Classical Classical MediterraneanMediterranean

Mediterranean TraditionsMediterranean Traditions PersianPersian Greek / HellenisticGreek / Hellenistic RomanRoman

Persian Empire (Achaemenid)Persian Empire (Achaemenid)~550 BCE - ~330 BCE~550 BCE - ~330 BCE

Established by Cyrus the Great, great King Darius, capital at Established by Cyrus the Great, great King Darius, capital at PersepolisPersepolis

Modern day Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan regionsModern day Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan regions Neighbor and rival of Greek city states (Persian wars ~500-450 BCE)Neighbor and rival of Greek city states (Persian wars ~500-450 BCE) Political StylesPolitical Styles

– Tolerance for other culturesTolerance for other cultures– AuthoritarianismAuthoritarianism– Infrastructure, especially roadsInfrastructure, especially roads– BureaucracyBureaucracy

Advanced iron technologyAdvanced iron technology Unique artistic styleUnique artistic style ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism Overthrown by Alexander the GreatOverthrown by Alexander the Great Later Sassanid Empire (227 CE – 600s CE) during Roman period Later Sassanid Empire (227 CE – 600s CE) during Roman period

preserves Persian culturepreserves Persian culture

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism Monotheistic religion (the first? Judaism ~1200s Monotheistic religion (the first? Judaism ~1200s

BCE)BCE) Emerged as early as 1700 BCE, codified by Emerged as early as 1700 BCE, codified by

Zoroaster/Zarathustra (c. 630-550 BCE)Zoroaster/Zarathustra (c. 630-550 BCE) GathasGathas – sacred literature – sacred literature Ahuramazda – creator and benevolent deityAhuramazda – creator and benevolent deity Angra Mainyu (evil spirit)Angra Mainyu (evil spirit) Magi – religious priestsMagi – religious priests Cosmic struggle between good and evil, humanity Cosmic struggle between good and evil, humanity

punished or rewarded in afterlife for their actionspunished or rewarded in afterlife for their actions Religious justification for political rule (somewhat Religious justification for political rule (somewhat

similar to Mandate of Heaven)similar to Mandate of Heaven)

Civilization in Mediterranean RegionCivilization in Mediterranean Region

Greeks began with city-states due to Greeks began with city-states due to geography (mountains & coast)geography (mountains & coast)

Oceanic trade on Mediterranean Sea Oceanic trade on Mediterranean Sea connected the regionconnected the region

Both Greece and Rome created Both Greece and Rome created empires based on conquest..empires based on conquest..

GreeceGreece Phoenecian cultural influences (alphabet, Phoenecian cultural influences (alphabet,

seafaring)seafaring) Mycenaen Kingdom (~1400 BCE)Mycenaen Kingdom (~1400 BCE)

– Culture preserved in Homer’s epics Iliad & Culture preserved in Homer’s epics Iliad & Odyssey Odyssey

Greek city-states (polis) develop 800-600 Greek city-states (polis) develop 800-600 BCEBCE– Mountains & coastlines help fragment Greece Mountains & coastlines help fragment Greece

& prevent political unity& prevent political unity– Trade, commerce, and connections b/n city-Trade, commerce, and connections b/n city-

states helps develop a common “Greek” states helps develop a common “Greek” culture (similar language, alphabet, religion, culture (similar language, alphabet, religion, customs, Olympic Games, etc.)customs, Olympic Games, etc.)

Sparta –vs- AthensSparta –vs- Athens Sparta – military aristocracy conquers and Sparta – military aristocracy conquers and

controls neighboring regions (slavery)controls neighboring regions (slavery) Athens – commercial, diverse, also used Athens – commercial, diverse, also used

slaves, artistic and intellectual achievements, slaves, artistic and intellectual achievements, limited democracy allowed adult male citizens limited democracy allowed adult male citizens to select officials and pass laws (Pericles 400s to select officials and pass laws (Pericles 400s BCE)BCE)

Persian wars (common enemy) ~500s-450 Persian wars (common enemy) ~500s-450 BCEBCE

Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE) b/n Athens Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE) b/n Athens and Spartaand Sparta

Greece and Greek Colonies,Greece and Greek Colonies,c. 431 c. 431 B.C.E.B.C.E.

The Hellenistic PeriodThe Hellenistic Period Phillip II of the northern kingdom of Macedon Phillip II of the northern kingdom of Macedon

conquered Athens and Sparta and gained conquered Athens and Sparta and gained control of the Greek peninsula (330s BCE)control of the Greek peninsula (330s BCE)

His son Alexander (the Great) extended the His son Alexander (the Great) extended the empire as far as the borders of Indiaempire as far as the borders of India

Alexander died young and his empire was Alexander died young and his empire was divided into several Hellenistic Kingdoms for divided into several Hellenistic Kingdoms for the next few centuries.the next few centuries.

Greek culture spread throughout the Greek culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world and Middle East during Mediterranean world and Middle East during this “Hellenistic” Erathis “Hellenistic” Era

Alexander’s Empire and the Alexander’s Empire and the Hellenistic World, c. 323 B.C.E.Hellenistic World, c. 323 B.C.E.

Greek (Hellenistic) Civilization in Greek (Hellenistic) Civilization in Mediterranean, 240 BCEMediterranean, 240 BCE

RomeRome– Roman Republic from 509 B.C.E.Roman Republic from 509 B.C.E.

Military emphasisMilitary emphasisPunic Wars, against Carthage (264-146 B.C.E.)Punic Wars, against Carthage (264-146 B.C.E.)

– EmpireEmpire Julius Caesar victory over rivals, 45 B.C.E.Julius Caesar victory over rivals, 45 B.C.E.Augustus Caesar, rules from 27 B.C.E.Augustus Caesar, rules from 27 B.C.E.Empire strong to about 180 C.E.Empire strong to about 180 C.E.Renewed vigor under Diocletian, ConstantineRenewed vigor under Diocletian, Constantine

Patterns of Greek andRoman History

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Greek and Roman Political Greek and Roman Political Institutions Institutions

Greece – The PolisGreece – The Polis– Athens - direct democracy – the Athens - direct democracy – the

assemblyassemblyLottery for positionsLottery for positionsCitizen body a minority of the populationCitizen body a minority of the population

– Most city states were oligarchiesMost city states were oligarchiesAristocratic assembliesAristocratic assembliesSpartaSparta

Greek and Roman Political Greek and Roman Political Institutions Institutions

RomeRome– BalanceBalance– Senate – dominated by aristocratsSenate – dominated by aristocrats– ConsulsConsuls– DictatorDictator

Greek and Roman Political Greek and Roman Political Institutions Institutions

Political Theory in Ancient Greece and Political Theory in Ancient Greece and RomeRome– Duties of citizens, political ethics, oratoryDuties of citizens, political ethics, oratory– Participation stressedParticipation stressed– Comparison of the merits of different formsComparison of the merits of different forms– Romans developed law codeRomans developed law code

Twelve Tables, by 450 B.C.E.Twelve Tables, by 450 B.C.E.Law comes to take the place of fathersLaw comes to take the place of fathersSpread of code to empire, and citizenshipSpread of code to empire, and citizenship

Greek and Roman Political Greek and Roman Political Institutions Institutions

Roles of GovernmentRoles of Government– Public worksPublic works

Help to unite empireHelp to unite empire– Maintaining law courts, police powerMaintaining law courts, police power– Official religionOfficial religion

Religion and CultureReligion and Culture

Religious ValuesReligious Values– Religion largely concerned with the here Religion largely concerned with the here

and nowand now– Mystery religions offered a more Mystery religions offered a more

spiritual approachspiritual approach– Division between elite and popular beliefDivision between elite and popular belief

Religion and CultureReligion and Culture

Philosophy Philosophy – Provided a system of ethical behaviorProvided a system of ethical behavior– Aristotle, CiceroAristotle, Cicero

Stressed balanceStressed balance– Stoics stress inner lifeStoics stress inner life

Religion and CultureReligion and Culture

Science and PhilosophyScience and Philosophy– Socrates – encouraged questioningSocrates – encouraged questioning– Speculation on the physical worldSpeculation on the physical world

Theories about the universe, the nature of Theories about the universe, the nature of mattermatter

– Mathematics, especially geometryMathematics, especially geometry– Hellenistic periodHellenistic period

More empirical work in physicsMore empirical work in physicsEuclid, GalenEuclid, Galen

Religion and CultureReligion and Culture

The ArtsThe Arts– Drama: comedy and tragedyDrama: comedy and tragedy

Balance between virtue and emotionsBalance between virtue and emotionsSophocles Sophocles Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

– Epics, the Epics, the IliadIliad, , OdysseyOdyssey– ArchitectureArchitecture– Roman engineeringRoman engineering

Economy and Society in the Economy and Society in the MediterraneanMediterranean

Agriculture and TradeAgriculture and Trade– Constant trend to market farmingConstant trend to market farming

Led to tradeLed to tradeGrain from EgyptGrain from Egypt

– MerchantsMerchantsOfficially, legally respectedOfficially, legally respectedNot socially esteemedNot socially esteemed

Economy and Society in the Economy and Society in the MediterraneanMediterranean

SlaverySlavery– From conquestFrom conquest– Becomes a motive for expansionBecomes a motive for expansion– Technological innovation in farming Technological innovation in farming

lackinglackingUnfavorable trade balance with eastern AsiaUnfavorable trade balance with eastern Asia

Economy and Society in the Economy and Society in the MediterraneanMediterranean

FamilyFamily– PatriarchalPatriarchal– Women have economic roleWomen have economic role

Some women active in commerceSome women active in commerceWomen could own propertyWomen could own property

A Complex LegacyA Complex Legacy

What Survived?What Survived?– Enduring ideasEnduring ideas– No politiesNo polities– Direct and indirectDirect and indirect

Consciously imitated, revivedConsciously imitated, revivedMingled with Middle Eastern legacyMingled with Middle Eastern legacy

Global Connections: Persia, Global Connections: Persia, Greece, Rome, and the WorldGreece, Rome, and the World

Persia Persia – Maintained contact between East and WestMaintained contact between East and West

GreeceGreece– Traders, expansionistTraders, expansionist– Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

New contacts between Mediterranean, Persia, New contacts between Mediterranean, Persia, IndiaIndia

RomeRome– Variety of contactsVariety of contacts

Detailed info on Roman politicsDetailed info on Roman politics

Roman Republic & ConstitutionRoman Republic & Constitution Roman nobility established a republic in 509 BCERoman nobility established a republic in 509 BCE Built Roman Forum = political and civic centerBuilt Roman Forum = political and civic center Republican constitutionRepublican constitution Executive responsibilities in 2 Consuls Executive responsibilities in 2 Consuls

– Held civil & military powerHeld civil & military power– Consuls elected by assembly of aristocrats Consuls elected by assembly of aristocrats

(patricians)(patricians)– Senate of aristocrats advised Consuls & ratified Senate of aristocrats advised Consuls & ratified

decisiondecisionMost prominent political & military leadersMost prominent political & military leadersLargely controlled Roman public affairsLargely controlled Roman public affairsMostly served interests of the wealthyMostly served interests of the wealthyPlebians (commoners) objected > class conflictPlebians (commoners) objected > class conflict

– Plebians given more rights in 5th & 4th BCEPlebians given more rights in 5th & 4th BCE– Patricians still dominated RomePatricians still dominated Rome

Dictator wielded absolute power for 6 months if “military Dictator wielded absolute power for 6 months if “military crisis”crisis”

Expansion of the RepublicExpansion of the Republic Rome surrounded by invadersRome surrounded by invaders Rome first established a large regional state in ItalyRome first established a large regional state in Italy Roman control of entire Italian peninsula (4th Roman control of entire Italian peninsula (4th

century BCE)century BCE)– Established military coloniesEstablished military colonies– Generous policies toward conquered peoplesGenerous policies toward conquered peoples

Taxes, local rule, and trade were establishedTaxes, local rule, and trade were established Conflict and conquest in larger MediterraneanConflict and conquest in larger Mediterranean

– Punic wars with Carthaginians (N. Africa)Punic wars with Carthaginians (N. Africa) Destroyed Carthage, took slaves, took “stuff”Destroyed Carthage, took slaves, took “stuff”

– Conflict with GreeksConflict with Greeks 5 major wars5 major wars Controlled most of the Med. By 2nd BCEControlled most of the Med. By 2nd BCE

The Failure of the RepublicThe Failure of the Republic Warfare and territorial expansion undermined the Warfare and territorial expansion undermined the

foundations of the Roman Republicfoundations of the Roman Republic Wealth and power were increasingly concentrated Wealth and power were increasingly concentrated

in the hands of the upper classes, resulting in the in the hands of the upper classes, resulting in the decline of the peasant farmer / soldier class.decline of the peasant farmer / soldier class.

The military became increasingly loyal to their The military became increasingly loyal to their commanders, as opposed to the Senate.commanders, as opposed to the Senate.

Some of these generals used their armies to Some of these generals used their armies to increase their own personal power and wealth, at increase their own personal power and wealth, at the expense of the state.the expense of the state.

The Formation of the Roman EmpireThe Formation of the Roman Empire

By 31 BCE, Octavian (heir of Julius Caesar), had By 31 BCE, Octavian (heir of Julius Caesar), had eliminated all rivals and seized power.eliminated all rivals and seized power.

Known as Augustus, he was the first of the Roman Known as Augustus, he was the first of the Roman Emperors.Emperors.

Subtly concentrated power in his hands, while Subtly concentrated power in his hands, while maintaining the appearance of the Republic.maintaining the appearance of the Republic.

Allied himself with the Equities – the second most Allied himself with the Equities – the second most powerful group below the Senatorial class.powerful group below the Senatorial class.

Roman CivilizationRoman Civilization

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