CHAPTER 5Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean:

Persia and Greece

World Civilization: The Global ExperienceFifth Edition

Stearns/Adas/Schwartz/Gilbert

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle EastII. The Hellenistic PeriodIII. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic CultureIV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East

A. The Persians550 B.C.E., Cyrus the Great

Empire

Conquered peoples retain cultureZoroaster

Good vs. evilLast judgment

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East

B. The Political Character of Classical Greece

Variety of politiesAristocracy generally dominant

LiteracyFrom 8th century B.C.E.Iliad, Odyssey

Basis for Hellenic culture

ArchitectureColonnaded buildings

ArtsSculptureBlack and red pottery

The Greek World

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East

C. The City-State as a Political UnitCity-states (polis)

ParticipationAssemblies, councils

500sConflict between aristocracy and

middling class ReformSolon of AthensGreater participation

Poleis deeply unitedPublic religionPolitical participationCultural events, e.g. theatre

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East

D. The Rise of Democracy in AthensSolonPeisistratusCleisthenes

Council

Popular assemblyOversight of most of the

governmentOffices filled by lot

Who was excluded?WomenSlavesForeigners and their children

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle EastE. Fragmentation and Unity

ColonizationSpread of Greek cultureExpansion of trade

Religious gamesTrucesCompetitionOlympicsDelphi

Conflict between cities

Persian WarsTemporary unityDelian League

Dominated by Athens

Athens versus SpartaPolitical contrastCompeting alliances Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.E.

Athenian surrender, 404 B.C.E.

Greece and Greek Colonies, c. 431 B.C.E.

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. The Hellenistic Period

Spread of Greek rule, Greek cultureFormation of a common cultural area

Mediterranean, Near East

A. Macedonian ConquestMacedon compared to southern Greece

Monarchy v. city-statePlains v. mountainousLinguistic differences

Philip II (359-336 B.C.E.)By 338 B.C.E., Greece conquered

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. The Hellenistic Period

B. Alexander the GreatConquests, 334-331 B.C.E.

Into India, EgyptCities founded

AlexandriaDeath, 323 B.C.E.

Alexander’s Empire and the Hellenistic World,, c. 323 B.C.E.

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. The Hellenistic Period

C. Later Hellenistic StatesDivision

“Successor states”Alexander’s generals ruleEgypt: Ptolemies

Relative stabilityPersia: Seleucids

Macedonia: AntigonidsCivil wars

BactriaBlend of Indian and Greek

culture

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture

A. Religion, Philosophy, and Science

ReligionPantheon of gods with human

traitsMystery religions

More emotional

PhilosophySocrates

SkepticismPlato

StoicsMoral fortitude

SciencePythagorasEuclidGalenArchimedes

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture

B. Literature and the Visual ArtsDrama

Public, religious, typified by conflict

SophoclesTragedy

AristophanesComedy

Oral epicHomer

HistoryHerodotusThucydides

Visual artsPublic

e.g. temples, victory sculptureHuman achievement central

Especially in Hellenistic period

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture

C. Hellenistic CultureFocus on exact sciences

Geometry, medicine, etc.Art more emotional, less idealizedPhilosophy emphasizes withdrawal, not

engagement

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

IV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society

A. Economic and Social Structure

Aristocracy

Power from land, military role

Economic expansion, colonization

Challenges role of aristocracy

Merchants

Ambiguous place in society

Slavery

From captives

B. Men, Women, and Social DivisionsPatriarchy

Women

Legal and cultural disabilities

Adultery in men tolerated

Punishable in women

Some improvement in Hellenistic period

Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

IV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society

C. A Complex LegacyIdeas

No lasting polities

Artistic legacyDirect and indirectConsciously imitated, revivedMingled with Middle Eastern

legacy