Ancient Greece

Greece’s GeographyWhat do you think is important about Greece’s physical geography?

Greece’s Geography● The sea shaped Greek civilization● The sea encouraged sea travel and

trade● Rugged terrain, mountains on the

Balkan Peninsula separated different areas in Greece= not unified, but separate city-states

● Not much fertile land, no major rivers= can’t support large population

● Desire for more farmland may have influenced Greeks to create colonies

● Mediterranean climate= pleasant, encouraged outdoor activities

MYCENAEAN GREECE (1600 BCE-1100 BCE)● First Greeks to settle the area● Named after the leading city, Mycenae● Cities ruled by kings● Contact with Minoans by 1500 BCE= Minoan

writing system (inspired by Egypt) adapted into Greek letters, vases decorated with Minoan designs

THE TROJAN WAR ● In the 1200s BCE, the Mycenaean

Greeks fought a 10-year war against Troy, a trading city in Anatolia

● Likely a raid that was turned into an epic tale

● Legend tells that the Greeks invaded and destroyed Troy because a Trojan prince had kidnapped Helen, the wife of a Greek king.

● Greek stories tell of the Greek army capturing Troy by hiding soldiers in a hollow wooden horse (Trojan horse).

THE DORIAN AGE● Mycenaean civilization collapsed by 1200 BCE● A new group, the Dorians, appeared, but were less advanced than the

Mycenaeans● Dorian Age (1150-750 BCE)- period of economic and cultural decline in

Greece- writing appears to have been lost during this time (no written record exists from this period),

● Lacking writing, the spoken word dominated during the Dorian Age. ● Storytelling and myths (particularly stories about their gods) became central

components of Greek culture during this time. ● The greatest Greek storyteller was Homer, who wrote The Odyssey and The

Iliad

GREEK CITY-STATES● Different Greek city-states had different forms of government and social

organization. ● By 750 BCE, the Greek city-state, or polis, was the fundamental political unit

in ancient Greece. The polis was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside.

● Each polis featured an agora (marketplace) and an acropolis, or a fortified hilltop where citizens gathered to discuss city government.

● Different city-states in Greece had different types of government (some had monarchy, some had aristocracy, some had oligarchy)

● In some city-states, sometimes powerful individuals called tyrants would seize control of the government by appealing to the people for support. Tyrants were leaders who would work for the interests of ordinary people, and would set up building programs to provide jobs and housing for supporters.

ATHENS● Like other city states, Athens experienced social unrest between rich and

poor● To avoid major upheavals, Athenian leaders made reforms (changes):

○ Athenian reformers moved toward democracy (rule by the people)○ 621 BCE: Draco developed a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians (rich and poor)

were equal under the law, but upheld debt slavery (forced work to pay off a debt)○ 594 BCE: Solon outlawed debt slavery, organized Athenian citizens into four social classes

based on wealth. Only members of the top 3 classes could hold office, but all citizens could participate in the Athenian assembly.

○ 500 BCE: Cleisthenes broke up power of nobility by organizing citizens into 10 groups based on where they lived rather than their wealth. Also increased the power of the Assembly by allowing all citizens to submit laws for debate. Also created the Council of Five Hundred, which proposed laws and counseled the Assembly. Council members were chosen by lot (at random).

Question: What was the effect of these political reforms in Athens?

Athenian democracy

ATHENS● Reforms in Athens allowed Athenian citizens to participate in a limited

democracy (the people make political decisions themselves instead of being led by a king or other ruler)

● However, citizenship was restricted- only free adult males were considered citizens. Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded and had few rights.

● Metics (foreigners) made up roughly half of Athens’ population, but did not qualify as citizens. Still had responsibilities such as military service and paying taxes. Metics did have access to the courts and could prosecute other people.

ATHENS● Education was restricted to the sons of wealthy families● School largely prepared boys to become good citizens- studied reading,

grammar, poetry, history, mathematics, and music● Boys spent part of each day competing in athletic activities● Boys also received training in logic and public speaking (why do you think this

is?)● When they were older, Athenian boys went to military school to help them

prepare to defend Athens. ● Girls did not attend school, but were educated at home on domestic

responsibilities (child-rearing, weaving cloth, preparing meals, and managing the household) to help them become good wives and mothers

Question: What does this say about Athenian society?

SPARTA● Built a military state

○ Around 725 BCE, Sparta took over Messenia (a neighboring region) and forced the Messenians to become helots (peasants forced to stay on the land they worked)

○ Messenians became resentful of Spartans’ harsh rule and eventually revolted- Spartans barely suppressed the revolt

○ Sparta was shocked at its vulnerability, resolved to become a strong military state thereafter

SPARTA● Spartan government had several branches:

○ An Assembly (all Spartan citizens) elected officials and voted on major issues

○ The Council of Elders (30 older citizens) proposed laws on which the assembly voted

○ Five elected officials carried out the laws passed by the Assembly, and also controlled education and prosecuted court cases.

○ Two kings ruled over Sparta’s military

SPARTASpartan society:

● At the top were citizens descended from the original inhabitants of the region (including ruling families who owned the land)

● Next were noncitizens who were free, who mainly worked in commerce and industry

● Helots- worked either in the fields or as house servants- little better than slaves

● Slaves

SPARTA● Sparta had the most powerful army in Greece from 600 BCE-371 BCE● Individual expression discouraged- Spartans did not value the arts, literature,

or other intellectual/artistic pursuits● Spartans valued duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, individuality,

beauty, and learning. ● Boys left home at 7 and began military training until they were 30. They

served in the military until they were 60. Daily life focused on military drills and marching. Harsh lifestyle designed to produce tough, hardy warriors.

● Spartan girls also led hardy lives- received some military training, also ran, wrestled, and played sports.

● Spartan women had considerable freedom when their husbands were off at war- would run family estates.

Spartan Warriors

MILITARY CHANGES● Greek militaries changed as technology changed- when bronze was used,

only the rich could afford weapons and armor, so only rich served in armies. With the switch to iron (which was more abundant and thus cheaper), more people could serve in the military, and thus other social classes could serve to defend their city-state. Merchants, artisans, and small landowners could now serve.

● Greek foot soldiers stood side by side carrying a spear and shield, creating a powerful new formation called the phalanx

● The phalanx became the most powerful fighting force in the ancient world.

Phalanx

THE PERSIAN WARS● Greeks had long settled in Ionia, on the coast of Anatolia. ● In 546 BCE, the Persian Empire conquered the region. ● Ionian Greeks revolted, and Athens sent backup to aid them● Persian king Darius defeated the rebels and vowed to destroy Athens in

retaliation● 490 BCE: Large Persian fleet sailed to Greece, faced them at the Battle of

Marathon● Though outnumbered, the Greeks had better weapons and armor and were

more disciplined than the Persians● Persians fled in defeat- GREEK VICTORY● A Greek named Pheidippides raced from Marathon to Athens to deliver the

news of the victory over Persia- after racing 26 miles, he arrived in Athens, stated “Rejoice, we conquer” and died.

THE PERSIAN WARS● 480 BCE (ten years after the defeat at Marathon): Darius’ son Xerxes

assembled an invasion force to crush Athens● Persians again went to Greece, this time meeting a group of 7,000 Greeks

(including 300 Spartans) at Thermopylae. Once again, although badly outnumbered, the Greeks managed to stop the Persian advance.

● A traitor informed the Persians of a secret passageway- this ended the Greek stand. The 300 Spartans held the Persians back while the other Greeks retreated. All were killed.

● Athenian leader Themistocles convinced the Athenians to evacuate and fight the Persians at sea. After setting fire to Athens, the Persians were defeated as their warships couldn’t maneuver in the narrow channel, and the smaller Greek ships used battering rams to sink the Persian ships.

● GREEK VICTORY

AFTERMATH OF THE PERSIAN WARS● Persia was no longer a threat to Greece● Greek city-states felt new confidence and freedom● Athens entered its Golden Age, basking in the glory of the victory over Persia● 470s: The Delian League formed, which was an alliance among Greek

city-states. Athens emerged as the leader of the Delian League. ○ Athens later used military force against member city-states that challenged its

authority. ○ Other, weaker (less influential) city-states essentially became provinces in an

Athenian Empire ○ Athens used money from the Delian League treasury to bulk up its own navy and

to pay artists, architects, and workers to beautify Athens

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS● 477 BCE-431 BCE: Athens experienced its golden age- a burst in intellectual

and artistic learning● During this time, drama, sculpture, poetry, philosophy, architecture, and

science all reached new heights.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS● Pericles led Athens during much of its golden age. He had 3 main goals: (1)

to strengthen Athenian democracy, (2) to hold and strengthen the empire, and (3) to glorify Athens.

● Reforms that Pericles made to Athens include: ○ Increasing the number of public officials who were paid salaries (this made it so

that other social classes could be officials, not just the rich)- this resulted in more people being involved in government than ever before

○ Introduction of direct democracy- male citizens who served in the Assembly made all laws that affected Athens.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS● Pericles wanted the greatest Greek artists and architects to create

magnificent sculptures and buildings to glorify Athens. ○ The Parthenon was built to honor Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector

of Athens. ○ Sculptors created figures that were graceful, strong, and perfectly formed. Greek

sculptors tried to capture the idealized human body in motion. They wanted to portray ideal beauty, not realism.

○ Values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion became the standard for classical art.

○ Pottery was also important in Ancient Greece○ In architecture, the temple was important- held sculptures of gods and goddesses

(Greeks were polytheistic)

The Parthenon

Classical Art

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS● Herodotus pioneered the accurate reporting of events- his book on the

Persian Wars is considered the first book of history. ● The Greeks invented drama as an art form and built the first theaters in the

West. Theatrical productions in Athens were both an expression of civic pride and a tribute to the gods. Plays were about leadership, justice, and duties owed to the gods. Often included a chorus that sang, danced, or recited poetry.

● 2 kinds of drama: ○ Tragedy- Serious drama about a common theme such as love, hate, war, or betrayal. ○ Comedy- More humorous in nature; slapstick and crude humor. Playwrights would often make

fun of politics and leaders as well as ideas of the time. (How was this significant for the time?)

Greek Drama

PELOPONNESIAN WAR● Other Greek city-states began to view Athens with hostility as it grew in

wealth and prestige. ● Sparta became especially hostile with Athens. Both city-states believed they

had the advantage. ● Sparta declared war on Athens in 431 BCE. War between Athens and Sparta

was called the Peloponnesian War. ● Athens had the stronger navy, but Sparta had the stronger army. ● War went on for ten years until the two sides signed a truce. ● In 415 BCE, Athens invaded the city-state of Syracuse, one of Sparta’s allies.

With Sparta coming to the aid of Syracuse, the Athenians lost by 413 BCE. ● 404 BCE: Athenians and their allies surrendered- Athens had lost its empire,

power, and wealth.

EFFECTS OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR● Many Athenians lost confidence in democratic government and began to

question their values. ● Several great thinkers appeared during this time of uncertainty- determined to

seek the truth. They were known as philosophers, or “lovers of wisdom.” ● Several Greek city-states were weakened from the war, which caused a rapid

decline in military and economic power.

Greek Philosophers

Socrates Aristotle Plato

ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE● King Philip II of Macedonia dreamed of taking control of Greece and then

conquering Persia to seize its wealth. He also wanted to avenge the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BCE, when the Persians burned Athens.

● Most Macedonian nobles thought of themselves as Greeks, but the Greeks looked down on the Macedonians as uncivilized foreigners who had no great philosophers, writers, or sculptors.

● Philip II transformed the peasants under his command into a well-trained professional army. He used the heavy phalanx formation to break through enemy lines, creating an opening for the cavalry (warriors on horseback).

ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE● 338 BCE: The Macedonians defeated a combined army from Athens and

Thebes, ending Greek independence. ● While city-states retained self government in local affairs, Greece itself would

come under a succession of foreign powers, beginning with Macedonia. ● 336 BCE: Philip II died; his son Alexander became King of Macedonia. In just

13 years, he would create a massive empire that included Greece, Persia, Egypt, and even western India.