1. Hellenistic Civilization
BCE

2. More info:

3. In your opinion, what is the condition of democracy in the United States?
It is very healthy, working as it should be
It is significantly flawed, but certainly nothing to be overly concerned about
I am worried that it is incurably dysfunctional
I have no opinion, or I have not really thought about it.

4. What can we learn about by studying democracy in Athens?
Not much; it was too different.
Maybe a little, but the plays are not a useful source.
A fair amount; we have many of the same problems that the Athenians faced.
I do not know. I have not had time to read the material.

5. Discuss Aristophanes
What issues did the plays reveal with the dysfunction of Athenian democracy?
How did Aristophanes’ plays cater to the interests and needs of his audience?
What did you make of the sex strike in Lysistrata?

6. Discuss Lysistrata How did the play depict the Spartans?
Women
Men
Was Lysistrata a radical?
How does this play reflect Athens’ situation in the war?

7. How did Lysistrata begin?
With Lysistrata calling a meeting women to discuss ending the war
With Lysistrata packing her bags and leaving her husband
With a prophecy from the Delphic oracle that the women of Athens will end the war
With Pericles commending the women for supporting the war

8. In what field did the Greeks have the most significant impact?
Philosophy
Politics
Physics
Religion
Something else

10. Septuagint c. 200 BCE

11. Discuss the Septuagint & Greek Influence
What were the implications of translating the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek?
What were the implications of the Macedonians and Greeks’ conquest of the Persian empire?
What was the relationship of the Greeks to the Romans in politics and culture?

12. The Ancient Greeks Dark Age: 1200-800 BCE Archaic Age: 800-500
Classical Age:
Hellenistic Age:
Alexander the Great & the pre-Roman Mediterranean

14. Military Might of
Athens and Sparta
at the Beginning
of the War c. 330

17. Course of the War

22. Mediterranean Basin c. 350 BCE

23. Achilles inspired the conquests of Alexander the Great

24. Conquests of Alexander the Great

25. Alexander and Darius at Issus

27. Conquests of Alexander the Great

28. The Hellenistic Kingdoms 323-30 BCE

29. Alexandria founded 331 BCE

31. By Oliver-Bonjoch - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10341365

32. Reconstruction (in Istanbul) of Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

33. Sculptures from the classical period tended to depict idealized versions of the male form.

35. Women in Hellenistic Society

36. Euclid BCE

37. Aristarchus of Samos 310-230 BCE Heliocentric model of universe
Incorrectly measured distance to the sun using mathematics and geometry

38. Eratosthenes Geographer Astronomer

39. Eratosthenes Map

40. Tropic of Cancer – 500 miles from Alexandria

42. The angle of the shadow at Alexandria at Summer solstice was 1/50th of a circle

43. Archimedes of Syracuse 287-212 BCE

44. Archimedes Heat Ray

45. Epicurus 341-270 BCE Materialist but not really a hedonist

46. The Roman poet Lucretius (99-55 BCE) Our main source for Epicurean philosophy

47. Zeno of Citium 334-262 Founder of Stoicism

48. Marcus Aurelius Stoic Philosopher & Roman Emperor 121-180 CE

49. Which Greek philosopher do you find most intriguing?
Plato
Aristotle
Zeno – Stoics
Epicurus
Someone else

50. Which powerful monarchy ultimately united the Greeks around 338 BCE?
Rome
Persia
Egypt
Macedon

51. Septuagint c. 200 BCE

52. The Establishment of Empire
Alexander’s commanders partition the empire into several kingdoms, including
Ptolomeic
Seleucid
Parthian
In order to consolidate their authority, they establish elaborate rituals, assume distinctive attire, and gain control over artistic patronage
little or no criticism of the rulers allowed

53. The Legacy of Alexander
Intensifies urbanization of the eastern Mediterranean
new cities established, such as Alexandria
the architecture & features of the polis established
gymnasia - mental and physical development
theaters - entertainment & dissemination of ideas
councils & assemblies - political discourse and concurrence
literature begins to idealize life in the countryside
The polis functions within the context of royal authority
Greek becomes the common language of the ruling classes and intellectual elite throughout the eastern Mediterranean until the rise of Islam in the seventh century

54. The Legacy of Alexander
Alexandria
one of the great cities of the ancient world; becomes the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt
initially a center of scientific inquiry, particularly in astronomy, mathematics, and physics
home of the greatest library in the ancient world
eventually at the end of the first century CE, it becomes one of the primary cities to attract the diaspora Jews
also becomes one of the great theological centers of early Christianity from BCE
location where the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek: the Septuagint

55. The Legacy of Alexander
The spread of Greek deities and a widespread occurrence of syncretism
Greek culture intermingles with local practices
Slavery becomes widespread and assumes a form harsher than that of the classical polis
Greek speaking women assume a more prominent role in the administration of the Hellenistic kingdoms
Women also become more conspicuous as the authors of poetry and other forms of literature

56. The Legacy of Alexander
Spread of Greek philosophy
Stoicism: public duty, destiny, position in the divine order; between 200 BCE and 200 CE Stoicism becomes very popular among the political and administrative elite of Rome; it promoted equal citizenship for women; questioned the notion of free will; Stoics admired those who could control their passions
Epicureanism: emphasis on individual quest for happiness; not hedonism; challenged Greek emphasis on citizenship; gods have little or no influence on human affairs
Cynicism - meaning ‘like a dog’ the term was coined by their opponents; they rejected conventional aspirations, including wealth and comforts of civilized life

57. Legacy of Alexander
Increased scientific inquiry and technological development
astronomy: heliocentric model of the solar system proposed by Aristarchus; was later discarded for geocentric model
anatomy and the dissection of cadavers
Greeks learn the ancient medical practices of the Near East, including taking pulse to ascertain health
water pump, water clock, light houses
military technology: catapults, siege towers

58. Summary
The conquest of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great provided a political and cultural structure that would survive the Roman imperial conquests of the first century BCE
Greek speaking elite
Greek institutions and traditions, including assemblies, athletic contests, and dramatic presentations, under the control of local kings
highly developed network of cities
use of coinage and establishment of long distance trade
The conquests spread Greek culture throughout the eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia

59. How could Aristophanes have been responsible for Socrates’ death?
Because his reputation was injured by the Clouds
Because Aristophanes testified aginst him
Because Aristophanes brother was his judge
Because, just because