Unit 3: Ancient Greece

2.2. The Archaic Age: colonisation

Between the 8th and the 6th centuries the poleis were governed by the chiefs

or kings, but they gradually lost power to the aristocracy, who hold public

positions.

Aristocracy oppressed the weakest social groups and tyrants took power by

force.

Tyrants took away the citizens’ rights and freedom, although they introduced

some economic reforms.

As population grew there was not enough farmland to grow crops. Merchants

and artisans expanded their trade. Consequently Ancient Greeks started to

establish colonies around the Mediterranean Sea. They also began to produce

coins.

2.3. The Classical Age

This was the most splendid period, from the 5th to the 4th century BC. The most

important poleis were:

ATHENS SPARTA

Peasant and other groups protested against

the abuse of power by the governing

aristocracy.

Some reforms were introduced, such as

giving political power to the Ekklesia

(Citizens’ Assembly). This measure was

introduced by Solon (lawmaker).

Democracy was established in Athens.

o Citizens held the power

Voted from laws

Elected public

representatives.

Decided whether to go to

war or not and make peace

with enemies.

The Ekklesia elected magistrates and voted

on the laws. These magistrates carried out

the assembly’s decisions. The members of

the Council, who prepared the laws, were

chosen among the Assembly by casting or

drawing of lots.

Oligarchical system: power hold by a small

group of people.

Sparta poleis were ruled by two kings, 28

elders (Gerousia) and five officials (ephors).

The king performed civil and religious

functions.

According to Spartan tradition, Lycurgus

the Lawmaker wrote the laws that

governed Sparta.

MILITARY CONFLICTS

In this period the Greeks took part in several wars.

In the Persian Wars (494-479 BC), they fought the Persians over control of the coasts

of Asia Minor. Athens organized an association of city states called the Delian

League and sent a powerful fleet to conquer the Persians.

In the Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BC), the Greek city states fought each other.

Athens. Athens wanted to control the Delian League’s treasure and forced other

poleis to stay in the association.Sparta was opposed to this and tensions started

between the poleis. Sparta won and imposed an oligarchy on Athens.

2.4. The Hellenistic Age

From the 4th century, Macedonia (North of Greece) began to conquer the Greek city

states.

Macedonia was governed by a hereditary monarchy.

In 359 BC, Philip II came to the throne and the expansion began.

His son Alexander the Great created the largest empire the Ancient World had ever

seen. He took control of the rest of Greece, Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia. He

conquered the Persians and went as far as India.

After his death, the generals shared out his empire. It was divided into:

o Macedonia and Greece

o Asia Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia and the old Persian Empire

o Egypt (Where Alexandria was founded).

Between the 2nd and the 1st centuries BC, Rome formed a new huge empire and

conquered these territories.