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