The Pre-Greeks  Aegean Civilization 4 Sections of Aegean World Minoan - Crete - Mycenaean – Greek mainland - Trojan – Asia Minor - Cycladic – islands of the Aegean Sea

Classical Greece Let’s talk about geography first – Yay!! - peninsula is mountainous – leads to… … development of fiercely independent city-states - rocky soil limits large scale agriculture and leads to… - miles of coastline & islands leads to… …overseas colonization … seafaring & trading mentality

Classical Greece Development of the Polis - Greek civilization begins revival with introduction of Phoenician alphabet Polis – “fort” or “refuge” - politics, policy, metropolis, police, etc. Four common characteristics (besides independence) Small size – Athens is smaller than RI Small population – Athens at its height was 40,000 citizens Acropolis – “high city” with temples and administrative buildings Agora – marketplace for public gatherings

Classical Greece Evolution of Greek governments - Monarchy – rule by one with hereditary rights - Oligarchy – rule by few - nobility - Tyranny – rule by one with no hereditary rights - Democracy – rule by the people Age of Kings (1000-700 BCE) little is known of this period many wars among poleis some limits on power of kings through aristocratic councils – known mostly through Homer’s epics – Homeric Age

Classical Greece Rise of the Nobles or Oligarchs around 700 BCE, nobles in many poleis began to seize more power become more powerful through debt slavery military power through cavalry Age of Tyrants (700-500 BCE) tyrants replace oligarch promising reforms defend poor against excesses of aristocracy end struggles for political power among nobles encourage trade pass just laws eventually became tyrannical (harsh & unjust)  

Classical Greece Finally – Popular government or Democracy begins in Athens rule by citizens  limited to male landowners Is this really democracy?? Solon – bans debt slavery Peisistratus – redistribute lands Cleisthenes – begins Assembly and Council of 500 – direct democracy

Classical Greece – the 2 ideals Athens – Democracy & Culture Sparta – the Military Which way of life makes more sense?

Ancient Athens center for arts, learning, and culture birthplace of democracy home to ancient world’s most famous philosophers, politicians, etc. build powerful empire stretching across Aegean Sea height reached under Pericles – Age of Pericles or Golden Age of Athens

Athenian Government Direct Democracy – laws passed by all citizens Assembly  all citizens; pass laws Council of 500 – 50 representatives from 10 tribes – present laws very few people were citizens  landowning men over age of 18  estimates ~ 30-40,000 eligible voters out of population of 200-300,000 boys enter military training for 2 years at age 18  expected to be ready when needed philosophy, art, drama, literature, architecture

Ancient Sparta it’s all about their military weak infants left out to die age 7, boys enrolled into military training harsh, cruel training to produce tough soldier girls are trained to be physically fit – to produce strong infants enter army at age 18 and stay until 60 government  2 kings, 5 ephors, Council of 30 helots  slaves from original conquered population outnumbered citizens 7 to 1 cruel & harsh to slaves

The Unification of Greece – Persian Wars Classical Greece The Unification of Greece – Persian Wars Who were the Persians? efficient & effective conquerors roads administrators tolerant Cyrus the Great – 550 BCE conquered Ionian city-states 546 - rebellions break out in 499, supported by Athens Persia uses rebellions as excuse to conquer all of Greece many poleis unite to repel invasions in 490

The Persian Wars 490 Battle of Marathon Athenians outnumbered by Persians 10 to 1 (may have been only 2 to 1) great victory for Athens Persian king Darius 480 Battle of Thermopylae Spartan army of 300 with 7000 Greeks hold 200,000 Persians for three days heroic defense Persians led by Xerxes, Spartans led by Leonidas

The Persian Wars 480 Battle of Salamis naval battle Xerxes v. Themosticles Persian fleet tricked into small bay where Athenian navy has advantage half of Persian fleet is destroyed Xerxes retreats 479 Battle of Plataea decisive battle combined Greek army defeats remnants of Persians Persia is no longer a threat

The Persian Wars Results 1. Unification of many Greek city-states 2. Great sense of pride and accomplishment 3. Feeling of Athenian superiority 4. Development of Athenian Empire Athens was on “top of the world” Sparta withdraws to isolationism invited city-states to form a defensive league  Delian league more than 140 city-states joined

Aftermath of Persian Wars & the Peloponnesian Wars - by 465 BCE, the Persian threat is over but Athens does not allow city-states to leave - used treasury of the Delian League to build the Parthenon moved treasury to Athens insisted all criminal cases be tried in Athens interfered in internal affairs of other city-states transform Delian League from alliance to Athenian Empire caused resentment  turn to Sparta

The Peloponnesian Wars Sparta formed Peloponnesian League to combat Athenian aggression commercial rivalry between Corinth & Athens sparks war in 431 BCE - Sparta’s hope for victory  army’s ability to besiege Athens and destroy its outlying fields - Athens’ hope for victory  navy’s ability to bring in needed supplies and harass its enemies’ coast - war takes bad turn for Athens in 429 w/ typhus outbreak which kills 1/3 of the Athenian population  including Pericles - lack of strong leadership is devastating for Athens

The Peloponnesian Wars - war drags on until 404 BCE and total defeat of Athens by Sparta - Athens forced to 1.) tear down defenses around city 2.) give up overseas colonies 3.) swear allegiance to Sparta - Sparta will become dominant and ruling city-state of Greece in immediate aftermath of the war - Sparta proves to be an inept ruling state and will be overthrown by league led by the city-state of Thebes in 371

The Peloponnesian Wars - brings disaster for Greece  leads to disunity and division - city-states decline in population devastates fields and orchards  particularly the olive orchards of Athens - rising unemployment  many young men emigrate to Persia & join their army as mercenaries - lose ability to govern themselves - lose faith in democracy and free political discussion as Greece turns back towards tyranny city-states unable to resist new invaders – the Macedonians in the 350s