Early GreeceUnit 4

QUIZ• 1. The period without any historical writing in Greece

was known as the _______________.

• 2. __________ was a famous poet who wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey

• 3. A(n) ________ is a genre of poetry, and today signifies a poem that tells the great deeds of heroes or gods.

• 4. Hellas is the Greek word for ________________.

• 5. The first Olympic games took place in ______________.

Geography

• Many different parts of land separated by seaso Peninsulaso Islands

• Hard for people to develop a sense of unityo Mountains divide

mainlando Short rivers do not

allow for travel

The Dark Ages• 1200 – 800 B.C.

• Why is it called “Dark Age”??

• Steep decline in Mycenaean civilization

• Changed from Bronze to Iron

• Many believe the Mycenaeans migrated to Ionia

• Greeks no longer wrote history or built stone structures

The Dark Ages• What happened to the Mycenaeans?

o Serious drought around 1200 B.C. o Volcanoo Earthquakes (around 1225-1175 B.C.)o Mycenaean revolt?o Invasion? – “Sea Peoples”, Philistines or Italians…?

• Dorians – “descendants of Heracles” o Landed on the Peloponnese, established Sparta

• Ionians – settled in “Attica”o Eventually becomes known as Athens

• Greece took a backward step in civilizationo Stop producing art, writing and began to spend more time farming

Homer• Lived around 800 B.C.

• Iliad and The Odyssey

• Epic – a poem that tells the great deeds of heroes or gods

• Iliad is the oldest work of Western literature

Iliad

• Trojan War; Achilles withdraws from war in anger

• Avenges the death of Patroclus; kills Hector

• Importance of honor, vengeance and focused on Greek society

Troy (2004): Achilles v. Hector

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80SsC_ZNbyI

Odyssey• Odysseus, King of Ithaca

• 10 year journey home after the Trojan War

• Wants to return to save his family

• Offers more insight into private and domestic life

• Some historians believe that these poems were passed on orally and no one is positive when they were written down

Archaic Age• Traces as far back as 900 B.C.

• Contact with Phoenicians

• Greek city-states began to rise all over Greece and even into Italy and Anatoliao There is also evidence of a Greek civilization in present-

day Israel

• Hellas – Greek word for “Greece”o This comes from the common mythical ancestor Helen

• What does it mean to be Greek?

• People belong to the same ethnicity if they identify themselves in a certain way

• Barbaros – anyone who is non-Greek

• Had 4 or 5 different dialects

• Most probably identified with their regions or cities, probably not with Greece

• The Trojan War is viewed as the first Panhellenic ventureo This was seen as a glorious victory for the Greek

people and was a popular oral tradition throughout Archaic Greek history

8th Century Renaissance

• Uninhabited lands are becoming populated

• Greek pottery is found in over 80 sites throughout the Mediterranean

• Adopted their alphabet from the Phoenicians

• Some believe that the alphabet was adopted specifically to write down The Iliad and The Odysseyo Believed to have come from the Hebrew alphabeto “alpha” and “beta” = alphabet

Olympic Games• 776 B.C. – took place at Olympia

• Held to honor Zeus, the king of the gods

• Only included running and wrestlingo Soon, boxing, chariot racing and javelin throwing

were introducedo They even had one race run in full armor!

• Held every four years, winners of each event was given a jar of olive oil! – sometimes 7 feet tall!!

• Athens gave the winner a house for life!

• Why were the Olympic games banned after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire??

The Rise of the Polis• Polis = city

• Represented a group of citizens as opposed to architecture or an areao The citizens WERE the city

• Very egalitarian – Greek cities were ruled by groups of citizenso Not kings or hereditary rulers

• Politeia – “body of citizens”

• Who were citizens?• Those who fought for the city. Never women, never

anyone below the warrior class

• The hoplite was the typical citizen

HOPLITES• Hoplites – infantrymen

• Phalanx – rigid formation

• The only effective counter-force was another hoplite army, which is why they spread all over Greece!

• Weaponry:o Shieldo Helmeto Shinguardso Armoro Spearo Sword

• Weighted 50-70 lbs!

• Landowners, had to provide their own armor

• The hoplite army represents loyalty to a polis, as opposed to individual glory

• Hoplites: Video 1 – begin at 7:13

• Hoplites: Video 2

• Hoplites: Video 3 – stop at 5:30

Typical Archaic Greek City• Tyrant – unelected

rulero Would usually garner the

stereotype of acting selfishly

• Oligarchy – rule of the few

• Slaves, landless poor, aliens, and women all excluded from politics

• Populations usually 50,000-300,000

SPARTA• Ideal warrior state

• Helots – conquered people of Spartao Farmed the land and

provided a quota to produce for their masters, the Spartans

• Had double hereditary kingship

• Had five chief magistrates and a council of elderso All of whom were elected

democratically……by screaming

SPARTAN WARRIOR• Spartans were full-time

warriors

• Helots would take care of the land and provide them with food

• Taken into military schools at age of 7, remained

• Lived in a barracks from age 20-30, ate in barracks until 60

SPARTAN LIFE• INTERESTING FACTS:

• If a young child looked weak or disabled, it was left on a hillside or thrown off a cliff

• Young children were forced to sleep outdoors on a hard piece of wood.

• If a young Spartan stole something and brought it back to his trainer, he was praised. If he was caught, he was savagely beaten

• It wasn’t wrong to steal, but it was wrong to get caught

• Taken to countryside to survive on their own. If they survived, they were men….if not, they were dead

• Often young men would train under an older soldier, about 18. When he was 30, he would marry and his trainee would become a trainer

• A man who dies in battle and woman who died in childbirth were the only ones with their names on a gravestone – because both died contributing to the state!

• MARRIAGE:• Man would kidnap the bride and run off with her. Pulling her by her hair. The family

would then cut her hair short and then make her wear man’s sandals.

• Her #1 job – produce strong male men for the army!

Peloponnesian League

• “Spartan Alliance”

• Included all Peloponnese city-states except Argos and Achaea

• Sparta was the most powerful

• Loose defensive alliance

• Only Sparta could create alliances within the league

• Only Sparta could call the council together

ATHENS• A lot of natural resources

• Population was Ionian – mainland Greece

• 8th-7th century BCo Leader called an Archon, leader for 10 yearso Later, 9 Archons – only served for one yearo Mostly judged legal caseso Elected by assembly which was made up of all adult citizens

• Became wealthy through trade with other poleis

• Cylon’s Story:

• 632 B.C. • Athenian citizen, hero of Olympic games• Oracle at Delphi – go to Athens during the festival of Zeus and seize

power• People of Athens trapped him in the temple of Athena on the Acropolis• Alcmaeonids killed him and then they were banished

ATHENS• Rich were getting

richer, poor getting poorer

• Poor are complaining for laws, Draco was told to write down the lawso All laws had a punishment of

death!o Overly harsh punishments are

called “Draconian” today

• While the punishments were harsh, laws were finally written down

Solon• 594 B.C. – began to reform Athenian politics

• Athenian farmers and their families were becoming enslaved

• Solon was given complete powero Cancelled most of Draco’s punishmentso Cancelled all farmers’ debtso Increased trade

• Allowed people from outside Attica to become citizens!• This was unprecedented at the time!

• Solon left after ten years, there was no clear ruler and no one was archon.o This was known as the anarchia – “anarchy”

Reforms of Cleisthenes

• 508 B.C. – becomes leader of Athenso Part of the Alcmaeonid clan that was exiled

• Gives power back to the people

• Separated the tribes, and gave them leaderso This created a truly local government

• Council of 500 – 50 from each tribe (10 tribes)

• This led to the formation of militias and reverence to the city-state

• Invented ostracism – write a name on an ostrakon and “winner” had to leave city for ten years

• This was the groundwork for the democratic revolution of 461 B.C.!

Literature and Culture in Archaic Hellas

Literature• 700 B.C. – Hesiod composed Theogony

o Traces the genealogy of the gods from Mt. Olympus

• Works and Days – a didactic poemo Laid out rules for a small farmer, important source of social and economic

history of the Archaic period

• Lyric poetryo Used different types of meterso Sung by an individual or danced by a choruso Performed to music, about war and politics, myth and gods, love

and sex, athletics

• Stories of love often focused on older men and younger boys or girls

Sculpture• Kouroi - Large scale nude

sculptures that were extremely important to Greece

• Found on gravesites or near temples as dedications to the gods

• Always looked very similar

• Represent the idealized Greek warrior or athlete and the standard of homoerotic beauty

Sculpture• Korai – freestanding

sculptures portraying young girls

• Clothed, sometimes holding an identifying object

Architecture• Stone temples were

common in cities

• Religious center, focus for festival and cohesion for the city.

• Housed the god’s cult-statueo Image of the god that occupied the

main interior room

o Doric and Ionic architectural styles were popular. Doric is the simpler of the two

Philosophy• Philosophy – love of wisdom

• Investigating nature in a new way

• Thought in abstract ways

• Begins in Miletus, in Ionia.

• Perhaps the influence of Mesopotamia

• Thales of Miletus believed that water is the fundamental element from which the universe was created

Pythagoras• 530 B.C. – lived in Croton,

Italy

• Metempsychosis – the transfer of a soul to another body after death

• Pythagorean Theorum

• Discoveries in geometry, number theory and music were probably made by his followers…

PERSIAN WARS

Persian Empire• 5th century

• Largest in world history

• Located NE of the Persian Gulf

• Cyrus II (The Great) 559-530 B.C.

• His grandson Darius expanded into Thrace and some Aegean islands

• The local govts. Were organized into provinces and their governors were satraps

Persian Wars• INTERACTIVE TIMELINE

• Persia put down rebellions in ioniao The Ionians had even burned down the Persian city of Sardis

• Athens supports their uprisings

• Persia is threatening war on all of Greeceo Darius send messengers to Sparta and Athens to ask for their surrender

and both cities decapitate the messengers. This was an act of war!

• The Persians begin their invasion, travel west across the Aegean and land in Marathon o Marathon offered them pasture, fresh water, room for their cavalry and

was nostalgic for their leader, Hippias

Battle of Marathon• Athens asked Sparta for help, but they were on religious

holiday• About 10,000 Athenian soldiers, outnumbered 2:1

• Miltiades decided they would only fight under favorable conditionso The Persians also had a cavalry and archers, whereas the Greeks just had Hoplites

• 9.17.490 B.C. - Miltiades notices the cavalry is gone and makes his move!

• Greeks win in a massacre, 6200 Persians die, 192 Greeks!

• The Athenians then march all night back to Athens to protect the city

Story of Pheidippides

• Runs to Sparta to ask for help when the Persian land

• 150 miles!

• Runs from Marathon to Athens to bring news of the victory!

• How far is this?

• He collapses and dies once he reaches Athens

MARATHON• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D54Hl3O6x4k• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofmUE9GvzvA

Interbellum• 490-480 B.C.

• 486 B.C. – Revolt in Egypt, Darius dies preparing for the revolt

• His son Xerxes takes over, prepares for four years to invade Greece

• Persian Forces – 2.5 Million (probably 300,000)…….1,200 ships

• 489 B.C. – Miltiades dies, Themistocles takes over Athenian forces

March across Hellespont

• Walk ”across water” or around the Black Seao This would add two years to their

march along with conquering other groups of people

• Anchors ships with boulders

• Tethered them together

• Then they nail wooden planks across the ships

• Approx. 647 ships were used!

Athenian Navy- Themistocles knows that the

Persians need a strong navy to support their land forces

- Themistocles built up the Athenian Navy - huge amounts of silver found in Lorenium, it ends up being put towards the Athenian navy

- Greek Trireme – built for speed

- Goal is to ram the other ship or knock off all of its oars

- 170-220 oarsman, three banks of oars ,one above the other

- Had a brass or copper point to ram other ships

Battle of Thermopylae – 480 B.C.

• Day 1:• Xerxes tries to negotiate with Leonidas• “Be prepared to die, our arrows will block out the

sun”, “Then we shall have our battle in the shade”

• only 200 yards wide at its widest point• 7000 total Greek soldiers; 300 Spartans elites – • Persians outnumber Greeks 50:1

• Leonidas leads the forces • Artemesium strait - 220 Greek warships, led by Themistocles

• Begins with an arrow attack – does little damage• After the first day of battle, Persians lose about

10,000 light infantry

Day 2: Naval Encounters

- Persian fleet outnumbers the Greeks 6:1

- Attacked in the evening, surprising the Persians

- 200 Persian ships are destroyed that night in a storm

Battle of Thermopylae – 480 B.C.

• Day 2: • about 10,000 immortals are

sent in o assumption was that this will end

the fighting

• Called “immortals” because when one man retired or died, he was immediately replaced by another

• Spartans destroy the immortal forces, have far superior armor and weaponry

Battle of Thermopylae – 480 B.C.

• Day 3: • Xerxes finds out about a pass through the mountains,

Leonidas has 1000 Phocians guarding the pass, but they desert to defend their homes

• Approximately 10,000 men pass through• 1000 Thespians, 300 Spartans stay

• Why did they do this? • fulfilling the prophets of the oracle. The sacrifice is about preserving

Sparta. He believes he has to do it.

• Xerxes wins the battle, marches on Athens and burns it to the ground

• Very symbolic• Greeks are now creating some type of Greek identity as

opposed to being a collection of city-states

Photos of Thermopylae• http://edsitement.neh.gov/edsitements-persian-w

ars-resource-pages#ThermoArtemis

Battle of Salamis – 479 B.C.

• Greeks – 371 ships• Persians – 1200 ships

o Had probably 800-900 left

• Themistocles tricked the Persians

• They entered the strait of Salamis

• Their ships were too big and they were crushed

• The Greek ships were much smaller and more mobile. Because of the tight area, the Persians could not organize themselves effectively.

• d

Battle of Plataea – 479 B.C.

• Xerxes had fled Greece and left satrap Mardonius to fight

• Greeks – approx. 100,000 soldiers

• Persians – approx. 140,000

• Mardonius was killed during a cavalry charge and the Persians were eventually defeated

• Although this is the last main battle of the Persian Wars, the Athenians continued to fight the Persians until 449 B.C.!