Ancient Greece

A. GEOGRAPHYMAP  Mountains & Islands dominated Greece  Greeks became Seafarers Aegean (East) Ionian (West)

 Established on Crete

 Named after King Minos, a legendary King of Crete.  Capital: Knossos

 Its downfall is unknown.  Historians believe it was either caused by a tsunami (from a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera) or by the invasion of the Mycenaeans (mainland Greeks)

 The first Greek State ( B.C.)  Mainland Greeks of the Bronze Age ( )  Named for its leading city, Mycenae

 Homer, the famous Mycenaean bard (wandering poet) told us about its warrior-like culture that emphasized the ideal of arête (to strive for excellence, courage, to show fame & honor)

 Two of Homer’s (assumed) works: The Iliad The Odyssey The Cyclops

 Its downfall occurred when the Mycenaean states fought each other.

 Ruled by the Dorians  Trade decreased and little progress was made in the world, although iron displaced bronze during this time  Records were lost, so little is known about it.

 A. Rise of the polis (city-states)  Created because geography prevented it from uniting  Population varied: Hundred  Several thousand

 A fortified hilltop (also where the Parthenon is built) that included religious or other public buildings.

 Marketplace, where men spent most of their time

 Citizens with political rights (adult males)  Citizens without political rights (women & children)  Non-citizens (slaves & resident aliens)

 Hoplites  Hoplites: Infantry (foot soldiers) who carried a shield, sword, and spear  Phalanx  Phalanx: Hoplites fought shoulder to shoulder in a formation

 Sparta conquered and enslaved nearby Locanians and Messenians, called “helots.”  Sparta created a military state to counter the threat of revolt from the helots  War was extremely important  Spartans led tough lives Little food Males forced into military service

 Oligarchy: Rule by few

2 (military) Kings  7 “administrators”

 Athens in crisis  The reformer, Solon, was appointed leader in 594 B.C. to hand the crisis. He canceled the debts.

 Cleisthenes was appointed in 508 B.C. to be leader of Athens.  Cleisthenes’ reforms laid the foundation for Athenian democracy  Athens type of government: Democracy: A government in which ALL citizens took part.

Society grew into a limited democracy, or government by the people. Male citizens over age 30 were members of the assembly. Rulers encouraged trade with other city-states. Women were considered inferior. Boys received education in many areas, not just military training. Rulers were two kings and a council of elders. Rulers formed a military society. Conquered people were turned into slaves, called helots. Rulers forbade trade and travel. Male, native-born Spartans over age 30 were citizens. All boys received military training. Girls were raised to produce healthy sons for the army. Women had the right to inherit property. ATHENS SPARTA

 A. Persian Kings Darius & Xerxes challenged the Greeks

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 After the Persian defeat, Athens became the leader of the Greek world. The Athenians formed a defensive alliance called the Delian League.

 Pericles (461 B.C.) was Athens’ leading statesman during Athens’ golden age.

 Under his leadership art (architecture, statues) and drama (tragedies) flourished.

 Athens planned to win by staying behind its walls and receiving supplies from its colonies & powerful navy. The Spartans surrounded Athens and hoped the Athenian army would come out & fight. Pericles knew the Spartan army would win in open battle, so he stayed behind Athenian walls.

 Main cause: Fear of Athenian imperialism  Athenian alliance relied on its strong navy, Spartan alliance on its strong army.  The war fell into 2 periods: Fighting broke out in 431 B.C. with Pericles as commander of Athenians In the first 10 yrs, Archidamus led the Spartans to defeats. Then, the plague hit Athens in 429 B.C.—killing Pericles & much of the army

 421: Both states agreed to accept the Peace of Nicias.  This lasted 6 years, until Athens launched its disastrous Sicilian expedition.  By 413, Athens’ forces were demolished.  In 411, an oligarchy briefly took power. When democratic leaders were restored by the navy later that year, they refused Spartan peace offers.  The War continued until 405

 In 405: The Athenian navy was destroyed with Persian help.  Under blockade, Athens surrendered in 404.  Its empire was dismantled

 In 429 B.C.. A plague broke out in Athens, killing 1/3 of the citizens, including Pericles.  Nevertheless, the Athenians fought on, but were defeated 25 years later  This war decimated the Greeks and allowed the Macedonians to later conquer them

 Hellenism: Greek culture, which focused on self.  Examples: They held the Olympics every 4 years (begun 776 B.C.)

Atlas Zeus

Socrates Plato Aristotle

 A non-Greek—from Macedonia—he was mostly responsible for spreading Hellenism.

 The first historian of the world (researcher, storyteller). He wrote a book called History of the Persian Wars.

 A doctor who wrote the Hippocratic Oath