Location In Southeastern Europe Near Turkey, Macedonia,
Bulgaria, and Albania 40N, 25E
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Ancient Greece
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Physical Geography of Greece Part of the Balkan peninsula,
which extends southward into the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Mountains divide the peninsula into isolated valleys. Beyond rugged
coasts, hundreds of rocky islands spread toward the horizon.
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Effects of Geography Isolated people Formation of city-states
Difficult to united people into a large empire. A city-state is a
political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands.
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Early Greek Civilizations Minoans (2000-1400 BCE ) Not sure
what these people called themselves, referred to as Minoans, after
their King Minos. Sea traders around Crete. Rulers lived in a place
at Knossos
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Early Greek Civilizations Mycenaeans (1600- 1100 BCE)
Successful sea traders, dominated the Aegean world. Lived in
separate city- states in the mainland. Contact with Egypt and
Mesopotamia Reach their height during the Trojan War.
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The Trojan War Took place around 1250 BCE. The Mycenaens vs.
The Trojans Troy, a rich trading city in present day Turkey.
Controlled straits, which are, narrow water passages, that connect
the Mediterranean and Black seas.
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Truth to the Myth Heinrich Schliemann, a German businessman set
out to prove the legend was fact. Excavated the site of ancient
Troy. Discovered city was rebuilt many times, layer dating 1250 BC,
had evidence of fire and war.
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Oral Records New invasions and war ruin Mycenaean Civilization.
Stories are preserved by Homer and his epic poems, through oral
tradition. Iliad Odyssey
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Greek City States Construction Built on a polis or hill with
government buildings on top Great marble temples dedicated to
different gods and goddesses Included an agora or open area for
markets
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Government Varied by city- state Monarchy- rule of one most
popular Usually a King Aristocracy- rule of few (landowners) used
sometimes Powers shifted to a group of rich landowners, at first
defended the King, but eventually wanted power for themselves
Oligarchy- rule of few (businessmen) used sometimes Middle class
merchants, challenged landowners for power Democracy- rule of many
(citizens) primarily in Athens
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Social Structure Citizens Free Non- Citizens Helots- Slaves
Population in each city-state was fairly small Whole community
joined in festivals honoring the gods
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Who were the Spartans? A group of invaders, called the Dorians.
The invaders turned the conquered people into helots (slaves),
which outnumbered the Spartans. Set up a brutal system of
control.
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Spartan Government Included two Kings and a council of elders.
An assembly made-up of all citizens. Approved major decisions
Citizens were male, native-born Spartans, over 30 years old
Assembly elected five ephors, officials who held the real
power.
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The Rigors of Citizenship From childhood a Spartan prepared to
be part of a military state. Officials examined every newborn,
sickly children were abandoned to die. At age 7, boys began
training for a lifetime in the military. Moved into barracks,
exercised, and were rigidly disciplined. Boys encouraged to steal
food, if caught they were beaten. At 20 could marry, lived in
barracks until they were 30, ate in barracks for another 40
years.
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Women Were expected to produce healthy sons Trained to exercise
and strengthen their bodies Right to inherit property, while men
were at war
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Spartas Weaknesses Isolated themselves from other Greeks Looked
down upon trade and wealth Had little use for new ideas and the
arts Eventually suffered from their rigid ways and inability to
change. In time warrior class shrank and power declined.
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Early Athens Monarchy Aristocracy Nobles judged many cases in
court and dominated the assembly.
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Demands for Change Athenian wealth and power grew under the
aristocracy Merchants and soldiers resented power of the nobles
Demand for change came from farmers In hard times were forced to
sell land to nobles
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Solons Reforms Solon was appointed, archon, chief official, in
594 BC Outlawed debt slavery Gave assembly more say in important
decisions Introduced economic reforms Widespread unrest led to the
rise of tyrants, people who gained power by force
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Later Reforms Pisistratus seized power in 546 BC Gave farmers
loans and land, taken from nobles Gave jobs to the poor Weakened
aristocracy by giving citizens a greater voice Cleisthenes set up
Council of 500, in 507 BC Members were chosen from the citizens
Council prepared laws for the assembly Assembly was a legislature,
law making body the debates laws before deciding to approve or
reject them.
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Limited Rights Only male citizens could participate in
government Tens of thousands of Athenians were slaves Labor of
slaves gave the citizens the time to participate in government
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Women Women did not have a part in public life Managed the
entire household Cared for children and prepared food Protected
from the outside world
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School Boys attended school Studied music, memorized poetry
Became skilled speakers Received athletic training
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Greek Culture
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What are the pieces of culture? Hellenism Hellenism is the name
for Greek Culture All Greeks shared the same language, values,
religion and history. The ideas of the Greeks are still important
today and many of our traditions come from them.
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Religion Greeks were polytheistic They believed all of their
gods lived on Mt. Olympus and influenced their lives. Natural
disasters were believed to happen to people that offended the gods,
while sacrifices would please them. In their stories, Greeks
portrayed their gods with human emotions such as love, vanity and
anger.
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Mind Athenians valued people that spoke well in public
Philosophy- love of wisdom, use reason and observation to prove
things true. Socrates(469- 399) Believed that if you questioned
peoples beliefs, you could reach the right answer. Athenian
officials accused him of corrupting the youths and he forced to
commit suicide. Plato (428- 347BCE) Student of Socrates Wrote all
of Socrates ideas down in Dialogues Wrote down his recommendations
for government in the Republic Believed reason was necessary to
rule philosopher kings People should be taught to be good, they did
bad things out of ignorance Aristotle (384- 322BCE) Student of
Plato Used reason to study astronomy, zoology, math and philosophy
Tutored the future Alexander the Great of Macedonia
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Body Spartans valued physical fitness Idealistic Art- Statues
portrayed ideal physical features (muscles, no deformities) The
Olympics Only Greek citizens could compete They were held at
Olympia They reflected the ideals of fitness and Greek superiority.
Winners competed for a laurel wreath of victory in Marathons Discus
and javelin throws Wrestling Fighting
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Persian Wars First Phase 499BCE, Darius began war with the
Athenians 490BCE, Battle of Marathon: Smaller Athenians destroy a
Persian army
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Second Phase: 480, Xerxes sends a larger force to Greece Battle
of Thermopylae: Spartans defend pass Battle of Salamis: Athens trap
and destroy the Persian Navy 479, Finally finished off at the
Battle of Plataea
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Greek military superiority Hoplites- soldiers equipped with a
shield short sword and spear Phalanx- formation of soldiers
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Greek vs. Greek Many Greek city-states began to resent Athenian
domination. To counter the Delian League, Sparta and other enemies
of Athens formed the Peloponnesian League.
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The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC ) Sparta attacks Athens,
freeing Greece from the Athenian Empire Athens faced geographic
disadvantages Plague breaks out in Athens, killing 1/3 of
population, including Pericles
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Sparta allies itself with Persia In 404 BC, Persian navy
defeats Athens Sparta strips Athens of power Sparta is eventually
defeated by Thebes
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Greek History Herodotus- Father of History Visited many places
in the ancient world (Egypt, Mesopotamia) Wrote about the Persian
Wars Included his own opinions, showing bias Thucydides Wrote about
the Peloponnesian War Used facts to support his ideas and tried to
be fair on both sides
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Thucydides wrote about an event he had lived through because he
believed it will still have an impact years later. As a group
choose an event during your own lifetime that you think historians
will write about 100 years from now. Answer the following about the
event (It will be collected): - Why is this event important? - Why
should we remember it? At the end of class we will discuss the
events
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Philip II Philip II, ruler of Macedonia, dreamed of conquering
city-states to the south. Built up a superb army, formed alliances
Athens and Thebes join forces, are defeated in battle of Chaeronea
His goal is to conquer the Persian Empire
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Alexander At 20 years old was already an experienced soldier.
In 12 years time earns the title of Alexander the Great Had a love
for learning but he was first and foremost a warrior
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Conquest of Persia By 334 BC he had enough ships to cross the
Dardanelles Persia, not as great as it once was, stretched more
than 2,000 mi., from Egypt to India. Alexander wins victory after
victory against the Persians. Heads to Northern India, never losing
a battle Heads back home tries to conquer Babylon
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Sudden Death Alexander dies of a fever Leaves empire to the
strongest No one leader was strong enough to succeed Alexander
After years of disorder three Generals split up the empire into
three parts
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Legacy of Alexander Spread of Greek culture Founded new cities,
set up temples, statues, athletic contests In turn Greeks adopt
local customs Hellenistic civilization: A blend of Greek, Persian,
Egyptian, and Indian influences. City of Alexandria-located between
Europe and Asia Museums: center of learning Laboratories, lecture
halls, library, and zoo
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Hellenistic Civilization Political Turmoil allows for different
philosophies Stoicism, founded by Zeno Urged people to avoid
desire, accept what life brought Advances in Math and Science
Pythagoras Archimedes Applied principles of Physics to make
practical inventions Medicine Hippocrates Studied causes for
illness and looked for cures Hippocratic oath
