Greek Culture and Political

Development

I. Land of Greece• Greece

– No place over 50 miles from sea

• Mountainous Peninsula– Protected– Isolated

• Small independent communities• Geography would make unity a problem

– City States never united under one government

• Seafarers– Fisherman– Traders– Pirates

• Lots of contacts with others• Shared a common language

Crete

Greece

Peloponnesus• Sparta

Athens•

• Knossos

• Mycenae

II. Minoans• Minoans– Crete (see map – previous slide)– 2800 BC

• Mostly Traders– Land too poor for farming

• King Minos• Knossos – Capital

• Down fall around 1450 B.C– Invasion– Natural Disaster– Possible Volcano eruption 1628 BC

III. Early Greek History• Mycenae– 1600 to 1100 BC– Warrior Culture – Agamemnon – commander-in-chief– Mycenae Legends passed on in Greek Epics by Homer

• Greek Dark Age – very little cultural development– 1100 to 750 BC– Revival starting around 750 BC– Works of Homer 700 BC• Illiad & Odyssey• Greek Cultural Influences

IV. Greek City State

• Polis– City State => Independent political unit

• Concept as totally independent of each other but still Greek in nature

• Many City States existed and were usually small in size

• Acropolis => located in the center of the city-state

• Agora– Marketplace

V. Growth of Greek City-States

• Greek Colonies– Spread Greek Culture– Established in Italy, France, Africa

• Increased Trade Created Wealth• Wealthy Merchants developed political power• Growth of Democratic Ideals• Oligarchies – Power rested with just a few => mainly the

wealthy

VI. Citizenship in Greece

• Citizens with Rights

• Citizens without rights

• Non-Citizens

VII. City-State Government

• Reign of kings• Overthrown by Aristocrats => “Means the Best”

• Rise of new military techniques– Phalanx Fighting (soldiers lined 8x8)

• Rise of Tyrants (dictators)– Some would abuse power

• Rise of Democratic Ideals– 650 BC

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VIII. City State of Sparta

• Sparta – located on Peloponnesus• Conquered Neighbors – instead of colonies• Spartan Society• “Equals” were the descendants of Original Spartans• Half Citizens – Taxed, Served in Military, but no

Political power• Helots (Spartans were outnumbered by the Helots) – Conquered

Peoples who were Sparta’s Slaves – > 650 BC Helots revolted. After 30 yrs the revolt was put

down.– > This forced Sparta to establish a Military state.

IX. Spartan Life• Military State => All life in Sparta revolved around

the military – society based on total war• Led by 2 kings – served as military commanders• Council of Elders 28 Men• Assembly – Made up of All Equals• Military life– Boys went to Barrack life at 7 and stayed until 30.– Active Duty until 60– Women Encouraged to Raise strong soldiers and future

mothers of soldiers.

X. Spartan Life Continued• Infants were examined and if they were not considered

healthy they were taken and left on a hillside to die.---------------------------------------------------------------------• Women – trained to be strong – usually married by the

age of 19.---------------------------------------------------------------------• Women had more personal rights and freedom than other

Greek women.---------------------------------------------------------------------• They were the head of the household while their husband

was away fighting.

XI. Spartan Government

• Oligarchy => Power rested with just a few => mainly the wealthy

• Little Cultural Emphasis• Little Individual Freedom• Few Cultural Achievements

XII. Athenian Government

• Athens – part of central Greece call Attica– Stressed public service and education for men.– Boys started school at 7 and graduated at 18.– Studied the following:• Arithmetic / Geometry• Drawing / Art• Music• Gymnastic• Rhetoric (public Speaking)

– Freemen were citizens

XIII. Athenian Government Con’t

At one point in history Athens had the following types of government:– Oligarchy– Tyranny– Democracy• Assembly

XIV. Path to Athenian Democracy

• Development of Written Laws621 BC – 500 BC Ruled by Tyrants• Draco

– Draconian Code 621 BC• Salon => Freed Debtors• Cleisthenes – led Athens to democracy

– Divided Athens into 10 Tribes– Each Tribes Selects 50 Men– Council of 500– General Assembly

• Direct Democracy – each citizen participate directly in government decisions

XV. Life in Classical Athens

• Large Population– Many Slaves

• Economy based on Farming and Trade• Many Fine Public Buildings• Less Extravagant Private Homes• Most Parents Arranged Marriages• Women had very little power.

XVI. Life in Classical Athens Con’t

• At the age of 18 every man served 2 years in military service.

Question:- How did the life of girls compared to boys?

XVII. Greek Philosophy

• Nature of the Universe explained through unifying principles

• Questions of reality and human existence• Thales – 1st philosopher– Questions about the cosmos

• Parmenides– Developed rules of logic

• Democritus– Theory of mater being composed of atoms

XVIII. Socrates

• Belief in the individuals power to reason• Question authority– “Know Thyself”

• Less memorization and more questioning• Socratic method - question and discussion• Charged with corruption of youth and denial

of the gods• Socrates executed

XIX. Plato – Student of Socrates

• Dialogue format of writings– Showed prominent Greeks debating the

knowledge of the world

• “The Republic”– The virtuous state– Men and Women as equals

• The Academy

XX. Aristotle – Student of Plato

• Observation and investigation• Scientific investigation• Broad academic interests

XXI. Greek Drama

• Created Drama– Action, Dialogue, Conflict, Emotion– Tragedies– Hero, Fate, Outside Events– Defeat Usually because of pride

• Comedies– Questioned old ideas– Heroes usually solve their problems

XXII. Literature

• Defended Greek Values– Greek play writers• Sophocles• Euripides• Aristophanes

• Only men performed in the Theater• Chorus described the action, scenes and gave

commentary

XXIII. Literature

• History– Herodotus• Father of History

– Thucydides • Wrote History of the Peloponnesian Wars

XXIV. Greek Art

• Traits of Greek art– Glorified Humans– Use of Gods and Goddesses– Regular human scenes and people

• Harmony, balance, order, moderation• Beauty and function• Art simply of enjoyment

XXV. Greek Art

• The Ideal, Beautiful Human

• Temples– Example:• Parthenon