1. Greek Art and Philosophy
Goals:
Examine early Greek culture as demonstrated through their art and architecture
2. Summarize the different philosophies of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle

2. Greek Alphabet
Adopted from Phoenicians (founded Carthage) Merchants had to keep record of their transactions and inventories They needed something fast and accurate – developed a writing system where symbols represented sounds – one symbol = one sound They spread their writing system around the region through their trading – many of their trading partners adopted the system (Greeks) The spread of the Phoenician alphabet is a long lasting contribution to modern world

3. Early Influences Minoan Culture
-lived on Crete an island in the Agean sea, -dominated trade in the Mediterranean from B.C
Capital City Knossos provides a lot of information
Likely a peaceful people as their cities were not heavily fortified
People were Sailors, Athletic and Artistic
Excellent Potters
Unique Architecture
Frescoes

4. Minoan Culture

6. Minoan Culture cont.

7. Greek Art Geometric - (900-700 B.C.) designs are linear and simple
Succession of styles through time
Geometric - ( B.C.) designs are linear and simple
-mainly pottery, small figurines, architecture = wood or mud bricks
Orientalized - ( B.C.) - heavily influenced by Egypt and Near East not a major era
Archaic - ( B.C.) formation of distinctive “Greek” style
-Pottery: black then red figure painting, temple building: 3 orders, life-size figures with elaborate detail and painted surfaces
Classical- ( B.C.) During the time of the Persian Empire
-vases show perspective, levels and shading, architecture sees stoas and theatres along with Parthenon, mosaics emerge, sculpture finds contrapossto and bas-relief
Hellenistic - ( B.C.) combined Classical Greek and Persian
-Corinthian Order takes the lead and stone arches are invented, Sculpture is very dramatic and full of movement, vases and other paintings show complicated compositions and color schemes, mosaics incorporate glass and cut stone not just pebbles

8. Geometric Period (900-700 B.C.)

9. Orientalizing ( B.C.)

10. Archaic Period
( B.C.)

11. Classical Period
( B.C.)

12. Hellenistic Period
( B.C.)

14. Philosophy
Philosophy is based on 2 assumptions: 1) The universe is put together in an orderly way and subject to natural law 2) People can understand these laws through logic and reason Sophists- a group of philosophers argued that there was no universal standard of truth/law that it was subjective and Man was the determiner – Socrates disagreed

15. 3 Big Hitters
Socrates: - absolute standards for truth and justice -encouraged people to question themselves & their moral character -seen as a “corrupter of Athenian youth” and was tried and condemned to death Plato: -student of Socrates -wrote the Republic – dominated philosophic thought in Europe for 1500 years Aristotle: -created method of arguing based on rules of logic - applied his method to psychology, physics, and biology - taught Alexander the Great

16. Hellenistic Greece – 2 Main Schools of Thought
Stoicism - established by Zeno -Divine power in universe -People should be virtuous and live in harmony with natural law - Vices were dangerous and should be controlled Epicureanism – founded by Epicurus - universe was composed of atoms and ruled by gods who didn’t care about humans -only “real” objects were those perceived by 5 senses -greatest good and highest pleasure were to be virtuous and avoid pain -main goal of humans was to achieve harmony of body and mind -now has taken on meaning of pursuing pleasure but he taught moderation