History of Greece

“Dark Age”- about 1100BC-800BC Mycenaean Civilization disappeared by 1100BC Population declined & few buildings were built. Greece slid into a Dark Age. Writing was forgotten. Linear B (like Linear A) was never used again. Tribes were ruled by chiefs. However, stories were told & retold-especially stories about the Trojan War.

Revival of Greek Culture: 800BC-700BC About 800BC, population began to increase again. About 800BC, Greeks began to use writing again, this time using a form of the Phoenician alphabet. About 750BC, “Homer” wrote the Iliad and Odyssey from stories that had been retold for 500 years.

Greek religion Did not emphasize morality Did not emphasize life after death. Greeks believed all people went to Hades, a gloomy place: no reward, no punishment. Religion did: explain nature, explain human emotions, provide a way to try to get the gods to give you benefits in this life.

Greek Religion-Afterlife The very early Greeks viewed the afterlife as existence in a shadowy place called Hades, with no punishment or reward It was gloomy and without pleasure. To get to it, you crossed a series of rivers, including the Styx

A bit later they added that a few very great sinners would receive punishment, and a few great heroes, went to the “Elysian Fields”. But most people received neither punishment or reward

Greek Religion Myths stories about the gods & goddesses, who had personalities & faults Gods & Goddesses such as Zeus (king), Hera (queen), Poseidon (sea); Athena (wisdom); Apollo (light and reason); Dionysus (wine); lived on Mount Olympus

Oracles: special places where a god spoke through a priest or priestess and foretold the future: most famous: Oracle of Apollo at Delphi

Sacrifices The Greeks sacrificed animals to the gods.

OLYMPIC GAMES Held every 4 years in honor of Zeus Held in Olympia Held for the first time in 776BC – this became the Greek “year 1”. They counted years by the Olympic games. Foot races, boxing, javelin and discus throwing, wrestling Only men watched (women had their own, less important, games)

Stages government of the Polis-Kingdom to Aristocracy/Oligarchy (1) MONARCHY- “rule by one”. At first poleis were small kingdoms ruled by chieftains

(2)ARISTOCRACY -Aristocracy-rule by the aristocrats (nobles) who inherited their position Over time, the aristocrats (wealthy land-owners who inherited their wealth) took on more and more power, partly because they could afford horses and weapons needed to defend the polis By 700BC, the aristocrats had overthrown the kings and shared power among themselves.

(3) Oligarchy-rule by a few rich men: An oligarchy is almost the same thing as an aristocracy. Literally means: rule by a few. An oligarchy is rule by a few wealthy people who may or may not have inherited their wealth.

Stages of Government –cont. (4)TYRANNY- Rule by a leader who took power illegally but favored the common people. In about 600BC,in many Greek poleis, a leader popular with the common people took power, usually illegally. These leaders enacted reforms demanded by the common people. Some were very good leaders, while some were bad leaders. Whether good or bad, they were called “tyrants”.

Stages in Government-Democracy (5) DEMOCRACY – rule by all the (male) citizens. * By about 500BC, some of the Greek city states had thrown out their “tyrants” and started a democracy, in which decisions were made in an assembly of all male citizens, regardless of wealth. * Athens – most famous democracy. * Women, slaves and metics (resident non-citizens) were not included.

Developments in the military * Use of iron made weapons more affordable More men could afford to own weapons and participate in the military. The term for a Greek armed foot soldier was a hoplite Armies of hoplites, who were ordinary citizens, replaced the old aristocratic cavalry.

Greeks invented a new military formation-the phalanx-a formation of many of hoplites who stood shoulder to shoulder. Each man had a shield and spear. Each man’s shield covered himself and the person to his left. Trust was essential to a phalanx. If one man broke and ran, it endangered all the others.

As common men became more important in defense of their polis, they demanded a government more responsive to their needs