Greek Achievements & from the Greco-Persian Wars to Alexander the Great Chapter 5 Sections 3 and 5

What happened after the Greco-Persian Wars? PREDICT: What might be the effect of the wars on the Persians? What might be the effects of the wars on the Hellenes (Greeks)?

Delian League Delian League: modern name of the Athenian alliance, founded after the Persian Wars as a military organization directed against the Achaemenid Empire, but converted by the Athenian politician Pericles into an Athenian empire. In the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), the Spartans tried to force the Athenians to give up the Delian League.

Growth in intellectual and artistic learning. Golden Age of Greece 477 to 431 B.C. (Specifically in Athens, although things weren’t bad in other city-states.) Growth in intellectual and artistic learning. Artistic and literary legacies continue to inspire and instruct today. The Golden Age of Greece was from 477 to 431 B.C. Growth in intellectual and artistic learning. The artistic and literary legacies of the time continue to inspire and instruct people around the world.

Classical Greek Art

Portray ideal beauty not realism. Classical Art Portray ideal beauty not realism. Values of harmony, order, balance and proportion became the standard. Idealized the “perfect form.” Classical artists portray ideal beauty not realism. Values of harmony, balance and proportion became the standard. Classical art idealized the perfect form.

Sculpture Hellenistic Sculpture Early Greeks: Aimed to create figures that were graceful, strong and perfectly formed Tried to capture the grace of the idealized human body in motion Hellenistic Sculpture Created more natural figures Felt more free to explore new subjects Early Greek sculptors aimed to create figures that were graceful, strong, and perfectly formed. They tried to capture the grace of the idealized human body in motion. In the Hellenistic period, they moved away from classical art and created more natural figures. They felt more free to explore new subjects, carving ordinary people such as an old wrinkled peasant woman.

Hellenistic Sculpture

Greatest example: The Parthenon in Athens Architecture Traditional design that was used to create Greek Temples since the beginnings of Greece. Greatest example: The Parthenon in Athens These are traditional designs that were used to create Greek temples since the beginnings of Greece. Greatest example was the Parthenon, based on 200 yr old pattern.

Hellenistic art Mosiac notes: Probably a comedy play from the 3rd century BC is shown with musicians playing the double flute, the tambourine and cymbals. A large number of stones is used as small stones of 2.5 mm or less are used. 

Theatrical productions- expression of civic pride Drama Theatrical productions- expression of civic pride Tribute to the Greek Gods Tragedies: serious drama Common themes: love, hate, war, or betrayal Tragic hero who’s downfall caused by character flaw Comedies: slapstick or crude humor Made fun of politics and respected people Beginnings of theatrical productions. Expressions of civic pride and tributes to the Greek Gods. @ kinds of productions: Tragedies- serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war or betrayal. Usually featured a main character or tragic hero that met his downfall because of a flaw in his character- often excessive pride. Comedies- contained scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor. Often they were making fun of politics and respected people or ideas of the time. The fact that the Athenians could her critizism of themselves showed the freedom and openness of democracy of the time.

Theatre of Epidaurus

History Early Athenian historians- 1st to accurately report events. 1st to believe that certain types of events would reoccur. (History repeats itself.) Believed studying these events would help people understand the current period. How do these ideas compare to modern ideas about history? Remember, there were no written record from the “Dorian Period”. Early Athenian historians were the first to accurately report events of the time (Homer’s epics were thought to be more story than actual fact). They were the 1st to believe that certain types of events and political situations would recur over time. So studying these events would help people to understand current events. This still applies today.

Philosophers After Peloponnesian War, Athenians began to question values and democracy “Great Thinkers” searched for truth “Lovers of Wisdom” Based philosophies on two assumptions: Everything is put together in an orderly way- subject to unchanging laws People can understand these laws through logic and reason After the Peloponnesian War, Athenians started to question their values and democracy. “Great Thinkers” appeared and were determined to search for truth. Called Philosophers (which means “Lovers of Wisdom), they based their philosophy on two assumptions: Everything is put together in an orderly way and is subject to absolute, unchanging laws. People can understand these laws through logic and reason.

Athenian Philosophers: the BIG THREE. Socrates Plato Aristotle

Blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, & Indian cultures Hellenistic Culture Blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, & Indian cultures WHY did they blend? Alexander the Great Alexandria in Egypt- center of this culture Hellenistic Culture is the blending of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian cultures. Came about with the conquest of Alexander the Great. His greatest achievement was the spreading of Greek culture to these other places Alexandria in Egypt became the center of Hellenistic Culture.

Study of the stars and the planets Once upon a time: Astronomy Study of the stars and the planets Once upon a time: Aristarchus (310-230 bce) vs. Ptolemy (90-168 ad) Astronomy- is the study of the planets and stars Mathematics- great strides were made in math, especially in geometry. Studies started back then are still the basis for courses in geometry today. Science- Greeks used math and physics to create practical inventions

Mathematics Many advances- especially geometry Still basis for courses in geometry today Science Used mathematics and physics to create practical inventions LIKE: compound pulleys, Archimedes screw, how to measure volume, the Earth is ROUND (who knew?), cartography.