Homework Bell Ringer

What Greek Goddess of Victory is used by a popular sneaker company.

City States“Polis”

Athens vs. Sparta

Persian War 490 – 480 BC

Causes

Persians had taken over

Ionian territory. Ionians were culturally “Greek” Ionians revolted with the aid of the Athenians who

wanted control over Aegean trade. Persians under Darius defeat Ionian rebels and seek

revenge on Athenians.

Persian War –Battle of Marathon490 BC

Land battle – Darius tries to invade through mountain passes of Marathon. Although Athenians outnumbered – had geographic knowledge on side.

Athenians had sent messenger Pheidippides to ask for help from Spartans – he ran 240 km (150 miles) in two days. He then ran the 40 km (25 miles) from the battlefield near Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory

Persian WarBattle of Salamis480 BC Themistocles fearing second Persian invasion – built up trireme fleet. Evacuated Athenians to island of Salamis.

(Persians will burn to ground Athens) Persian (under Xerxes) large barges

suckered into small strait where triremes will peck them to death.

Athens - government

Polis – a geographic and political unit called city-state

Began as a monarchy moved into an oligarchy (rule by few)

or aristocracy (rule by the wealthy – land holders) – social unrest peasants lost land to wealthier farmers (demand reforms)

Tyranny government by an individual who seizes

power by force. champions of the underdogs and often

promoted the arts and public works. They lasted only as long as they had public

support – so attempted to keep the people happy.

Athens – Direct Democracy (all

citizens could vote on issues)

During the 4th century BC there may well have been some 250,000–300,000 people. Citizen families may have amounted to 100,000 people and out of these some 30,000 will have been the adult male citizens entitled to vote in the assembly.

Slaves, non-citizens, women and youths (under 18) could not vote.

American – “Representative Democracy” We elect representatives who act on our behalf at an

electoral college to vote for our president and vice president.

Originally designed because people could not travel to Washington to directly vote.

Controversial today – as certain states have more “voting power” than others (called “swing states”).

2000 Election 2000 (Bush - Gore)  Though Gore held a slim popular vote victory

of 543,895 (0.5%), Bush won the Electoral College 271-266

Athenian Democratic Reformers

Draco – law code – very severe punishments

Solon – more moderate law code, cancelled land debt, limits on how much land person could own, two-house legislature (Council of 400 – aristocrats made laws, Athenian Assembly made up of landholders)

Democratic Reformer (cont)

Peisistratus – divided large estates among landless, extended citizenship to non-land holders.

Cleisthenes – Assembly opened to all citizens – Council of 500 administered everyday business – members chosen by lot. Ostracism – practice of exiling “dangerous” citizens for 10 yrs.

Pericles – introduced pay for juristContribution to Western Civ.

Athenian Culture

Art and Architecture of Athens5th Century BC

Golden Age / Classical Age• Athens had defeated the mighty Persian

Empire in war in 480 BC – unexpected but glorious victory.

• Athens began creating an Empire in Greece.• Collected money from allies (Delian League) to

maintain navy…but spent much on building beautiful architecture that glorified the city-state of Athens and emphasized the ideal of youth and beauty.

• Time period in Athens is known as the Classical Age or the Golden Age of Greece (lots of wealth, literature, art, and architecture)

Acropolis of Athens

Designed by Pericles

Acropolis is known as the “Crowning Jewel of Greek Architecture”.

Began as a Mycenaean citadel with fortification wall.

Destroyed during the Persian War but rebuilt after Athens’ victory.

View from side – notice how it is a fortified hilltop – i.e. citadel

• Fortification Wall

Dominant building is Parthenon –

temple to Athena – patron goddess of Athens

View of acropolis from gate – only one entrance. Monumental entrance is architecturally impressive but also practical to block invasions.

If you visit Athens – see the buildings at night – special light show. Very cool.

Monumental Entry Gate – millions of tourists have made this limestone staircase very slippery.

Parthenon - was rebuilt by Pericles in 490 BC to represent the glory of the new Imperial Athens.

The building has a turbulent history. When Greece became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1500s AD, the building was gutted and turned into a mosque.

A few centuries later, the Venetians bombed it and used the ruins as target practice. During the 1800s, the British came and took away all of its decorative sculpture – two of the shiploads of art sunk. The building’s worst enemy, however, is modern pollution. Lots of scaffolding surround it now as they try to clean it, but it seems a doomed project.

Parthenon – Temple of the Goddess of Athens

The Parthenon is a Doric temple, 8x17 columns. There are two porches and two interior rooms. The smaller room was used as a treasury or bank. The larger one held a statue of Athena Parthenos.

Stylobate – or base – slightly curved, creates pillow-like image – makes the building look like it is floating

Carved sculptures originally above columns.

Doric column capitals

Athena Parthenos –

originally 3 stories tall. Made of Ivory and gold over wood – statue sits in an olive oil reflecting pool to keep ivory and wood soft so would not crack. Problem is they would use fire to light inside of temple….fires would ignite the oil. In antiquity the gold and ivory were stolen so only Roman stone copies of this statue are still around.

• University of Tennessee has rebuilt the temple in Nashville to full scale including the sculpture.

Erechtheum – honor of Athena/Poseidon Contest for naming city.

Corinthian Ionic

Besides Doric Columns – there are two other main types of columns.

Under the Acropolis is the

Agora - “Market Place” Location of commercial and civic buildings. Lawcourts, assembly building,

Fountainhouse (where they get fresh water), public toilets, dining hall, etc.

Acropolis

Roman toilet in Athenian Agora

Public toilet in Ostia

Stoa - one of the most important buildings in Agora. Used for shops and political philosophical discussions. Provided shelter from the sun’s heat.

A group of philosophers known as “Stoics” met here. Known for their calm and rational approach to problems.

Where we get the word from

Greek Theater – built into the side of the acropolis. Still used today – very hard stone seats.

Theaters - people sat on hillside. All of the action took place on circular dancing floor – not on “skene” or stage which was used to hold props.

Where we get

the word

Wealthy or important people had special front row marble seats – names carved on them.

Contribution – where we get tragedy and comedy from

Roman Theater – 1/2 circle – with stage

• Thespis (534 BC) introduced a speaker who would interact with chorus – the first “actor”. This actor could relate events that happened off stage. Modern drama clubs are called thespians in honor of him.

• Masks – acted like megaphones, emphasized emotions for distance.

• Gender – all actors were males

Notice the masks

Other Contributions

• Olympic Games – every four years – purpose to bring nations together in peaceful competition.

• Epic Poetry, myths (“Atlas” doors, “Nike” shoes, Hermes as FTD flower symbol)

Sparta - government

    monarchy with two kings     council of 28 elders     assembly of citizens lead by 5 ephors

(overseers). Must be 30 yrs old.     citizens were those born from citizen

parents     helots were the enslaved local

population who were constantly in revolt.

Sparta – government (cont)

    military state – boy’s and girl’s education revolved around military training and harsh discipline.

    men lived at military barracks for most of life, even after marriage.

Sparta – government (cont)

    forbidden to travel outside Sparta (except for war) or to use coin (little trade with others), “money” was iron bars too heavy to lift.

    two English words come from Sparta – “spartan” and “laconic”

Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) Causes – Athenians created

Delian League to build up navy to protect against future Persian invasion. City-states were not given option to opt out. This will challenge Sparta and her allies.

Results – Athenians will lose (after death of Pericles in plague and Spartans ruining Athenian economy by cutting down olive trees – take 20 yrs to grow), Sparta returns home leaving political vacuum that Macedonians will fill.