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ANCIENT GREECE
Geography of Greece Location:
Southern end of Balkan Peninsula Surrounded by water on 3 sides
○ Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea to West○ Mediterranean Sea to South○ Aegean Sea to East
Uneven Coastline All of Greece had easy access to a sea Economy became based on sea industries
○ Trade○ Fishing○ Sailing
Difficult to Unify Mountain ranges run center of Greek mainland Jagged coasts divide sea villages Independent City-states developed
Early Greek Peoples The Minoans
Located on Crete, island South of Greek mainland Named after King Minos
○ Palace of Knosos Accomplishments:
○ Frescoes – form of art where pigment was pushed into wet plaster on walls
○ Metalworking – art made of bronze, gold, silver, etc.○ Developed written language, Linear B
Economy based on sea-travel & trade○ Created series of sea ports on Asia Minor & Aegean islands○ Developed strong navy
The Mycenaeans Controlled southern Greek mainland (Peloponnesus) Clans based on military/war leaders Built fort like cities Took over Crete
The City-States of Greece No Unified Nation, independent city-states
developed instead The Polis
Based on three main ideas○ The geographic territory○ The community it represented○ Political & economic independence
Characteristics of most city-states○ Acropolis – hill on which the central fort and temples
were found○ Agora – marketplace & main meeting place○ Usually small w/less than 10,000 people each○ Only free adult males had rights○ Most spoke same language & shared similar cultural
beliefs
Greek Culture in Homeric Age Literature:
Most Greeks were illiterateLiterature passed through oral traditionoral traditions gathered into two main works by
Homer○ The Iliad – epic poem about Trojan War between
Mycenae and Troy○ The Odyssey – epic poem about the travels of
Odysseus, a Mycenaean king, on his way home from the Trojan War
Religion:Three main ideas about Greek religion○ Wanted to explain natural events○ Wanted to explain emotions & why people act the way
they do○ Wanted certain benefits such a good luck, health, &
good cropsConcept of afterlife: the spirit went to the realm
of Hades for either reward or punishmentReligious beliefs explained in myths, stories
about the godsFuture could be predicted by oracles, special
priests/priestesses
Greek Government The Aristocracy:
City-states led by warrior chiefs○ Warrior chiefs relied on wealthy land owners for support○ Wealthy land owners known as aristocrats, or “best men”
Aristocracy: the privileged upper social class○ Controlled military○ Acted as judges & leaders in communities○ Took over from the warrior chiefs
Changes that weakened Aristocratic control on government Hoplite:
○ non-aristocratic soldier, infantry○ Gained greater say in politics
Farmers & poor citizens unhappy w/ aristocracy Tyrants take over
○ A person who gains control of the government thru force○ Usually conditions improved in the beginning, but became brutal
leaders later Democracy Develops Greece
People overthrow tyrants Popular government developed: gov where the people rule
themselves Democracy: gov where the citizens make the decisions for the
city-state
Spartan Society Peloponnesus conquered by invaders from
northHelots: the conquered peopleCapital located at village of Sparta
Three Social Groups:Equals○ Descendents of the invaders○ Controlled the government○ Owned the land
Half-Citizens○ Freemen who either farmed or worked in trades/artisans○ Served in the military○ No political power
Helots○ Slaves○ Were kept under tight control, disobedience was
violently dealt with
Spartan Government & Military Spartan Government
Two Kings○ One king controlled the military○ One king controlled the home matters
Council of Elders○ 28 male citizens over the age of 60○ Proposed laws & held court
The Assembly○ Included all landowning males over 30○ Led by 5 Ephors who ensured kings acted within the
law○ Voted to pass/reject laws made by council○ Controlled the education of the young
The Military Every male became a member of the military
○ Age 7, boys leave home to live in military barracks○ At age 18, training focused on war○ Age 20, active duty military○ Age 30, men could move out of the military barracks ○ Age 60, men left the military to work for the public
Education of Girls○ Focus on physical strength & to be devoted to the
Spartan state
Society of Athens Located on Attic Peninsula
Limited farming due to poor soil conditionsPrimarily focused on sea trade
Three Tier Society:Citizens○ Men born in Athens, had full political rights○ Women born in Athens, did not have right to vote
Metics○ Free people born outside of Athens○ Could not take part in government nor own land
Slaves○ People captured in war○ Treated as property○ Freed slaves became Metics
Government of Athens Early Athenian Government:
Led by aristocrats Only male, land-owning citizens could hold office All adult male citizens served in an assembly
○ Elected generals during war times○ Led by Archons
An elected committee of 9 Served 1 year terms
Changes Come to Athenian Gov: Economic Problems
○ Trade prospered, but farmers grew poorer○ Farmers sold into slaver to pay for debt○ Poor begin to riot &
Solon becomes an Archon○ Outlaws the slavery for debt○ Set up courts made up of citizen jurors
Cleisthenes○ Turns Athens into a democracy○ Creates a Council of 500○ Court decisions made by citizen jurors
Daily Life In Athens Economics:
Agriculture:○ Extremely rugged landscape○ Terraced the hillsides○ grew olives, grapes, & figs
Oversea Trade○ Established colonies throughout region○ Exported olive oil, wine, etc○ Imported grains & foodstuffs
Home & FamilyMarriage & family central social unit○ Marriages were arranged○ Mother took care of all children until age 6○ At age 7, boys under care of a pedagogue, teacher of
manners
Education The Athenian Ideal:
Stressed sound mind & bodyWealthy boy received detailed educationSubjects:○ Politics○ Reading○ Writing○ Poetry○ Music○ Gymnastics
Sophists:○ Teachers of older boys○ Studied mathematics, government, ethics, & rhetoric
Ethics: study of moral behaviorRhetoric: study of public speaking & debate
At age 18, all boys entered the military
The Persian Wars Persia’s Attempts to Control Greece Under Reign of Darius
Athenians colonize parts of Asia Minor & Greek colonists revolt against Persian rule
Darius of Persia violent ends uprising○ Wanted to punish Athens for helping Greek colonists○ Hoped to take control of Greek mainland○ Conquers Thrace & Macedonia (North of Greece)
Battle of Marathon○ Persia invades Greek mainland○ Athenians greatly outnumbered, but defeat Persians○ Origins of the marathon traced to this battle
Persia’s Attempts to Control Greece Under Rule of Xerxes Leads attacks aimed at taking control of Greek mainland Greek city-states unite to prevent takeover Battle of Thermopylae
○ 300 Spartans & Persian army clash at the mountain pass of Thermopylae○ Spartans held off Persian army for 3 days○ All Spartans died, but allowed other city-states to prepare
Persia marches on to Athens○ Athens evacuated, Persia destroys Athens○ Persia attacks Athenian Navy at the Salamis Strait○ Athenian Navy better equipped for fighting in tight strait, Athens Wins
Sparta & Athens Unite to defeat Persia at Plataea Greek city-states unit under the Delian League
Age of Pericles Pericles comes to rule in Athens
His reign known as a time of cultural & political success
Democracy in AthensAll male citizens could hold public officeOfficeholders paid to workPositions chosen by lot so everyone had equal
advantage Athens Expands:
Colonies established to help tradeAthenian Navy dominated the Aegean SeaCreated a standard system of weights & measures
Expanded Delian LeagueCenter of Delian League moved to AthensRelative peace amongst member nationsWill include 140 member city-states
The Peloponnesian War Delian League losses power
Tensions grow between Athens, Corinth, & Sparta Athens & Sparta became rivals
Sparta invades the Attic Peninsula Destroyed villages & burned fields Athenians retreat to city of Athens Sparta tries to “starve” Athens
○ Athenian navy brings in food supplies○ Siege lasts for years○ Plague breaks out in Athens, killing
thousands○ Pericles dies
War lasts 27 years Random periods of peace & war Athens surrendered to Sparta Constant war weakened both city-states Sparta unable to control all of Greece Thebes takes over weakened Sparta, but also unable to
control all of Greece
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