Chapter 6: The Rise of the Greek City-

States

1. Historical OverviewBrainstorming: Who were the Mycenaeans

(1900-1100 BCE)

1100-800 BCE

Dark AgesDorian invasions put an end to

Mycenaean dominationWriting (Linear B) disappearsIron age starts in Greece

1. Historical Overview

1. Historical Overview

1. Historical Overview800-479 BCE

Archaic PeriodMycenaean and Minoan

inheritance shows in Greek culture.

New values: formation of the Greek polis

479 BCE Final defeat of the Persian invaders

2. Geography

Large rivers unifying the territoryRiver acting as an artery for communicationsFlat lands: easier to build roadsConcentration of population along the riverUnified politically

2. Geography of Egypt and Mesopotamia

2. Geography of GreeceMountainous region/ Multitude of islands

2. Geography of Greece

Scattered population Isolated city-states (poleis) with different

political structuresSea as the main means for communication

and tradeSense of community and political federation

created by the Persian wars

2. Geography of Greece

3. Political organizationThe polis:An urban and political entity.AcropolisAgoraWallsSurrounding land

3. Political organizationArchia: Gk: rule,

governmentKratia: Gk: power,

governmentMonos: Gk: OneOligos: Gk: FewAristos: Gk: the bestDemos: Gk: people

1. Monarchy2. Oligarchy3. Tyranny4. Democracy

1. Monarchy: Mycenaean (Agamemnon)2. Oligarchy: rule of the aristocracy

(landowners)3. Tyranny: reformers (Peisistratus)4. Democracy: Athens (Kleisthenes)

3-Political organization

Causes of emigration:Growth of the population Scarcity of resourcesLack of political opportunity

Greek colonies: Magna Graecia (Southern Italy and Sicily), Southern France, Spain…Consequences: enrichment of middle classes

(businessmen) and push for democratization (against traditional landowners).

4. Period of colonization

4. Period of colonization

4. Period of colonization

Magna GraeciaNaples (Nea-polis)SyracusePalermoMessina

4. Colonies in Southern Italy

Greek colonies

Pythagoras (Croton)Plato (Syracuse)Herodotus (Thurium)

4. Colonies in Southern ItalyDistinguished visitors

5. Sparta vs. AthensSpartaDorian settlementOligarchyMilitaristic societyStringent

immigration lawsWomen participated

somehow in the public sphere

AthensAeolic settlementRestricted

democracyCultural

achievementsWomen and

foreigners do not participate in civic life

6. Persian WarsCreated a sense of community between the Greeks.

Battles:490BCE Marathon480 BCE Thermopylae480 BCE Salamis

Persian Kings:Darius (522-486 BCE)Xerxes (486-465 BCE)

Persian archer (Persepolis)

6. Persian Wars: Persepolis

Olympian deities:Polytheistic, anthropomorphic

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis…

Chthonic deities: Fertility and agricultural gods.Demeter (Eleusis) and Dionysius (Dionysia)Mystery cults

7. Religion

7. Religion

7. Religion

1. Greek population was divided by the geography of their land (islands, mountains) but united culturally and politically.

2. The Greeks colonized the south of Spain (Iberia) establishing prosperous cities there such as Syracuse, Palermo, and Messina.

3. The Phoenicians were a group of Greek colonizers who founded cities in the Southern Mediterranean (Carthage).

True/ False

5. The Persians’ cultural and technical advances as well as their political organization were very inferior to those of the Greeks.

6. All the inhabitants (legal residents) of Athens were allowed to participate in the political life of the city.

7. Herodotus was a Greek poet who wrote about the Persian wars.

True/ False

Phoenician and Greek expansion

The Persian Empire

7. Religion: Panhellenic gamesOlympia

Athletic competition In honor of Zeus Held every four years Cycle:

Olympic Games (Olympia) Pythian Games (Delphi) Nemean Games (Nemea) Isthmian Games (Corinth)

Contests: Stadion (200 yard race) Pentathlon (javelin, discus,

long jump, sprinting, wrestling)

Boxing

7. Panhellenic games: Olympia

7. Panhellenic games: Olympia

7. Panhellenic games: Olympia

Temple of Zeus and sacred precinct

7. Panhellenic games: Olympia

Stadion

8. Panhellenic sanctuaries: Delphi

Artistic and athletic competition (Pythian Games)

Origin: Apollo killed the snake (Python) that guarded the sanctuary.

Etymology: omphalos, navel of the earth (umbilical).

Oracle: Pythia

8. Panhellenic sanctuaries: Delphi

Epic poetryOral tradition. Sang by a bardHomer (800 BCE)

Iliad: Trojan war (1250 BCE), the wrath of AchillesOdyssey: the return of Odysseus

9. Literature

Lyric poetrySang with a lyreExpression of personal feelings

Sappho, Alcaeus: love, symposium, life and death.

Pindar: odes to victors in the athletic contests, everlasting fame.

HistoriographyFirst attempt to record events objectively:

Herodotus

9. Literature

10. Architecture

9. ArchitectureTemples in Doric styleColonnade winding all the way around an

inner cella.

Poseidonia. Temple of Hera II, 460 BCE

10. Sculpture

A B C D

10. Sculpture

2525 BCE 600 BCE 530 BCE 480 BCE

Kouroi (Kouros)Nude male figuresInfluence of Egyptian art (rigid pose,

frontality)Apollos or memorial statuesEvolution toward more naturalisticStudy of the human body

10. Sculpture

10. Sculpture

10. Sculpture

Korai (Kore)Statues of females (dressed)PolychromicVotive statuesDressed with a peplos and later with chiton

(study of the folds)

10. Sculpture