Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase Chapter 10 Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase

Classical Greece (800–350)

Minoan Society (@ 2500–1100) Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Phoenicians Minos — legendary king “Center of Mediterranean trade” Wine, olive oil, and wool → grain, textiles, manufactures Knossos — royal dwellings & tax storehouses Linear A Natural disasters @ 1700 Thera (present-day Santorini) Foreign domination @ 1100

Mycenaean Society (@ 1600–1100) Indo-European invaders descended through the Balkans Assimilated with Minoan culture Linear A → Linear B Construction: fortresses & stone palaces throughout the Peloponnesus Major settlement: Mycenae Military expansion Crete, Sicily, southern Italy

Chaos in the Eastern Mediterranean Military conflicts Trojan War (@ 1200) Various maritime/piratical engagements (@ 1100– 800) Civil disturbances Result: civil unrest, population decline, emigration

The Polis Citadel, or fortified state Independent urban centers Dominated rural areas Levied taxes Political forms Monarchies “Tyrannies” — not necessarily oppressive Early democracies

Sparta Peloponnesus Highly militarized and acquisitive society Expanded during 8th and 7th centuries Subjugated peoples: helots Primarily agricultural serfs (not chattel slaves) In time, outnumbered Spartans 10:1 Led to increasingly militaristic society

Spartan Society This . . . not this. . . .

Spartan Society Relaxation of discipline by 4th century Austere society Simplicity and frugality Disdained distinctiveness, except in martial matters Militaristic education Boys removed from families at age seven Rigorous military training / lived in barracks Active duty until age 30 Girls also underwent exacting physical regimen Relaxation of discipline by 4th century

Athens This . . . not this. . . .

Athens Development of early democracy Comparatively large political base, but: Free, adult males only Foreigners, women, slaves excluded Athenian society Maritime trade (7th century) Increases aristocratic power & class / socio-economic tensions Small landholders forced into debtor peonage

Solon and Athenian Democracy 638–558 Averts civil war Aristocrats maintain land Debt forgiveness Debt slavery banned Extension of polity Removal of lineage restrictions Institution of paid civil service

Pericles 495–429 “First citizen of Athens” General Naval supremacy Zenith of Athenian democracy Popular aristocrat Infrastructural programs Cultural development Science Philosophy Literature Art Architecture

Greek Colonization (8th century) Poleis population expansion Coastal Mediterranean & Black Sea colonies Imperial government? Effects: Commercial expansion Communication Language Culture Political & social effects

Persian Wars (500–479) Anatolia Ionian coast Marathon (490) Cyrus and Darius Ionian coast Revolt, (500) supported by Athens Suppressed by Darius (493) Marathon (490) Herodotus’ Histories Darius dies (486) Xerxes’ (Darius’ son) revenge (480) Thermopylae Leonidas’ Spartans’ last stand Athens burned Salamis & Attica Themistocles’ Xerxes withdraws

The Delian League Response to the Persian menace Led by Athens Sparta refused to join Superior navy & military Other poleis contributed financially Payments fueled Periclean (495-424) expansion Resentment

The Peloponnesian War Civil war (431-404) Expanded civil strife Athens v. Sparta Negotiated peace (421) Syracuse (415) Athens capitulates unconditionally Expanded civil strife

Kingdom of Macedon Frontier region north of Peloponnesus Semi-autonomous clans Beneficial trade w/ Greece King Philip II (r. 359-336) Greek hostage (368-365) Powerful military Consolidated power Imperial designs Greece (338) Assassinated (336) Pausanias of Orestis

Alexander of Macedon Expanded military Brilliant strategist Inspirational leader Conquered (330-330) Ionia, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia Invaded India (327) Soldiers weary Returned (324) Died (323)

Alexander’s Empire, ca. 323 B.C.E.

The Hellenistic Empires Power vacuum Empire divided thricely Antigonus: Greece & Macedon Ptolemy: Egpyt Seleucus: Persian Achaemenid Empire Hellenistic Era Extension of Greek culture Integrated economies and cultures from Greece to India

The Antigonid Empire Greek conflict Political settlement Tax relief Local autonomy Land distribution Athens Corinth Emigration Seleucid empire

The Ptolemaic Empire Wealthiest Hellenistic empire Efficient organization Agriculture, industry, taxation Royal monopolies Textiles, salt, beer Alexandria Nile River & Mediterranean Administrative center Megalopolis Cultural center Alexandrian Museum Alexandrian Library

The Seleucid Empire Greek zenith Mass Greek colonization Ai Khanum Exportation of Greek culture From Anatolia to Bactria

Trade and Integration of the Mediterranean Basin Limited Greek agriculture Small grain harvests Rich in olive and grapes Commercial economy Mediterranean Sea Black Sea “Trading links” Manufactures Spread Greek culture

Panhellenic Festivals Olympic Games 776 ? Olympia Integrated colonies Quadrennial for millennium

Patriarchal Society Infanticide Women subservient Priestess Sparta Sappho Poetess Homosexual double-standard

Slavery Debtor slavery Captured soldiers Slave trade Scythians (Russia) Nubians (Egypt / Sudan)

The Greek Language Adapted Phoenician alphabet Flexible & complex language Allowed for abstract communication Philosophy

Socrates (470–399) Pivotal philosophic figure Socratic Method Reflective questioning Honor, personal integrity, justice Plato Public gadfly (persistent, irritating critic) Death sentence: immorality and corruption of youth

Plato (430–347) Student of Socrates Systematized Socratic thought Socratic dialogues Forms, or Ideas Material world = shadow of the real world Perception is reality “Allegory of the cave” The Republic Intellectual aristocracy Philosopher-king

Aristotle (389 – 322 B.C.E.)

Aristotle (389–322) Disciple of Plato Forms, or Ideas = useless constructs Emphasized empirical findings, reason “The master of those who know.”

Greek Theology Polytheistic Personified supernatural powers Sun, wind, rain Mythological stories Zeus, Apollo, Fortune, Furies Religious cults Eleusinian mysteries: morality Demeter: fertility cult Dionysus→ The Bacchae Domestication of rituals

Tragic Drama Evolution from cultic rituals Major playwrights Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Aristophanes

Hellenistic Philosophies Epicureans Pleasure, or quite satisfaction The “greatest good” Skeptics Doubted certainty Stoics Most respected Universal family Duty, virtue, inner peace