CHAPTER 5: ANCIENT GREECE 1750 B.C. – 133 B.C.

Section 1: Early People of Aegean Europa- daughter of the king of Phoenicia married the king of Crete. Continent of Europe bares her name. Crete-not much is known about this civilization. Called the Minoans after Minos, legendary king of Crete (1750-1500 B.C.).

Success based on trade Acquired ideas and technology from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Knossos – palace in the empire. Included many religious shrines a sacred place like a chapel or an alter. Walls were covered with colorful fresco colorful painting on wet plaster.

Around 1400 the Minoans vanished. Possible reasons: Volcanic eruption Earthquake Tidal wave Invaders-the most possible reason These invaders were the Mycenean’s

Mycenaean’s 1400 -1200 B.C. Indo-European people Conquered Greece and Crete They were sea traders Passed on Egyptian & Mesopotamian influences to later Greeks. Developed numerous city-states in Greece.

Trojan War 1250 B.C. May have started due to economic rivalries between Mycenae and Troy (trading city in Asia Minor).

Legend Trojan Prince kidnapped Helen, wife of a Greek King. Mycenaean’s sailed to Troy to rescue her. War started and lasted 10 years. Troy would be burned down by the Mycenaean’s.

Mycenaean’s would collapse later after taking over Troy. Dorian’s would move in the area. Between 1100 – 800 B.C. Greek civilization took a step back. People forgot skill and did little writing. Except for two epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Both written about the time of the Trojan War, by a blind poet named Homer. Epics- narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds

These two epics tell us about the VALUES of the ancient Greeks.

Section 2: Rise of Greek City-States Mediterranean and Aegean Seas were central to development of Greek civilizations. Greece is part of the Balkan Peninsula Mountains divided the peninsula into isolated valleys. Small city-states arose: political units made up of a city and the surrounding lands. Greeks defended their city-states.

The seas provided safe harbors for ships. Greeks expanded the Phoenicians alphabet, which became the basis of all western alphabets.

750 B. C. – population growth forced people to move 750 B.C. – population growth forced people to move. Greek colonies took root from Spain to Egypt. Polis: Greek city-states that were the fundamental political units in ancient Greece.

Built on two levels: Fortified hilltop was the acropolis. Temples dedicated to gods and goddesses were built there. Flatter ground walled the main city with its marketplace, theater, public buildings, and homes. Men spent time debating issues and there were festivals for gods and goddesses.

From 750 B.C. there were many different ways of ruling: Monarchy a government in which a king or queen exercises central power. Aristocracy rule by a landholding elite. Oligarchy power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class.

Warfare: Shift from bronze to iron weapons Hoplites an item of armor or equipment. Formed large phalanx a massive formation of heavily armed foot soldiers. Ordinary people were defending the city-states.

Sparta Located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula Defeated Mycenaean’s became helots in the Spartan army. Helots outnumbered the Spartans 8 to 1 Maintained an aristocracy Didn’t develop trade or industry just agriculture Spartans isolated themselves from other Greeks

Emphasized military Spartan boys: left home at age 7, strict military education, no shoes, hard beds. At age 20 they could marry, but live in the barracks for 10 more years, and eat there 40 more years. Age 30 joined the assembly. Spartan girls: underwent physical training to prepare them for motherhood. Ran, wrestled, and played sports. Their role was more than other city-states. Sickly children were abandoned to die.

Spartans emphasized a totalitarian philosophy: the individual exists to serve the state.

Athens North of Sparta Under aristocracy wealthy got wealthy while the ordinary people suffered. Simple professions were losing money. Farmers: some had to sell land; some sold themselves and their families to pay their debts.

Athens shifted to a democracy Athens shifted to a democracy *After clashes with aristocrats and common people Athens jumped to their democracy. Only free males counted as citizens Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded Women had little to do with city life Girls received no education Boys attended school, received military training, athletic competition Boys were encouraged to explore their options

Solon (594 BC)- given full power to run the government. Fighting broke out again and Solon left Tyrants soon won support Pisistatus: became the 1st tyrant in Athens (546 BC) Helped the peasants Cleisthenes- set up the Council of 500- proposed laws and counseled the assembly. Made the assembly a genuine legislature.

Forces of Unity Spoke the same language Common festivals Prayed the same gods Same ancient heroes Temples and festivals Non-Greeks-outsiders were called Barbarians people that didn’t speak Greek.

Greeks were polytheistic. Gods lived on Mt. Olympus Zeus-king of the Gods. Aphrodite-goddess of love Ares-god of war Athena-goddess of wisdom, also Athens was named after her.