Ancient Greece Cornerstone of Western Civilization

Cornerstone First well-organized European civilizationFirst well-organized European civilization –The West looks back to Greece as its beginning Foundations of European:Foundations of European: –Government, History, Science, Math, Medicine, Philosophy and Arts

“Axial Age” Eastern Mediterranean becomes a hybrid societyEastern Mediterranean becomes a hybrid society –Mixture of old & new Traders carry ideasTraders carry ideas –Coins, political ideas, alphabet Similar to Zhou dynasty and developments in South AsiaSimilar to Zhou dynasty and developments in South Asia

Legacies of the Greco-Roman World RationalismRationalism –Philosophy, science and history HumanismHumanism –Truth, art and athletics Inherent OrderInherent Order –Natural law, physics and taxonomy PoliticsPolitics –Government, civic responsibility and democracy Delphi

Government and Law Athens: the first democracyAthens: the first democracy –Demos (the people) Cratien (rule) –Later copied by the Roman Republic… then dropped by the Roman Empire and lost –Re-appeared about 1500 years later, still spreading First trial by jury (400 members)First trial by jury (400 members)

The Trial of Socrates

Philosophy Philo (lover of) Sophia (wisdom)Philo (lover of) Sophia (wisdom) Seek knowledge, organized system of thoughtSeek knowledge, organized system of thought The Big 3: Socrates, Plato, AristotleThe Big 3: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Early Philosophy ( BCE) Is the world permanent or changing? Democritus – all physical things are formed by combinations of tiny particles called atoms.Democritus – all physical things are formed by combinations of tiny particles called atoms. Sophists – “Man is the measure of all things”Sophists – “Man is the measure of all things” –There is no common objective reality that all persons grasp the same way.” –Truth is relative to each individual –Pleasure is the highest good - hedonism

Socratic Philosophers ( BCE) “Truth and reality are absolute” SocratesSocrates –Truth is in the mind but hidden by false impressions –You can only know the truth through inquiry –Stressed importance of honor & integrity “The unexamined life is not worth living”

PlatoPlato –Dualism – the world is imperfect, changeable and different in appearance to every individual; the world we perceive is an illusion, the real world is a world of “ideal” forms. –Philosophers will discover the perfect, eternal, real world –Republic – society should be governed by “Philosopher kings” There is only one real tree.

AristotleAristotle –Reality = form and matter –Logic - key to truth and happiness, by logic people can gain knowledge –“Golden Mean” – perfection, virtuous and excellent between extremes, when neither adding something nor taking something away will make improvements.between extremes, when neither adding something nor taking something away will make improvements. –Government – rule by the middle class, devoted to general welfare of the people. –Use senses to classify science (taxonomy) –Develops inductive thinking- The Politics –Wants to strengthen urban communities OK, everyone with an exoskeleton, over there.

The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself Men create the gods in their own image Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion Thales Democritus Xenophanes

History Herodotus, the “Father of History”Herodotus, the “Father of History” –First to separate fact and legend, use witnesses

Science and Math Astronomy- first heliocentric theory (earth around sun)Astronomy- first heliocentric theory (earth around sun) Geometry- remember Pythagoras!Geometry- remember Pythagoras! Medicine- Hippocrates, “Father of Medicine,” separated superstition and magic from treatmentMedicine- Hippocrates, “Father of Medicine,” separated superstition and magic from treatment

The Arts Literature:Literature: –Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were THE textbooks of Europe for 2000 years –Greek mythology stories still popular today

The Arts Greek Theater: from Athens to Shakespeare to BroadwayGreek Theater: from Athens to Shakespeare to Broadway

The Arts Sculpture – Set the ideal body type, realistic portrayal, action in marbleSculpture – Set the ideal body type, realistic portrayal, action in marble

Architecture Greek design is known for use of columns and the Golden Mean or Golden Proportion, 1 : Greek design is known for use of columns and the Golden Mean or Golden Proportion, 1 :

Golden Mean Used in Architecture

Golden Mean in Art

Independent City-States

There is no “Greece” in Ancient Greece Being Greek = you spoke Greek and believed in the Greek gods, no matter where you livedBeing Greek = you spoke Greek and believed in the Greek gods, no matter where you lived Each of the Greek cities were self-controlledEach of the Greek cities were self-controlled –Athens was a democracy –Sparta was an oligarchy –Corinth was a monarchy Fought each other, but allied to fight non-GreekFought each other, but allied to fight non-Greek –As in: Vs Troy in the Iliad, Vs Persia 300

Was there a Greek Empire? Greek city-states launched colonies, but never really made an empireGreek city-states launched colonies, but never really made an empire –Why mess around with Barbarians?

Then Came Alexander…

Alexander the Who? “Proper” Greeks laughed at the Macedonians“Proper” Greeks laughed at the Macedonians –Talked with funny accents –Not allowed to be in Olympics –Considered “barbarians” Until King Philip II shut them right upUntil King Philip II shut them right up

Like Father, Like Son Prince Alexander tutored by AristotlePrince Alexander tutored by Aristotle Became king at age 20 Became king at age 20

Ain’t no stoppin’ us now! * *For 13 years

Alexander’s conquest leads to the Hellenistic Age Hellenistic -derived from Héllēn –Greek word for “Greek”

Now That’s Hellenizing! Alexander’s conquest Hellenized the landAlexander’s conquest Hellenized the land –Spread Greek language, art, knowledge and thinking After his sudden death (with no son) his Empire passed to his generalsAfter his sudden death (with no son) his Empire passed to his generals –In 5 pieces –After 40 years of civil war

Influence of Hellenistic Culture Hellenistic is not one single cultureHellenistic is not one single culture Political expansion leads to cultural diffusionPolitical expansion leads to cultural diffusion Lays foundation for state systems/leads to more warfareLays foundation for state systems/leads to more warfare Leads to stability in tradingLeads to stability in trading –Growth of “Silk Road” –Use of money & common language

Influence of Hellenistic Culture LanguageLanguage –Replaced dialects with a “common” Greek –easier communication between Egyptians, Syrians, Judeans ReligionReligion –Led to worship of Greek gods –Not accepted universally ex. Jews in Judea rebelled vs. Hellenistic cultureex. Jews in Judea rebelled vs. Hellenistic culture (Maccabean Revolt – Diaspora) –JudaismHellenism One God Gods, Goddesses and Who Knows What! Man in the Image of God Gods in the Image of Man

Influence of Hellenistic Culture ArtsArts –Sculpture more realistic Cosmopolitan CitiesCosmopolitan Cities –Alexandria becomes the model – huge library –Inhabitants become “cosmopolitan” – Not just citizens of a particular polis Becomes ultimately the culture of elitesBecomes ultimately the culture of elites –base of later Roman culture Penetrated into sub Saharan Africa - MeroePenetrated into sub Saharan Africa - Meroe

Hellenistic Philosophers (340 BCE) Philosophy becomes accessible to a wider audiencePhilosophy becomes accessible to a wider audience Affluent members of the population, including women, begin to study philosophy Affluent members of the population, including women, begin to study philosophy focuses on the problem of human happinessfocuses on the problem of human happiness What is the meaning of this?

EpicureansEpicureans –knowledge originates and stops in the senses –pleasure is the sole good and that pain is the sole evil –man must moderate himself in reference to these desires Cake is yummy! But, eating an entire cake would make you sick. That’s evil.

Stoics - ZenoStoics - Zeno –Named after Stoa Poikilē in Athens where Zeno taught The universe functions according to a plan of goodness – “Natural Law”The universe functions according to a plan of goodness – “Natural Law” –Nature is understood through reason –All persons are inherently equal as all share a spark of reason –You can live in harmony with nature but need to control your passions (Get over it!)

CynicsCynics –preached a return to nature and a rejection of conventional mores as the key to man's happiness –Did not consider themselves members of any nations Diogenes made his home in the streets of Athens, made a virtue of extreme poverty. Lived in a large tub, walked the streets carrying a lamp in the daytime claiming to be looking for an honest man.

SkepticsSkeptics –by doubting everything, believed that they could attain a state of perfect tranquility –But did they even believe that?

Hellenistic Science MathMath –Hipparchus - trigonometric tables and gave methods for solving spherical triangles. –Pythagoras - The Pythagorean Theorem –Euclid – wrote about triangles and circles, irrational numbers, and three-dimensional geometry.

Hellenistic Science PhysicsPhysics –Archimedes – lever and hydrostatic discoveries –Aristotle's - "Physics" and "Metaphysics” Not heavy, not heavy, not heavy.

Hellenistic Science Astronomy (applying logical thinking and geometry)Astronomy (applying logical thinking and geometry) –Anaxagoras - cause of eclipses –Aristarchus - the earth goes around the sun –Thales - the earth is round.

Hellenistic Science MedicineMedicine –You could learn to understand and treat diseases by using careful observation and logical thought. –Hippocrates - dismissed the notion that Magic or spirits caused or cured disease. Chant after me: Black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood.

Hellenistic Science CartographyCartography –The earth is a sphere –Claudius Ptolemy wrote Guide to Geography (Geographike hyphygesis)-remained an authorative reference on world geography until the Renaissance.

Discuss changes and continuities in intellectual development in Greek- influenced areas from 500 B.C.E. to 30 B.C.E.