1 SSWH3 The student will examine the political, philosophical, and cultural interaction of Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE to 400 CE. b. Identify the ideas and impact of important individuals; include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and describe the diffusion of Greek culture by Aristotle’s pupil Alexander the Great and the impact of Julius and Augustus Caesar. c. Analyze the contributions of Hellenistic and Roman culture; include law, gender, and science. d. Describe polytheism in the Greek and Roman world and the origins and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman world.

Greek Culture

The Golden Age of Athens b.c.e. Most of the Greek achievements in the arts and sciences took place in Athens during this time. The Athenian general Pericles rebuilt Athens 3

Athenian Daily Life Men worked in the morning Then attended the Assembly in the afternoon Or exercised in the gymnasium slaves did the heavy work women worked at home or in the market. Upper class went to the symposium Women were not allowed. They discussed literature, philosophy, and public issues. 4

Athenian Daily Life Athenian homes simple A house had two main rooms with several smaller ones around a central courtyard. A dining room for entertaining and frequently had couches. Athenian wives would not join their husbands unless there were no guests.

Aspasia Some freedom became allowed for some classes of women Aspasia invited women into her home and gave advice on home Education and how to gain more freedom. This led to charges of impiety (disloyalty to the gods) She was acquitted

Religion Temples = major buildings in Greek polis. 12 main gods lived on Mnt. Olympus Zeus = chief god Religion did not focus on morality Most spirits went to Hades, regardless of life’s actions.

A Family of Deities Explained why people behaved like they did Why their lives took a certain direction. More than other civilizations, the Greeks humanized their deities The Greeks didn’t fear their gods, Their gods took human form Their gods possessed super-human powers Tried to be like them— strived for excellence Hades and Persephone Zeus

Gods and Goddesses Greeks took features of both Minoan and Mycenaean gods Each community had a patron god or goddess Greeks believed 12 most important deities lived on Mount Olympus (Pantheon) Believed that each controlled a specific part of the natural world, e.g. Zeus, the chief god ruled the sky, weather and thunderstorms Hera and Athena Hera suckling Herakles

Gods and Goddesses Apollo, god of light, drove the sun across the sky every day in his chariot Apollo considered god of prophecy Brought gifts to oracle at Delphi honoring him Asked for hidden knowledge to be revealed Priests and priestesses would interpret Apollo’s answers to questions

Rituals Rituals = religious ceremonies/rites Combined prayers with gifts to the gods Held festivals to honor the gods/goddesses Athletic games held at these festivals All Greeks were invited to these games

The Olympics As Hellenic civilization developed, certain religious festivals became part of Greek life including the Olympic Games Held in city of Olympia “For the greater glory of Zeus” Wars were suspended so that Greeks could participate

Oracles Oracle = sacred shrine where a god/goddess revealed the future thru a priest/priestess Most famous = the Oracle of the god Apollo at Delphi A priestess response was intrepreted by priests and thought to be inspired by Apollo. Modern historians think they were inspired by volcanic gases.

Drama Originated the play Audience around on hillside Told stories and danced to the flute Permanent amphitheaters appeared Drama (a celebration of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility). Comedy: criticized politicians and intellectuals. Entertained and provoked a reaction.

Drama The Tragedies = serious plays or dramas. Presented in a trilogy built around a common theme Oresteia, by Aeschylus, the only complete trilogy remaining today Playwrights: Sophocles: Oedipus Rex Euripides: questioned war, and portrayed them as brutal and barbaric (controversial) Hierapolis, Turkey

Philosophy Philosophy = an organized system of thought. Greek for “love of wisdom” Greek philosophers tried to explain universe on the basis of unifying principles Athens in its golden age was the embodiment of Classical Greece.

Philosophy in Athens Greeks argued philosophy wrote and performed the first great comedies and tragedies developed the concepts of democracy and humanism upon which much of modern society is based.

Socrates Left no writings, his pupils discussed him. Goal of education = improve the individual. Socratic method = question and answer to lead pupils to their own decisions thru own reason. Individual's ability to reason = important concept to Greeks.

Socrates Socrates questioned authority. Accused of corrupting the youth of Athens. Chose death by drinking hemlock instead of exile from Athens. The state—in the form of the city-state—meant everything.

Plato Student of Socrates Considered to be the greatest philosopher of Western Civilization Asked, “How do we know what is real?” Believed that a higher world of eternal Formas have always existed.

Plato The objects we perceive w/our senses are reflections/shadows of ideal Forms. Reality is found in the Forms themselves. Wrote, “The Republic” Did not trust the workings of democracy Divided people into 3 groups

Plato Top = philosophers-kings Middle = warriors to protect society Bottom = everyone else Men and women should have the same education and equal access to all positions Established the school, the Academy

Aristotle Student of Plato Did not accept the concept of ideal Forms Examine objects to perceive their form Did not believe Forms existed in a higher plane Analyzed and classified things. At the Archaeological Museum in Palermo

Aristotle Wrote about: ethics, logic, politics, poetry, astronomy, geology, biology, and physics. Did not try to create an ideal form of government Tried to find the best form of government At the Archaeological Museum in Palermo

Aristotle Wrote, “Politics”, for this he examined 158 states and their constitutions His analysis = 3 good forms of government: Monarchy Aristocracy constitutional Thought constitutional government the best form for most people At the Archaeological Museum in Palermo

Writing History History, as a systematic analysis of past events, was created by the Greeks. Herodotus wrote, “History of the Persian Wars” Considered to be the 1 st real history in west civ. Traveled widely to get his 411 and master storyteller Bellerophon, Pegasus, and Chimera

Writing History Thucydides = greatest historian of ancient world Athenian general who fought in Great Peloponnesian War. Defeat in battle sent him to exile where he wrote, History of the Peloponnesian War. Battle of Centaur and Lapith

Writing History War and politics in human terms Examined the causes and course of the war clearly and fairly Heavily emphasized the accuracy of facts Believed we need to study history to understand the present. Battle of Centaur and Lapith

Ideals of Greek Art Concerned w/expressing eternal ideals Architecture = temple was most important form Parthenon = most famous temple Shows the search for calmness, clarity, and freedom from unnecessary detail. Sculpture ≠ realism, but ideal beauty Heracules and Kyknos