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The Foundation of Western Civilization
Classical Greece The Foundation of Western Civilization
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Geography of Greece Greece is a small country in Europe.
Mediterranean Sea Mountainous, rugged landscape The main part of Greece in on a peninsula. The rest of Greece is made up of islands. Why is it important to understand the Geography of Greece?
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Greek City-States Greece’s islands and mountains isolated cities (polis) Developed city-states instead of one country Greece is not unified until Alexander the Great’s father 4th century b.c.e.
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Ancient Greece Around 1200BCE
Early City-States of Greece rise and fall Often fighting each other Greek culture is spread through poetry and traveling bards Myths Legends History
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Trojan War Said to have lasted 10 years.
The story is assembled from a variety of sources. Most Famously told in Homer’s Illiad Glorified heroes Achilles Hector Odysseus Glorified Greek accomplishment Military Victory Intellectualism
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Golden Age of Greece Around 800-400BCE
Common Enemy helps to Unify Greeks Shift from Bronze to Iron Athenian Democracy ushers in an era of cultural development
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Sparta Conquered other city-states to gain wealth and power
Very powerful army Ruled by oligarchy Multiple kings Warrior Society Learning to read and write Not very important. Training to become a good soldiers Very important. Young boys were taken from their parents and trained to be soldiers
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Athens Capital of Greece today Center of trade in the Aegean Sea
World’s first democracy People have authority Voting to make decisions Cultural center of Greece Art/Architecture Drama/Theatre Intellectual society Schools & Academies Philosophy Math/Science
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Athenian Democracty Athens became the world’s first democracy around 508BCE The people of Athens wanted to rule themselves and not have a king or queen.
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Architecture Temples built to honor gods and goddesses
The Parthenon temple to the goddess Athena— Exemplifies classical Greek architecture Showed Greek ideals of art and knowledge of mathematics and geometry Characteristics Geometric shape Columns
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Greek Architecture
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Greek Art Individualism Humanism Realism
Greeks emphasized the individual Humanism Thought humans the be the most important thing in the world Realism Tried to be look life-like or exaggerated human form In both painting and sculpture, the Greeks excelled at portraying the human form.
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Drama and Theater First people to write and perform plays
presented twice a year to honor Dionysus The earliest plays were tragedies lead character struggles against fate only to be doomed to an unhappy ending Eventually also wrote comedies humorous themes & happy ending Works included witty comments about leading figures and issues of the day
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Amphitheaters Designed theaters and amphitheaters to hold plays
Knowledge of sound and acoustics Engineered to carry sound to entire audience Natural sound amplification
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The Olympics Athletes came from all over Greek-speaking world
Olympic Games were held in Olympia every 4 years Olympics were religious festival in honor of Zeus Trading and fighting stopped Women not permitted, even as spectators Women’s games in honor of Hera held in different location
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The Olympic Games Consistent with Greek emphasis on the individual, there were individual rather than team events Foot races at first Later, broad jump, discuss, jumping, boxing, javelin, etc. Winners were crowned with wreaths of olive leaves Parades held in honor of winners
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Impact on Western Civilization
Greek Culture Impact on Western Civilization
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Greek Culture Art
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Impact on Art in the West
Greek Influence Impact on Art in the West
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Greek Culture Architecture
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Impact on Architecture in America
Greek Influence Impact on Architecture in America
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Greek Culture Drama
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Impact of Drama in the West
Greek Influence Impact of Drama in the West
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Greek Culture Sports
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Impact of Sports in the West
Greek Influence Impact of Sports in the West
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Greek Philosophy, Math & Science
Rationalism Logic and Reasoning Questioned the world around them Philosophy Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Math & Science Pythagoras, Euclid, Ptolemy
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Socrates Teaching method became known as “Socratic Method”
Ask questions of students and then oppose their answers with logic Forced students to defend their answers
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Socratic Method A Socratic questioner should: a) keep the discussion focused b) keep the discussion intellectually responsible c) stimulate the discussion with probing questions d) periodically summarize what has and what has not been dealt with and/or resolved e) draw as many students as possible into the discussion.
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"Hellenic" (Classical) Greece: 700 BCE BCE
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“Persian Wars”: 499 BCE–480 BCE
The Persians were a common enemy for the Greek city-states to unify against temporarily
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Persian Wars: Battles Marathon (490 BCE) Thermopylae (480 BCE)
26+ miles from Athens Embarrassing defeat for Persian King Darius Thermopylae (480 BCE) 300 Spartans at the mountain pass Persian victory – Xerxes burns Athens Salamis (480 BCE) Athenian navy victorious
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Peloponnesian Wars- 431 B.C.E.
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The Peloponnesian War The emergence of Athens as an imperial power after the Persian Wars led to open hostilities with former allies. Mainly between the Spartans, financed by the Persians and the Athenians, lasted three decades with the victory of the Spartans. Persia regained much of its control and because of uprisings in Egypt, Cyprus, and Phoenicia, it did not return to attack Greece.
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Macedonia Under Philip II
Phillip II was able to expand his kingdom as the Peloponnesian War weakened Greece. Macedonian empire created the 1st unified state of Greece
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"Hellenistic" Greece: 324 BCE BCE
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Alexander the Great 356-323 B.C.E.
Son of Phillip II Inherited Macedonian Empire Became king at age 20 Prophesized for Greatness Myth of being half god Tutored by Aristotle Military genius Conquered largest empire in history to that date Hero of Western Civilization Great Influence of Western Imperialism
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Empire of Alexander
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Alexander the Great He saw himself as an Achaemenid ruler in the tradition of the Persians. Alexander, a Macedonian, defeated Athens but was welcomed by the military to power. Alexander and his armies would travel over 22,000 miles and extend Greek influence from Egypt to the Indus River.
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Alexander the Great in Persia
Conquered the Persians Revenge for Burning Athens Named 70 cities after himself Had Officers take Persian wives to assimilate them
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Alexander the Great’s Empire
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Building “Greek” Cities in the East
Spread Greek Culture, “Hellenism” through out the empire
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Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)
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Pergamum: A New “Hellenistic” City
Cosmopolitan Culture
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Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art
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Trade in the Hellenistic World
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The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
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The “Known” World – 300 B.C.E.
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The Incursion of Rome into the Hellenistic World
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Conclusions Greek language and culture became the dominant culture among the ruling intellectual and commercial elites from the Mediterranean, India, Russia, and Central Asia. Local customs coming from the Persians, endured and transformed the simplicity of earlier Hellenic culture into the more complex, elaborate, and cosmopolitan Hellenistic culture until the death of the last Macedonian queen, Cleopatra in 30 B.C.E. Buddhist art is also transformed. Hellenistic ecumenism- unified urban culture, encompassing the vast lands and diverse peoples. Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Delphi and later cities built by Alexander and his generals. Asia, Africa, and Europe begin to merge culturally.
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