GREEK CULTURE

GREEK SCIENCE AND MATH

The Greeks made major contributions to math and science:The Earth revolves around the sunThe Earth is roundGeometry (like the value of Pi)

People used to

think that the

Earth was the

center of the

universe

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ART The Greeks were big on pottery!

They told stories on their cups and pots

GREEK ART Sculptures = human representations

made of marble or stone

GREEK PHILOSOPHY Philosophy = love of wisdom. The idea that the human mind can understand everything

Be able to say at least one thing about each philosopher:The SophistsSocratesPlatoAristotleEpicurusZeno

THE SOPHISTS Professional teachers in Ancient Greece

Believed “students should use their time to improve themselves”

Taught people how to debate and win an argumentStick with me, kid. I’ll teach you how

to win a fight without throwing a

punch

SOCRATES, PLATO, AND ARISTOTLE

The Big Three

Aristotle

taught

Socrates Plato

taught

SOCRATESSocratic Method = Ask questions. Using reason will

answer those questions

What should we do?

What is the meaning of life?

What is the meaning of happiness?

What constitutes the good life?

What should we do with our lives?

PLATO Big on government

Democracy = … why?

In “The Republic”, he wrote about the ideal government:1. Philosopher-kings2. Warriors3. Everyone else

PLATO Plato is also famous for his “Allegory of the Cave”

ARISTOTLE Taught the “golden mean” = A person should do nothing in excess (balance is good)

Helped advance science

Like Plato, he enjoyed studying governmentDecided that the best form of government was a balance between democracy and oligarchy

Many people A few people

EPICURUS Taught his students that happiness was the goal to life

Pleasure meant = spending time with friendslearning not to worry about thingsStaying out of politics

Why so

serious?

ZENO Stoicism = happiness comes from following reason, not emotions

Today, a stoic is someone who doesn’t show emotion

ZENO Zeno is also famous for “Zeno’s Paradox”, which answers questions about time and space

Zeno was like, the arrow will never hit the target because it keeps going half the distance

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Ruler of the World

WHY “THE GREAT”?

In ten years, Alexander of Macedonia created the largest empire in the world up to that time Alexander spread Greek culture, ensuring cultural diffusion and the survival of the qualities of classical Greece

ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE

ALEXANDER’S ORIGINS

Born in Pella, Macedonia Tutored by the Greek

philosopher, Aristotle His father, Philip, was king of

Macedonia, and had conquered the Greek city states during his 27 year reign

                                                                               

OlympiaAlexander’s mother

OlympiaAlexander’s mother

PhilipAlexander’s father

PhilipAlexander’s father

ALEXANDER RULES

Philip was murdered in 336 B.C. by an assassin…maybe hired by his wife, Olympia… So Alexander was only 20

when he became king of

Macedonia

                                                   

SECURING HIS FATHER’S EMPIRE Alexander squelched rebellions in the northern regions to the Danube River In the process of reconquering the Greek city states, his forces destroyed Thebes, massacring all, including women and children

FROM POMPEII MOSAIC

The Gordian Knot: the legend behind the ancient knot was that the man who could untie it was destined to rule the entire world.

Alexander simply slashed the knot with his sword and unraveled it.

The Gordian Knot

DEFEATING DARIUSOF PERSIA

#1: Alexander’s forced dispatched the Persian army, losing only 110 men (legend) #2: Again Alexander was victorious, and Darius was forced to flee, abandoning is mother, wife and children to Alexander

                 

Major cities in Asia Minor and along the Phoenician coast surrendered to Alexander

Alexander proceeded to Egypt, where he established the city of Alexandria and was made pharaoh

#3: Yet again, Alexander’s forces defeated Darius, this time in Mesopotamia…

Alexander was proclaimed king of Persia and Darius’s royal city and palace were burned to the ground…

Again, Darius fled… Alexander pursued…

Persepolis

When Darius was found murdered by his own men, Alexander executed the assassins and gave Darius a royal funeral

                                                   

Ruins of Persepolis

THE LIMITS OF EXPANSION

In the spring of 327 BC, Alexander and his army marched into India As he conquered regions he allowed rulers to continue to govern in his name

IN INDIA, ALEXANDER’S HORSE WAS KILLED…

'O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal

to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia

is too little for thee.'Philip to Alexander (Plutarch, Alexander 6.8.)

Alexander on his favorite horse, Bucephalus

He mourned his loss and named a city in his honor

Bucephalus

RETREAT At the Indus, the Macedonians rebelled and refused to go any farther The forces travelled down the Indus and began the arduous journey back to MesopotamiaHis best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever; to console himself, Alexander led a ferocious military campaign and went on a drinking binge

SECURING A LEGACY Alexander made Babylonia the capital of his Empire He married one of Darius’ daughters and “encouraged” 10,000 of his soldiers to take Persian wives He died the following year at 33 before he could produce an heir and his kingdom was divided among 3 of his generals