Greece

Early History 3000-1400 BC—Minoans Crete Seafaring merchants Sophisticated civilization

Early History 1400-1000 BC—Hellenes 1000-750 BC—Dark Age Eastern Europeans, migrated south Intermarried with natives Greeks 1000-750 BC—Dark Age Life was primitive/tribal Homer

Geographic Influence Mountains Fertile valleys Independent city-states

Geographic Influence Insufficient farmland Founded colonies on Mediterranean coast

Geographic Influence Location Deep harbors Peninsula in Mediterranean Exchange of culture/trade Deep harbors Numerous good harbors on its irregular coastline

Athens Democratic, leading city-state After 750 BC slow progress: Monarchy--one-man, inherited Aristocracy--group of nobles Tyranny--one-man, for people Democracy--rule by people

Athens (cont’d) Move toward democracy (600s-400s BC) Draco—Codified law (including severe punishments) Solon—Granted male commoners right to vote in Assembly Cleisthenes—extended male citizenship Pericles—Golden Age of Athens Paid salaries to public officials Society and economy thrived

Sparta Aristocratic/military city-state On Peloponnesian peninsula Population Helots Large number of slaves Nobles Small number of citizens Feared helots

Sparta (cont’d) Did not develop trade/industry Remained agricultural Emphasized military might Neglected: Art Literature Science

Differences Among Greek City-States Some polis had a monarchy, a gov’t ruled by a king

Differences Among Greek City-States Some polis had an aristocracy, a gov’t ruled by elite nobles Practiced in Corinth

Differences Among Greek City-States Some polis like Sparta had an oligarchy, a gov’t ruled by a small group of citizens

Differences Among Greek City-States Some polis like Athens had a direct democracy, a gov’t ruled by citizens who vote on decisions

Most Greek city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government City-states had an acropolis, a temple on a hill dedicated to a sacred god Most Greek city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government the gods

Uniting Bonds Greek language Religion Olympic games Fear of Persians Felt superior to non-Greeks, referring to them as “barbarians”

Persian Wars 500-479 BC Greek colonies in Asia Minor revolted Darius defeated them and wanted to annex all of Greece Persians defeated at Marathon Greeks rallied to beat Persians Preserved Greek independence

Peloponnesian War 431-404 BC Sparta (Peloponnesian League) defeated Athens (Delian League) Sparta unable to unite Greece

Philip of Macedonia 359 BC-king of Macedonia Admired Greek culture Wanted to unify Greek city-states 338 BC-conquered/united all Greek city-states, except Sparta Assassinated His son, Alexander (aged 20) came to power

Alexander the Great 336-323 BC Taught by Aristotle Conquered Persian Empire Created Hellenistic culture Suddenly died at age 33

Greek Contributions Theater Poetry Historical Writing Sophocles--Oedipus Rex Poetry Homer—Iliad & Odyssey Historical Writing Herodotus (Father of History) Embellished facts Thucydides (scientific historian) Accurate account

Greek Contributions (cont’d.) Architecture/Sculpture Marble Simple Well-proportioned Philosophy Socrates (individual)—Questioned Plato (group)—Ideal government Aristotle (world)—Philosophy/science

Greek Contributions (cont’d.) Science and mathematics Pythagoras/Euclid—Geometry Hippocrates—Medicine Aristarchus—Geocentrism Archimedes—Levers/pulleys Eratosthenes--Accurate estimate of earth’s circumference