Chapter 2 The Rise of Greek Civilization Chapter 2 The Rise of Greek Civilization Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Chapter 2The Rise of Greek Civilization

Chapter 2The Rise of Greek Civilization

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved.


Bronze Age on Crete and on the Mainland to About 1150 B.C.E.

The MinoansArose in 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C.E. on Crete

Built large elaborate palaces found at various sites, with the most important being Cnossos

• Storage rooms, living quarters, workshops, bathrooms with plumbing

• Absence of strong defensive walls—competing explanations

Two different linear scripts: Hieroglyphics, Linear A, Linear B (early form of Greek)



The MycenaeansHelladic Period: ca. 3000–1100 B.C.E.Centered on MycenaeSpoke a non-Indo-European language (thus not related to Greek)A warrior people: fortified cities, weapons, murals depicting warHeight of power: 1400–1200 B.C.E.Disappeared by 1100 B.C.E.—competing explanations (Dorian invasion)




(Hellenic Greece: from Bronze Age to Alexander the Great, ca. 1100–300 B.C.E.)

Greek “Middle Ages,” ca. 1100–750 B.C.EGreek-speaking peoples had infiltrated mainland Greece during middle and late Mycenaean period, then spread to Aegean islands and coast of Asia Minor

Writing disappeared after fall of Mycenae, reappearing ca. 750 B.C.E.

Major source of information for this period is Homer’s epic poems

• Iliad

• Odyssey


Homeric SocietyKings rule in consultation with noblesHierarchical society: nobles and everyone else

• Nobles• Thetes (small farmers)• Landless laborers• Slaves

Values: strength, courage, honor, reputation; areteThe role of women was chiefly to bear and raise children – beauty, constancy, and skill at weaving were the most prized qualities


The Polis (pl. poleis)Foundation of Greek lifeIndependent “city-states,” though not necessarily citiesFirmly established by 750 B.C.E.Thought of as community of relatives; citizens theoretically descended from a common ancestorOriginally an elevated area to which local farmers could retreat in case of attack (e.g. Acropolis in Athens)Agora—marketplace and civic centerReplaced true monarchy with aristocratic republicsGreek writing system emerged around 750 B.C.E.


Hoplite PhalanxMilitary technique crucial to development of the polisEnd of 8th c. B.C.E.Hoplite: heavily armed infantryman; spear and large shield Phalanx: body of hoplite formed in close ranks about eight deepDepended on discipline, strength, and courage of individuals working togetherUsually either victory or rout; kept wars short and simpleTypical hoplite battle: neighboring poleis fighting over landDominant military force in eastern Mediterranean until defeat by Roman legionPolis represented order, peace, prosperity, honor, and was the molder of Greek citizens


Greek Expansion, 8th–6th c. B.C.E.

Poleis established from Spain to Black Sea

Macedonia, southern Italy, Sicily, Spain, southern France, NE Mediterranean coasts, Black Sea, eastern North African coast

Magna Graecia (“Great Greece”)—called by Romans


The Greek ColonyGreeks were driven by overpopulation, hunger for landRelationship between colony and sponsoring polis:

No formal ties—colony was for benefit of colonistsShared common cultureOften maintained trade relations, mutual defense agreements

Exposure to other cultures fostered Greek cultural identity

Panhellenic (“all-Greek”) spirit

Colonization encouraged industry and trade



The Tyrants, ca. 700–500 B.C.E.Tensions between nobles and commercially successful non-nobles lead in some poleis to rise of tyrants Definition: a monarch who gained power in an unorthodox way and exercised strong one-man rule—often in a constructive and popular wayUsually a disgruntled aristocrat backed by hoplites, supported by politically powerless new rich and small farmersPopular public improvement projects: water/sewer upgrades, stronger city walls, new marketplaces and templesLast tyrants: cruel, repressive, universally hatedUltimately incompatible with the idea of the polis


SpartaLocation: Peloponnesus Conquered neighbors and made them serfs, or Helots Spartan society remade into permanent military establishment, ca. 650 B.C.E.Individual controlled from birth

At 7, boys enrolled in full-time military/athletic instructionAt 20, enrolled in armyFull citizenship at 30Military service required until 60Girls: gymnastic training, taught like boys to serve the state



Sparta (cont.)Government: elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy

Two kingsCouncil of elders (28 men over age 60)Assembly (all males over 30)Ephors (5 men elected annually by elders)

Peloponnesian LeagueIn place by 500 B.C.E., led by SpartaAlliances extracted from all but one Peloponnesian stateMade Sparta the most powerful polis in Hellenic history


AthensLocation: Attica Government: typical aristocratic polis

4 tribes, several clans and brotherhoods (phratries)Areopagus—council of nobles (held true power)9 archons—magistrates Assembly

Law code of Draco, 621 B.C.E.—first written law in AthensAgricultural crisis of 7th century: many small farmers fall into debt slavery



Athenian RulersSolon

Elected sole archon, 594 B.C.E.Agricultural, economic reformsConstitutional changes:

• Citizenship expanded• Citizens divided into classes based on wealth• “Council of 400”

Pisistratus the TyrantFirst Athenian tyrant, remembered as mild and popularSought to empower central government at expense of noblesUnintentionally fostered Athenians’ taste for self-governmentSon Hippias less popular, deposed by Spartans


Athenian Rulers (cont.)

Clisthenes“Founder of Democracy”

Furthered reforms of Solon & Pisistratus: increased citizen rolls, decreased power of aristocracy

Deme—basic political unit

Council of 500

Role of assembly elevated



Hellenic SocietyFarmers

Depicted by poet Hesiod (ca. 700 B.C.E.)Grew barley, wheat, grapes, olives, vegetables, some fruitLives of constant toil

AristocratsLands worked by laborers, sharecroppers, or slavesSymposium: center of social life; drinking party with song, poetry, philosophical disputationAthletic contests: foot races, long jump, discus, javelin, boxing, wrestling, chariot racing



Greek ReligionPolytheisticOlympian gods: 12 on Mount Olympus

Zeus, father of the godsHera, wife of ZeusPoseidon, god of seas & earthquakesHestia, earth goddessDemeter, goddess of agriculture & marriageAphrodite, goddess of love & beautyApollo, god of sun, music, poetry, prophecyAres, god of warArtemis, goddess of the moon & the huntAthena, goddess of wisdom & the artsHephaestus, god of fire & metallurgyHermes, messenger of the gods

Seen as behaving much like humansEach polis had one Olympian as guardian deityNumerous lesser deities worshipped at local shrines

The cult of Dionysus embraced drunkenness and sexual abandonThe Orphic cult believed in the transmigration of souls



Poetry

The lyric style predominated

The agony of love was the most popular theme

Theognis of Megara was a poet who believed that those born base could never become noble



Persian Wars

Ionian Rebellion, 499 B.C.E. Ionia: west coast of Asia Minor, controlled by

Persia Ionian Greeks supported by Athenians The Ionians could not maintain a sustained

rebellion and were defeated in 495 B.C.E. by the Persians




The War in GreeceBattle of Marathon, 490 B.C.E.

Persian expedition against Athens soundly defeated

The Great Invasion, 480–479 B.C.E.Persians under Xerxes vs. Sparta, Athens, & allies (Greek League)Athenian navy was the largest and would make a difference in the ability of the Greek League to defeat the PersiansBattles of Thermopylae, SalamisPersians suffered a crushing defeat at Plataea, temporarily ending the war in 479 B.C.E.



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Chapter 2 The Rise of Greek Civilization Chapter 2 The Rise of Greek Civilization Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458