Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece, Overview The foundation of Western democracy, culture, art, and philosophy Ancient Greece is the natural starting point for examining Western civilization Of course, there are other non-prehistoric civilizations around at this time But here begins the “Western” distinction, as Greece and Rome are seen as the unique civilizations that “pivoted” European political and cultural development One of the most prosperous and powerful nations of its time

3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations Early Civilizations:  Minoans (Crete) and Mycenae Classical Greece  Flourishing of arts, literature, philosophy; domination by Sparta and Athens Hellenistic Age:  Macedonia Empire and Alexander the Great

What are the characteristics of Ancient Greece’s geography?

Geographic Features Sea  Heavy influence on physical environment of Greece (Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea) Mountains (with narrow valleys):  Cover more than ¾ of Greece’s surface area and islands: more than 2000 islands (Crete being the largest) No major rivers on Greek mainland but fertile soil Climate:  Winter: Mild climate;  Summer: Hot climate with rainfall  From October to March: Long growing season

Geographic Features Greece is mountainous Greek communities often times developed independently because of the mountains, thus they were diverse As a result, they fought each other a lot.

Resources and Crops RESOURCES Grain Cheese Timber Meat Sheep Wool MOST IMPORTANT CROPS Olives = oil Grapes = wine Grain Clay = pottery

Effects of Geography Seafaring tradition  Reliance on navy and fleets for power and protection Sea provided link to trade and cultural exchange with Mediterranean communities Isolationism  Protection but lack of effective communication Greece was organized into polis city states) separated by seas and rugged mountains Emergence of dominant city states  Athens  Sparta

Greek History: Overview Greek civilization started around 2000 B.C. By 1600 B.C., the Greek people had built fortified cities in the major valleys and many people were educated. Greece then had several wars, including the Trojan War around 1200 B.C., which threw them into what is known as the Dark Age. During the DARK AGE, knowledge of writing was lost and most people lived in isolated villages. The Dark Age ended in about 800 B.C when the Greeks started to write again with an alphabet based on that of the Phoenicians.

Greek History: Overview During that time, many city-states emerged and struggled with each other for power for hundreds of years after that. In 480 B.C., the Greeks united to defeat the invading Persians, but the alliance didn’t last long. Around 477 B.C., two city-states, Athens and Sparta, became the dominant powers in that region and constantly fought each other for power. Greece had its Golden Age in Athens around B.C.

Greek History: Overview In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great, leader of the country of Macedonia to the north, conquered the Greeks and started what is called the Hellenistic Age. Greece unwillingly remained under Macedonian control until the Romans conquered both Macedonia and Greece around 140 B.C. The Romans then spread the knowledge of the ancient Greek philosophers throughout their empire. The Roman Empire lasted as a unified empire until 395 A.D. when it was split into the eastern and western empires.

Greek History: Overview Greece became part of the eastern or Byzantine Empire and Greek literature became the basis for learning in Byzantine institutions, especially in Constantinople, its capital. When Constantinople was destroyed by the Turks in 1453 A.D., the Greek literature stored there spread to the rest of Europe and helped start the Renaissance.

The Four Types of Governance in Ancient Greece Monarchy (rule of a king)  limited by an aristocratic council and a popular assembly. Oligarchy  (rule of the few) arising when the aristocratic council ousted the king and abolished the assembly. Tyranny  (rule by one who ruled without legal authority) riding to power on the discontent of the lower classes. Democracy  (rule of the people), the outstanding political achievement of the Greeks.

Early Greeks: The Minoans c BCE Lived on island of Crete Great navigators and farmers Palace led political, social and economic organization at Knossos Artistic expressions and grand construction Advancements in bronze Built sanctuaries

Palace at Knossos

Palace of Minos at Knossos (K-NOSS-oss) Knossos-most powerful monarch for Minoans Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products by storing in large storerooms Palaces became the centers of exchange for Minoan economy Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular rooms on two or more stories which were grouped around a large open courtyard (administrative and religious)

Minoan Culture Art work (drawings, murals or frescoes) at Knossos shows dangerous sports such as leaping over the backs of charging bulls as well as dancing, athletics, and festivals

Myth of the Minotaur Minoan Myth of King Minos at Knossos Theseus defeats the Minotaur (half man half bull) and escapes from the maze like structure called the labyrinth, saving the youth of Athens Fairly common mythological tradition: the labyrinth with the minotaur at its center

Greek Myths FUNCTIONS Explained the world Means of Exploration Provided authority and legitimacy Entertainment

Theories for the Decline of the Minoans 1750 BCE- earthquake destroys Minoan palaces 1628 BCE- volcano erupts at Thera 1400 BCE- War between Minoans and Myceaneans led to decline of power 1200 BCE- Dorian Invaders

The Mycenaeans: 1700 – 600 BCE 1490 BCE- Minoan palaces had been rebuilt however all were destroyed except at Knossos by Mycenaean warriors Mycenaeans took control of Crete at Knossos by 1500 BCE Myceneans controlled mainland Greece = main political centre was Mycenae More interested in war as pottery and grave sites reflect hunting, weapons, armor and war as well as fortified palace walls Slowly Minoan culture and traditions disappeared

Theories on the Decline of the Myceanaens Shift in climate leading to drought forcing Mycenaeans to migrate to more fertile lands Tribe of nomadic warriors from north of Greece (Dorians) destroyed Mycenaeans

Trojan War Was the Trojan War a real historical event or merely a legend in Mycenaean history? Trojan Horse

Trojan War Two epic poems by Homer “Iliad” and “Odyssey” describe the Trojan War Approximately BCE Greeks vs Troy Helen of Sparta + Paris of Troy “the face that launched a thousand ships” Achilles, Odysseus, Hector, Agamemnon and the Trojan Horse Archaeologist- Heinrich Schliemann claims that he found Troy and the early Greek civilization of Myceaneans

Archaic Period 750 – 500 BCE Significant events 1) National literature (Homer) 2) Resurgence of trade 3) Colonization of Sicily and Italy 4) Olympic Games -776 BCE 5) Stone sculptures of human figures 6) Rise of city states (polis) During this time that Greece came out of it’s “Dark Age” and entered into the “Classical Period”

Classical Greece (500 – 336 BCE) Polis (city states)  Each had their own form of government, laws and money (Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Sparta) Dominance of Athens as political power Construction of Parthenon and Acropolis Full development of democracy under Pericles of Athens Classical age of Greece produced great literature, poetry, philosophy, drama, philosophical thinkers and art

The POLIS (city-state) consisted of a city and its surrounding plains and valleys. The nucleus of the polis was the elevated, fortified site called the Acropolis where people could take refuge from attack. With the revival of commerce, a Trading Center developed below the acropolis.

Oracle of Delphi Dating back to 1400 BC, the Oracle of Delphi was the most important shrine in all Greece as the sanctuary of Apollo Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was considered to be the center of the world Questions about the future were answered by the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo Answers, usually cryptic or ambiguous Arguments over the correct interpretation of an oracle were common, but the oracle was always happy to give another prophecy if more gold was provided Hallucinogenic gasses?

Amphitheatre

Athenian Democracy Begins with Monarchy and Kings Rise in power of aristocracy & oligarchy Democratic Reforms by Solon and Cleisthenes The Three Pillars of Athenians Democracy  Council of 500  Assembly  Courts Athens lived under a radically democratic government from 508 until 322 BCE.  The People governed themselves, debating and voting individually on issues great and small, from matters of war and peace to the proper qualifications for ferry-boat captains “Demos” = people; “kratos” = rule

How Effective was Athenian Democracy? Ancient Athens is often referred to as the cradle of democracy Democracy flourished during the Golden Age of Athens (4th Century BCE) under Pericles Direct Democracy  All the male citizens would gather, discussed the issues, and then voted on them. Only male citizens were allowed to take part in running the government (made up approx. 10% of population).  Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from public affairs. The policy of ostracism  Ability to vote and exile anyone threatening to Athens  Created some instability as the Assembly could exile a speaker / leader by vote if they feel they are too powerful

Further Notes on Democracy Athens was a “direct democracy,” meaning that everyone (well, male citizens) had a vote on all governmental matters. Modern Democratic societies are not at all like this. The United States has a Representative Democracy, or a Republic, meaning that we elect politicians to vote on matters for us

Daily Life in Athens Men  Only men could be citizens; men ran government  Advancements in culture, thinking, literature, philosophy, wealth, expansion, trade  Reliance on slaves and women opened up free time for men to discuss philosophy and participate in politics Women  Women could not vote, hold office or own property and did mostly household duties  Education involved spinning, weaving and domestic arts  At 15 years old, girls were considered ready for marriage Slaves  Ratio of slaves to free men was quite high as historians estimate that as much as 40% of people in Athens area were slaves  Slaves were household servants; had few rights; some could gain freedom from generous owners

Spartan Government Government ruled by a Council= made up of 2 kings (aristocracy) and 28 nobles (over age of 60) who made most political decisions and foreign policy and was supreme criminal court Assembly of the Spartiate (democracy)- Spartan males over the age of 30 who could veto and approve decisions made by Kings and Council 5 Ephors (oligarchy)- led the council, ran the military and educational system and could veto any ruling made by the Council or Assembly Spartan government was considered one of the most stable in all of Ancient Greece = led to a warrior and military state (state above individual) Aries, the God of War, was a patron god of the city, of wars, battles, and warriors, and also of fearlessness in battle.

Daily Life in Sparta MEN At 30 men became citizens and could vote in Assembly, marry, own a house Educated in reading, fitness and use of weapons Boys started military training at the age of 7; joined military at age of 20; end of military service at the age of 60 Soldiers given land which was farmed by the helots WOMEN Girls taught reading and writing Participated in running and wresting, foot races, staged battles Wives of Spartan soldiers supervised farms Expected and driven to produce strong and healthy children and be loyal to the state Spartan women could own and control property but held no political rights SLAVES Slaves were called helots (agricultural slaves / peasants) made up 2/3 of population defeated Messenian peoples Attempted revolt in 640 BCE but was crushed (this forced Sparta to create a stronger army)

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was the son of King Phillip II of Macedonia. Alexander conquered Persia, Egypt, the Middle East and Northern India. He died at age 33 from malaria.

Hellenistic Era Period between conquest of Persian Empire by Alexander the Great to establishment of Roman supremacy The word, Hellenistic, is derived from the word, Hellene, which was the Greek word for the Greeks. The Hellenistic age "hellenized" the world Spread of Greek culture and language throughout Near East, Mediterranean and Asia Minor Exported Greek culture: architecture, politics, law, literature, philosophy, religion, and art as models of perfection

Greek Architecture Parthenon Acropolis Statue of Athena Public buildings Columns Marble Frieze

Greek Columns Greeks developed three different orders Doric & Ionic = 6th century BCE Corinthian= 5th century BCE and was further developed and used by Romans

Greek Art Focus on the concept of the “ideal” (beautiful, life like youthful, calm expression) Depictions of gods Statues of nude forms (detailed and proportional) Emphasis on elaborating on existing styles Money devoted to building theatres, stadiums, gymnasiums, tombs

Greek Philosophers and Thinkers Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Establishment of philosophical schools that examine issues such as true knowledge, the soul, love, beauty and scientific learning Logical thinking, rhetoric, politics Playwrights: Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus Other: Hippocrates, Epicurus, Archimedes, Pythagoras

Socrates Socrates was the most well known philosopher of Ancient Greece. Taught by asking questions. This method of questioning is still called the Socratic method.

Religion Heavily polytheistic  An team of gods, goddesses, demi-gods, heroes, heroines, monsters… Highly known in Western Culture The Greeks were POLYTHEISTIC and did not all worship the same gods. Some small villages worshiped the main gods and their own village gods. There were hundreds of Greek gods (perhaps around 1,000). Some of the most famous gods were Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter, Hermes, Ares, and Hades. Zeus surpassed all other gods in spirit, wisdom and justice and his wife Hera was the queen of the gods.

Religion Sacrifices to please the gods were a major part of every Greek's religion. Most gods preferred an animal sacrifice -- generally a domesticated animal like a chicken, goat or cow. When an animal was sacrificed, it was burned on top of an altar. After it was fully cooked, it had to be eaten on the spot -- usually before nightfall. These sacrifices were the property of the god, and had to be eaten in his presence. This was especially important because the ancient Greeks believed that the god's spirit was within the animal sacrificed, and by eating the animal, the worshippers consumed his power. In this way, they strengthened the connection between man and god.

Legacies of Greece City states (polis) Thought & Philosophy Greek Language Politics Democracy Great Thinkers Art and architecture Myths and literature