Ancient Greece

The Geography of Greece

Geography Peninsula- Mediterranean / Aegean SeasPeninsula- Mediterranean / Aegean Seas Sea = trade, ideasSea = trade, ideas Mountain Valleys divide into city-statesMountain Valleys divide into city-states Rocky Islands limit fertile landRocky Islands limit fertile land

Agriculture Good climate but bad terrain (very mountainous)Good climate but bad terrain (very mountainous) –Hilly ground: grapes –Rocky soil: olives –Good soil: corn and wheat Sea was very importantSea was very important –Homer describes various fishing methods using hooks, nets, and harpoon in both the Iliad and the Odyssey

Bronze Age Greece

Crete: Minoan Civilization (Palace at Knossos)

Knossos: Minoan Civilization Early Greeks on Crete

The Mycenaean Civilization *1 st Greek speakers *Seatraders *Influenced by Egypt *Trojan War- economic Rivalry W/ Troy

Trojan War About 1200 B.C., the Mycenaeans fought the Trojan War with the city of Troy in AnatoliaAbout 1200 B.C., the Mycenaeans fought the Trojan War with the city of Troy in Anatolia At the same time, foreigners invaded the Mycenaean homelandAt the same time, foreigners invaded the Mycenaean homeland From 1100 to 800 B.C., chaos reigned throughout the eastern MediterraneanFrom 1100 to 800 B.C., chaos reigned throughout the eastern Mediterranean In the absence of a centralized state or empire, local institutions took the lead in restoring political order to GreeceIn the absence of a centralized state or empire, local institutions took the lead in restoring political order to Greece –City-states The Trojan Horse

GREEK GODS Polytheists- gods live on Mt OlympusPolytheists- gods live on Mt Olympus Common Greek culture formsCommon Greek culture forms ZEUS = god, humansZEUS = god, humans HERA= marriageHERA= marriage POSEIDON = seaPOSEIDON = sea APHRODITE = loveAPHRODITE = love ARES = warARES = war ATHENA = wisdomATHENA = wisdom

Homer: The “ Heroic Age ” *Wandering blind poet *Wrote Iliad and Odyssey “Every man make up his mind to fight and move on his enemy…It’s hard for me to face so many men and with all at once.. And yet I will” - Achilles (the Iliad)

Vocabulary –Polis = city-state –Acropolis = High city within polis –Monarchy = King with central power –Aristocracy = Rule by landholding elite –Oligarchy = Small, powerful elite business class rule –Phalanx= formation of heavily armed soldiers

ATHENS: Yesterday & Today Most powerful Greek city - state

Piraeus: Athens ’ Port City

Early Athens Monarchy Aristocracy - People begin to resent nobles, wants rights - Democracy = Gov’t by the people

Sparta City-State in southCity-State in south Many captured slaves = strict societyMany captured slaves = strict society Gov’t = 2 kings & councilGov’t = 2 kings & council Military society- boys age 7 -30= live in barracks, trainMilitary society- boys age 7 -30= live in barracks, train Isolated, frowned on trade, wealth = no new ideas, art, etc…Isolated, frowned on trade, wealth = no new ideas, art, etc… Becomes rival of Athens- compete for power, influence in Greek worldBecomes rival of Athens- compete for power, influence in Greek world

Athenian democracy Males can voteMales can vote 500 man legislature500 man legislature Slaves, women – no rightsSlaves, women – no rights Boys are educatedBoys are educated

Persian Wars: 499 BCE – 480 BCE Athens & Sparta vs. Persia Marathon & Thermopylae = Greeks win Believe gods protect superior form of gov’t

Persian Wars: Famous Battles  Marathon (490 BCE) § 26 miles from Athens  Thermopylae (480 BCE) § 300 Spartans at the Mountain pass  Salamis (480 BCE) § Athenian navy victorious

Golden “ Age of Pericles ” : 460 BCE – 429 BCE Direct Democracy- all males, regardless of wealth / class Salaries paid to elected officials (poor can serve) Assembly meets often- 6,000 + needed to vote “power is in the hands, not of a minority, but the whole people”- Pericles

Great Athenian Philosophers  Philospher § “Lover of Wisdom” § Believe events not caused by whim of gods § Observe / reason to find real cause  Examples § SocratesAristotle § Plato

Great Athenian Philosophers  Socrates § Questions everything § Controversial? § Executed at age 70 for “corrupting youth and disrespecting gods”

Great Athenian Philosophers »Plato *Ideal state not democracy -Workers produce -Soldiers defend -Philosophers rule -Wisest = Leader

Great Athenian Philosophers AristotleAristotle –Favors gov’t led by single virtuous leader –Democracy = mob rule

Athens: The Arts & Sciences  DRAMA (tragedians): § Aeschylus § Sophocles § Euripides  THE SCIENCES: § Pythagoras § Democritus  all matter made up of small atoms. § Hippocrates  “Father of Medicine”

Phidias ’ Acropolis

The Acropolis Today

The Parthenon *Built on the acropolis during the reign of Pericles * Symbol of democracy, classic Greek Architecture

Influence of Greek Architecture The ParthenonThe Lincoln Memorial

The Classical Greek “ Ideal ”

The Ancient Olympics: Athletes & Trainers Great runner, four times victor at the Games, But for a war you would have known no fame. Though exiled from the bubbling springs of home, Your swift pace made a new land's fields your own. - Pindar, Olympian Ode 12, 460BC

Olympia: Temple to Hera

The 2004 Olympics

SPARTA

Forms Peloponnesian League to counter Athens’ Delian League

Peloponnesian Wars Sparta defeats Athens Geography Disease Persia

Macedonia Under Philip II

Alexander the Great Forms vast empire Cultures blend- Greek ideas spread Alexandria=Egypt. City between 3 continents Stoicism=philosoph y of life- avoid desires & disappointments by accepting life calmly

Alexander the Great ’ s Empire

Alexander the Great in Persia

The Hellenization of Asia

Pergamum: A Hellenistic City

The Economy of the Hellenistic World

Hellenistic Philosophers  Cynics  Diogenes § ignore social conventions & avoid luxuries. § citizens of the world. § live a humble, simple life.  Epicurians  Epicurus § avoid pain & seek pleasure. § all excess leads to pain! § politics should be avoided.

Hellenistic Philosophers  Stoics  Zeno § nature is the expansion of divine will. § concept of natural law. § get involved in politics, not for personal gain, but to perform virtuous acts for the good of all. § true happiness is found in great achievements.

Hellenism: The Arts & Sciences  Scientists / Mathematicians: § Aristarchus  heliocentric theory. § Euclid  geometry § Archimedes  pulley  Hellenistic Art: § More realistic; less ideal than Hellenic art. § Showed individual emotions, wrinkles, and age!

The Breakup of Alexander ’ s Empire