Classical Mediterranean Civilizations Greece and Rome

Chapter Summary Greece and Rome rivaled India and China –Cultural richness –Effect on world history Complication to studying: –Elements of Greek and Roman politics, social structure and economic institutions similar but also unique

The Persian Tradition Greeks/Romans had contact with Persians Extremely large empire Absorbed Mesopotamian societies Zoroastrianism started here –Monotheistic religion –Good v. evil concept Eventually overthrown by Alexander the Great

Patterns of Greek/Roman history 800 BCE—classical Greece –5 th century BCE=high point –Led by Pericles Alexander the Great –United Greece & Persian Empire –“Hellenism” Rome rose as Hellenism waned –Grew by dominating lesser developed cultures and regional powers

Greece (apex= BCE) Strong city-states w/ own governments –Tyranny or aristocratic council, e.g., Sparta v. Athens Sparta=strong military state Athens=diverse commercial state & leading in arts and intellect –Dominated (5 th c. BCE) by Pericles Peloponnesian Wars: Sparta v. Athens

Greece (apex= BCE) Conquered by Philip II of Macedon (then son Alexander the Great) –Created Hellenistic period Merging of Greek art and culture with Middle Eastern art and culture

Rome Began as local monarchy (800 BCE) Drove out monarchy in 509 BCE Expanded to cover entire Italian peninsula Punic Wars ( BCE) –Fought Carthage (northern Africa) –Vastly expanded state

Rome Republic ended in 45 BCE when Julius Caesar seized power Grandnephew Augustus Caesar established Roman Empire in 27 BCE Strong for 200 years “Fall” lasted 250 years Finally overthrown in 476 CE

Greek/Roman Political Institutions Both: –Emphasize aristoctic rule –Elements of democracy –Political view similar to Confucian values –Variety of forms similar to India Greek=no single form but democracy most famous –Ethics, duties of citizens, and oratory skills

Greek/Roman Political Institutions Supported official religions (state religions) but tolerant to other religions –Exception=Christianity b/c Christians refused to place the state before their devotion Greatest legacies: –Intense loyalty to state –Preference to aristocratic rule –Uniform set of legal principles

Comparative Perspective China, India, and Med. similarities: –Developed into empire –Relied on agricultural economy –Developed in science –Clear social strata (elites clearly distanced from masses)

Comparative Perspective China, India, and Med. differences: –Social mobility India most restrictive; Rome most fluid –Cultural “glue:” Med.: civic duty India: reward for good behavior through reincarnation China: obedience and self-restraint a good unto itself resulting in peace and prosperity

Comparative Perspective Indian and Chinese social structures survived better than Mediterranean b/c of the introduction of Christianity into Med. civilization

Religion and Culture Did not create significant world religion –Complex gods/goddesses regulated human life –“of-this-world” approach –Illustrated human passions and foibles but didn’t offer model any ethical behavior

Religion and Culture Separate models of moral philosophy developed –Socrates, Plato, Aristotle –Think Confucius Socrates –Conventional wisdom by using rational inquiry

Religion and Culture Sciences –Greeks: geometry and anatomy –Romans: engineering Arts/literature –Greeks: sculpture, architecture, plays –Romans: mimicked Greeks; rarely surpassed

Economy and society Greeks/Romans –Most=self-sustaining farmers –Great deal of commercial agriculture Fueled expansion of empires –Extensive trade –Slavery important social institution –Men in firm control

Status of Women Often active in business Sometimes controlled property Overall, status better than their counterparts in China

Toward the fall of Rome Differed from China and India –No single civilization arose to take Rome’s place –Several small governments claimed to be its inheritor –Fragmentary collapse in west long before the fall in the east

Global Connections Greeks –Widespread colonial and trading networks –Peaking with Alexander but didn’t last Rome –Well aware of Asia, Africa, and Europe –Chinese goods traded in the city of Rome itself –Traded with China due to desire of material goods—not because of an interest in Chinese technology or system of government

The End