– A king had to go into battle with his menA king had to go into battle with his men

Council of EldersCouncil of Elders– 28, 60 yrs old, served for life28, 60 yrs old, served for life– Judicial functionsJudicial functions– Consulted before proposals are put before the assembly of Consulted before proposals are put before the assembly of

Spartan citizensSpartan citizens Assembly of Spartan CitizensAssembly of Spartan Citizens

– 30 yrs old30 yrs old– Mostly a figure headMostly a figure head

Agreeing on decision already madeAgreeing on decision already made Board of ephorsBoard of ephors

– Check the kingCheck the king– Foreign policy decisionsForeign policy decisions– Guarded against HelotsGuarded against Helots

The Peloponnesian LeagueThe Peloponnesian League

Spartan defeat of TegeaSpartan defeat of Tegea– Must follow Sparta and provide an ArmyMust follow Sparta and provide an Army– Becomes the modelBecomes the model– Every Peloponnesian state joinsEvery Peloponnesian state joins

Except ArgosExcept Argos

A true armyA true army

AthensAthens Aristocratic RuleAristocratic Rule

– AreopagusAreopagus Council of noblesCouncil of nobles

– Years of UnrestYears of Unrest– Draco: 621 bceDraco: 621 bce

Codifies and publishes lawsCodifies and publishes laws– Extremely harsh i.e. the term “Draconian”Extremely harsh i.e. the term “Draconian”

– Solon: 594 bceSolon: 594 bce Does away with debt and ends slaveryDoes away with debt and ends slavery Most important: CASH CROPSMost important: CASH CROPS

– Increases the wealth and power of AthensIncreases the wealth and power of Athens– Clisthenes: 510 bceClisthenes: 510 bce

Founder of DemocracyFounder of Democracy Deme- small town or ward- center of civic lifeDeme- small town or ward- center of civic life Assembly of all male ciizensAssembly of all male ciizens

Athenian SocietyAthenian Society

FarmersFarmers– Hard lifeHard life, not much leisure, not much leisure

AristocratsAristocrats– Symposium: Modern version frat lifeSymposium: Modern version frat life

A lot of leisureA lot of leisure Drinking gamesDrinking games gamblinggambling Sports: chariot races, wrestling, races, etc.Sports: chariot races, wrestling, races, etc.

Athenian ReligionAthenian Religion

VERY PolytheisticVERY Polytheistic– Many GodsMany Gods

Zeus the top dogZeus the top dog

– Also reverence for mortal men who are Also reverence for mortal men who are bravebrave AchillesAchilles

– Oracle at DelphiOracle at Delphi Fortune tellersFortune tellers Consulted before most major decisions madeConsulted before most major decisions made Especially important during Persian WarsEspecially important during Persian Wars

VERY PolytheisticVERY Polytheistic– Many GodsMany Gods

Zeus the top dogZeus the top dog

– Also reverence for Also reverence for mortal: heroismmortal: heroism AchillesAchilles

– Oracle at DelphiOracle at Delphi Fortune tellersFortune tellers Consulted before Consulted before

most major decisions most major decisions mademade

The Persian Wars: Ionian The Persian Wars: Ionian RebellionRebellion

Greek polis’ on Asia MinorGreek polis’ on Asia Minor Fall to Lydian King Croesus: 560 bceFall to Lydian King Croesus: 560 bce

– Not too harshNot too harsh Fall to Persians: 546 bceFall to Persians: 546 bce

– Trouble beginsTrouble begins AristagorasAristagoras

– Urges Persians to sack NaxosUrges Persians to sack Naxos Failure creates fearFailure creates fear Calls for Ionians to rebelCalls for Ionians to rebel Spartans refuse to helpSpartans refuse to help Athens sends shipsAthens sends ships 495 BCE Persians reclaim Miletus495 BCE Persians reclaim Miletus

Asia MinorAsia Minor

MarathonMarathon

490 bce- Persians attack Eretria and 490 bce- Persians attack Eretria and sack Naxossack Naxos

Instead of submitting to Hippias, Instead of submitting to Hippias, Athenians revoltAthenians revolt

Confrontation at MarathonConfrontation at Marathon– 10,000 against a force of 10 to 110,000 against a force of 10 to 1– Defeat PersiansDefeat Persians

Lose only 192 menLose only 192 men Hiatus for 10 yearsHiatus for 10 years

XeresXeres 481 bce: gathers an army of 481 bce: gathers an army of

1-million and a navy of 600 1-million and a navy of 600 shipsships

– Ships are to provide Ships are to provide support and suppliessupport and supplies

– Marches his men Marches his men AthensAthens

– Crosses at HellespontCrosses at Hellespont– ThemistoclesThemistocles

Urges Athens to build Urges Athens to build a Navya Navy

By 480 bce 200 shipsBy 480 bce 200 ships

Hellespont: Miracle!!!Hellespont: Miracle!!!

ThermopylaeThermopylae Greatest battle in Greatest battle in

historyhistory Narrow pass between Narrow pass between

mountains and seamountains and sea King Leonidas of SpartaKing Leonidas of Sparta

Leads 300 Spartans Leads 300 Spartans and 8,000 support and 8,000 support

Holds off Persian army Holds off Persian army for 3 daysfor 3 days

betrayedbetrayed– Traitor shows Traitor shows

Persian’s a passagePersian’s a passage– Spartans stay and dieSpartans stay and die

Thermopylae TodayThermopylae Today

Near DefeatNear Defeat

Athens falls and is burnedAthens falls and is burned– Citizens escape and destroy crops as Citizens escape and destroy crops as

they leave…why?they leave…why? Naval battle at SalamisNaval battle at Salamis

– Persian fleet strong and fasterPersian fleet strong and faster– Athenian fleet slowerAthenian fleet slower

Engage the ships, cross over and burn themEngage the ships, cross over and burn them

– Persian fleet destroyedPersian fleet destroyed

DefeatDefeat

Persian general MardoniusPersian general Mardonius– Holds central GreeceHolds central Greece

Greeks gather the largest army to Greeks gather the largest army to that timethat time– Defeat Persians at Plataea: 479 bceDefeat Persians at Plataea: 479 bce

Mardonius is killedMardonius is killed Persians fleePersians flee

TensionsTensions Greeks continue to engage PersiansGreeks continue to engage Persians Athens and Sparta vie for powerAthens and Sparta vie for power

– Actually Athens doing most of the vyingActually Athens doing most of the vying Athenian NavyAthenian Navy

– Fleet hit hard in Egypt: 455 bceFleet hit hard in Egypt: 455 bce– War with Persia ends: 449 bceWar with Persia ends: 449 bce

446 bce446 bce– Rebellions in Boeotia and Megara break Athenian ArmyRebellions in Boeotia and Megara break Athenian Army

Spartans invadeSpartans invade Pericles sues for peace instead of fightingPericles sues for peace instead of fighting

– Give up all lands outside of AtticaGive up all lands outside of Attica– Spartans recognize Athenian EmpireSpartans recognize Athenian Empire