Classical Greece and Hellenization

Classical Greece (750-336 BCE) Geographically isolated Mountains and poor soil limited food production Colonies for iron and food: Italy, Spain, around the Black Sea Independent and combative city-states (polis) Suspended conflict every four years for the Olympic games

Classical Greece

Greek Colonization Produced and traded olive oil, wine, pottery, metalwork (silver, gold, iron, copper)

Athenian Government Solon and Cleisthenes removed power from Athenian aristocracy in the 500s BCE Strengthened democracy: rule by the people Tyrant: ruler who seized power with lower class support The Assembly was center of public life for citizens Public officials chosen by lot and paid Citizenship: all free, adult Greek males who had completed military service (10% of population)

Greek Women and Slaves Athens Sparta Women had no political rights, education; restricted to the home Slaves were 1/3 of the population, almost every household owned slaves Sparta Women were revered for having children Women governed Sparta while men are at war Helots: conquered and enslaved peoples owned by the state, outnumbered Spartans 10:1

Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BCE) Ionian cities revolted against Persia Supported by Greeks Persia invaded twice Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) Darius was defeated Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis (480 BCE) Xerxes was defeated

Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BCE)

Pericles (r. 461-429 BCE) Athenian politician and general Granted more power to the people in the Assembly Used control of the Delian League to build an empire Oversaw Athens during its golden age (ca. 480-404 BCE) Numerous plays performed and massive building projects Led Athens during start of the Peloponnesian War

Parthenon Temple to Athena on the Acropolis Built 447-438 BCE during Pericles’ rule

Greek Religion Polytheistic Gods had human characteristics Represented specific aspects of life and human characteristics Resided on Mount Olympus Zeus, Athena, Poseidon Rise of history, philosophy in 5th century BCE began to erode the importance of the gods

Greek Rational Philosophy Emphasized argument, logic, questioning of assumptions Confidence in human reason Relied on observation and evidence (instead of the gods) to explain the world Socrates (ca. 470-399 BCE) Constantly questioned his students’ logic Challenged wealth and power, favored wisdom and virtue Charged with “corrupting” the Athenian youth

Greek Philosophers Plato (428-348 BCE) Aristotle (384-322 BCE) Championed rule of society by a philosopher-king and highly-educated elites in The Republic Founded the Academy to instruct students to question others’ ideas Aristotle (384-322 BCE) Valued empirical observation and ethics Taught the Golden Mean: avoiding either extreme in behavior Wrote about nearly every subject

Greek Thinkers Herodotus Pythagoras Democritus Hippocrates Explained history without using the gods Pythagoras Proponent of spherical earth and heliocentric model of the solar system Democritus Believed matter was formed by tiny, uncuttable particles Hippocrates Imbalance in the “four humors” caused sickness, diagnosed epilepsy

Four Humors/Temperaments Phlegmatic Phlegm Water Melancholic Black bile Earth Choleric Yellow bile Fire Sanguine Blood Air

Greek Drama Tragedy and comedy Used to mock vanity of leaders, show interactions between gods and men Attendance was seen as a civic duty Greek playwrights: Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles

Greek Art

Classical Orders

Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)

Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) Sparta fought against growing Athenian empire Sparta and its allies defeated Athens All of Greece was weakened

Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) Macedonian king and general Became king of Macedon at age 20 Defeated the Persian Empire Extended empire as far as the Indus River Never lost a battle Adopted Persian customs and dress “Shahanshah” and proskynesis Incorporated Persians into his army Required generals to marry Persian women

Alexander’s Military

Battle of Issus (333 BCE)

Alexander’s Empire

Hellenization Spread of Greek culture and fusion with local cultures Over 20 cities founded Monuments, theatres, markets, assemblies, gymnasia Alexandria in Egypt: bustling port, library, lighthouse Greek became the language of culture and the elite Greeks immigrated throughout the Middle East

Hellenistic Cultures Greeks became the ruling class throughout the Middle and Near East Ptolemy (r. 323-282 BCE): ruled Egypt as a pharaoh Preferential laws for Greeks in Egypt Seleucus (r. 305-281 BCE): ruled Mesopotamia and Persia Menander (r. 165-130 BCE): later Greek ruler of Bactria who converted to Buddhism

Division of Alexander’s Empire

Noria Water wheel powered by moving water Water was used for irrigation Developed by Hellenistic engineers in the 3rd century BCE

Influence on Art Greek influence on Indian art Buddha was first shown in human form Clothing and face resembled Greek god Apollo Augustus, 1st Century BCE; Gandhara Buddha, 1st-2nd Century CE