Ancient Greece

section 1GEOGRAPHY Mountainous peninsula Rugged terrain, limited farming Communication & transportation difficult Hard to unite cities, cut-off from each other Local rivalries, resisted outsiders Herders, farmers, fishermen, and traders. Had olive oil & wine. Needed wheat & grain Led to frequent wars between cities Traders and sailors borrowed ideas from other cultures

Earlier societies in the Aegean Sea Minoan civilization Crete 2000 – 1400 BC Major trading power Named for legendary King Minos Temple at Knossos – no defensive walls; frescoes Destroyed by invaders from Greece, then forgotten Achean civilization borrowed from the Minoans Invade Greece from the north By 1400 BC in control of Aegean Sea Unite under king of Mycenae to attack Troy. The Iliad and Odyssey written by Homer ca. 750 BC

In a famous episode of Homer's Odyssey, the hero Odysseus encounters the Cyclops Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon and Thoosa.HomerOdysseyOdysseusPolyphemusPoseidonThoosa

Acheans downfall Greece is invaded by the Dorians who have iron weapons. A ”Dark Age” in Greek history where writing and artistic skills are largely forgotten. Poverty, backwardness but not total collapse. Many Greeks emigrate to Asia Minor. Establish Greek colonies. Spread of Greek language, culture, ideas and goods.

The Greek City-States During the Dark Ages some villages prospered, grew into towns and then became independent city-states. Much rivalry! Athens and Sparta become leading city-states. Polis: fortified hilltop with surrounding fields Acropolis: fortress on this hilltop,where people gathered. Life revolved around the acropolis.

Forms of government Monarchy (Dark Ages) - a king rules the polis. Power comes through leadership in war. Aristocracy (800 BC) – wealthy noble families use their power as landowners to challenge the monarch. Wealth also comes from trade with Greek colonies. Oligarchy = power rests within small, dominant group. Trade prospers and money economy gives rise to strong merchant class.

Aristocracy is challenged by: Citizen-soldiers, wealthy merchants – resent exclusion from power. Lower-classes - Revolts break out against debt- slavery. Tyranny (500 BC) government by an individual (tyrant) who seizes power by force. Not necessarily negative. Popular leaders. Democracy – government by the citizens. Athens is first. Every free-born man over age 20 has right to vote in Athenian assembly.

Strong common identity All Greeks used the name Hellenes to describe themselves. (barbaroi = outsiders) Worshipped the same gods and celebrated same festivals, such as the Olympic games.

Shrines, like the Oracle of Apollo at delphi, were protected by neighboring city-states.

Athens becomes the leading city-state A) Beginning 490 BC: King Darius (son of Cyrus) leads the Persian forces in an attack on Athens. Battle of Marathon: Despite being outnumbered the Athenians win the battle. According to legend a runner is sent 26 miles (42 km) to Athens to deliver the news of victory. Athens begins to build a strong navy to defend itself against further Persian attacks, but also to dominate trade Several Greek city-states form an alliance and choose Sparta to lead against another Persian invasion. B) 480 BC Battle of Salamis Persians under King Xerxes (son of Darius) land in Greece and expect easy victory, but the Athenian navy destroy most of the Persian fleet. Remaining Persian forces are defeated a year later. C) Result of Persian Wars 1. Persian army retreats to Asia Minor, never to invade Greece again. 2. Victory for Greeks due to Athenian navy. Athens emerges as leading city-state in Greece.

Golden Age of Athens BC Delian League – defensive alliance between Greek city-states. Athens is the leader and dictate policy, command navy and collect tribute. Athens prospers and establishes its empire. Under the leadership of Pericles Greek culture blooms! Beautifies the city, exhibits its glory. Parthenon atop the Acropolis (temple to Athena) Athenians enjoy greatest political freedom ever. This attracts philosophers, poets and artists. Athens becomes the “school of Greece”. It is a time of great intellectual and artistic achievement. Democracy is at its peak, but it is not perfect! Citizens are a minority.

Athenian democracy Citizen = free, native born Athenian men who at age 18 swear an oath to defend Athens and then complete 2 years of military training. Women, foreigners and slaves are excluded. A citizen could attend Assembly and vote and hold any political office. However most offices were held by aristocrats. Athens had a direct democracy. Compare to our representational democracy. Athenian democracy became an inspiring model for other Greek city- states, as well as other future democratic governments with the ideas: That the state exists for the good of the citizens Every citizen is expected to serve and to vote That “the people” were “the government”

Peloponnesian Wars and Downfall of Athenian Empire Resentment of other Greek city-states toward Athens. These other city-states form an alliance called the Peloponnesian League. It is headed by Sparta. 431 BC: Open conflict between Athens and Corinth (member of Peloponnesian league) which spreads to all of Greece and goes on for 27 years. Result: Athens surrenders. Sparta with help of Persian navy is the victor. 404 BC - End of Athenian political dominance but remains cultural center of Greece.