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ANCIENT GREECE The Golden Age
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LEGACIES OF GREECE -polis Language Philosophy Great thinkers Politics & political ideas Democracy Art & architecture Myth & literature
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ARCHAIC PERIOD (AFTER THE DARK AGE) ~750-500 BCE Emergence of national literature Homer: The Iliad and The OdysseyThe Iliad The Odyssey Hesiod: TheogonyTheogony Common history, common gods Olympic Games – 776 BCEOlympic Games Would last for almost a thousand years, until Emperor Theodosius banned all pagan festivals in 393 CE Resumption of trade beyond the Aegean Sea Increase in: shipbuilding; metalworking; knowledge of geography and navigation Colonization of Sicily, parts of Italy, and along the Mediterranean
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TRADE & COINAGE Sea-based trade Most important crops: olives and grapes Barter-based trade Items traded: olive oil, wine, silver, white marble, pottery, furniture, jewelry, textiles for grain, glass, ivory, timber Coinage developsdevelops ~7th century BCE: silver pieces stamped by government First mints: 7th century BCE, in Lydia King Croesus By the 5th century BCE, most common coinage in use in the Mediterranean was the Athenian coin Owl on one side and Athena on other
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CLASSICAL GREECE 500-336 BCE Polis (city states) Each had its own form of government, laws, and money (Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Sparta, etc.) Dominance of Athens as political power (Delian League) Construction of Parthenon on the Acropolis Full development of Athenian democracy under Pericles Time period sees the emergence of great literature, poetry, philosophy, drama, and art
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ARCHITECTURE
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COLUMNS (IN CASE YOU’RE INTERESTED) Doric & Ionic: 6th century BCE Corinthian: 5th century BCE Further developed and used by Romans
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THE CARYATIDS OF THE ERECHTHEION
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ART
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PHILOSOPHERS & THINKERS Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Diogenes, Aristotle Established the Academy and the Lyceum to examine the ideas of truth, beauty, justice, politics, rhetoric, logical thinking, knowledgelogical Not schools as we know it More like a formal lounge where members posed problems to each other and tried to think their way through At least two women were members of the Academy Playwrights: Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus Other guys: Hippocrates, Archimedes, Pythagoras
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THE ORACLE OF DELPHI ~1400 BC The most important shrine in all Greece: sanctuary of Apollo Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was considered to be the center (literally: navel) of the world People would come from all over the ancient world to ask questions about the future Answered by the pythia, the priestess of Apollo Answers usually cryptic or ambiguousambiguous Arguments over the correct interpretation of an oracle were common The oracle was always happy to give another prophecy if more gold was provided Current theory: the shrine is located on a fault line that releases hallucinogenic gases
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ATHENS: THE CRADLE OF DEMOCRACY Demos: the people (exactly who was included in this term is unclear) Kratos: rule Power in Athens passed from monarchs to oligarchs, tyrants, and finally to the people Democracy flourished during the “golden age” of Athens (4th Century BCE) under Pericles Direct democracy: all male citizens would gather, discuss issues, and then vote on them Only male citizens allowed to take part in running the government (made up far less than 25% of the population) Meetings always held in Athens proper: rural Athenians would have been at a disadvantage to attend short- notice meetings Women, slaves and foreigners were excluded from public affairs – except the hetaerae The policy of ostracism also created some instability as the Assembly could exile a speaker / leader by vote if they felt that the leader was getting too powerful Athenian Government:Government The Council of 500 (one- year term) The Assembly (40 meetings per year – 4 meetings per month, only 10 months in a year) The Courts (with juries) Athenian Government:Government The Council of 500 (one- year term) The Assembly (40 meetings per year – 4 meetings per month, only 10 months in a year) The Courts (with juries)
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DAILY LIFE IN ATHENS MEN Government run by citizens; only men could be citizens Relationships between men were…different…from male-male relationships today Enjoyed much leisure time, which allowed philosophy, politics, literature, and arts and culture to develop and flourish WOMEN Women could not vote, hold office, or own property and did mostly household duties Except for the hetaerae Education involved spinning, weaving and domestic arts Except for the hetaerae At 15 years old, girls were considered ready for marriage SLAVES Ratio of slaves to free men was quite high Historians estimate that as much as 40% of people in the Athens area were slaves Household servants Had few rights Some could gain freedom from generous owners
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SPARTAN GOVERNMENT Ares: patron god of Sparta Government ruled by a Council made up of 2 kings (aristocracy) and 28 nobles (age 60+) Made most political decisions Set foreign policy Acted as supreme criminal court Assembly of the Spartiate (democracy): Spartan males (age 30+) Could veto and approve decisions made by kings and Council 5 Ephors (oligarchy) Led the Council Ran the military and educational systems 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)
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DAILY LIFE IN SPARTA MEN Men became citizens at 30 and could then vote in the Assembly, marry, and own a house Educated in reading, fitness, and use of weapons Boys started military training at the age of 7; joined the military at 20; and completed military service at 60 Soldiers given land which was farmed by the helots (slaves) WOMEN Girls taught reading and writing Participated in running, wrestling, foot races, and 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 had no political rights SLAVES Helots (agricultural slaves / peasants) made up 2/3 of population The defeated Messenian peoples Attempted revolt in 640 BCE but revolt was crushed Forced Sparta to create a stronger army
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HELLENISTIC GREECE 323 – 148 BCE Period that begins with Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire Ends with the ascendancy of the Roman republic Hellas: the Greeks’ word for Greece Hellene: the Greeks’ word for a Greek person Hellenization: the spread of Greek influence (in art, literature, language, culture, philosophy, politics, religion, law, etc.) throughout the ancient world The Near East, the Mediterranean, and Asia Minor Spread of Greek culture and language throughout Near East, Mediterranean and Asia Minor
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