1. Greek Culture and Political Development

2. I. Land of Greece Greece – No place over 50 miles from sea Mountainous Peninsula – Protected – Isolated Small independent communities Geography would make unity a problem – City States never united under one government Seafarers – Fisherman – Traders – Pirates Lots of contacts with others Shared a common language

3. Crete Greece Peloponnesus Sparta Athens Knossos Mycenae

4. II. Minoans Minoans – Crete (see map – previous slide) – 2800 BC Mostly Traders – Land too poor for farming King Minos Knossos – Capital Down fall around 1450 B.C – Invasion – Natural Disaster – Possible Volcano eruption 1628 BC

5. III. Early Greek History Mycenae – 1600 to 1100 BC – Warrior Culture – Agamemnon – commander-in-chief – Mycenae Legends passed on in Greek Epics by Homer Greek Dark Age – very little cultural development – 1100 to 750 BC – Revival starting around 750 BC – Works of Homer 700 BC Illiad & Odyssey Greek Cultural Influences

6. IV. Greek City State Polis – City State => Independent political unit Concept as totally independent of each other but still Greek in nature Many City States existed and were usually small in size Acropolis => located in the center of the city-state Agora – Marketplace

7. V. Growth of Greek City-States Greek Colonies – Spread Greek Culture – Established in Italy, France, Africa Increased Trade Created Wealth Wealthy Merchants developed political power Growth of Democratic Ideals Oligarchies – Power rested with just a few => mainly the wealthy

8. VI. Citizenship in Greece Citizens with Rights Citizens without rights Non-Citizens

9. VII. City-State Government Reign of kings Overthrown by Aristocrats => “Means the Best” Rise of new military techniques – Phalanx Fighting (soldiers lined 8x8) Rise of Tyrants (dictators) – Some would abuse power Rise of Democratic Ideals – 650 BC....

10. VIII. City State of Sparta Sparta – located on Peloponnesus Conquered Neighbors – instead of colonies Spartan Society “Equals” were the descendants of Original Spartans Half Citizens – Taxed, Served in Military, but no Political power Helots (Spartans were outnumbered by the Helots) – Conquered Peoples who were Sparta’s Slaves – > 650 BC Helots revolted. After 30 yrs the revolt was put down. – > This forced Sparta to establish a Military state.

11. IX. Spartan Life Military State => All life in Sparta revolved around the military – society based on total war Led by 2 kings – served as military commanders Council of Elders 28 Men Assembly – Made up of All Equals Military life – Boys went to Barrack life at 7 and stayed until 30. – Active Duty until 60 – Women Encouraged to Raise strong soldiers and future mothers of soldiers.

12. X. Spartan Life Continued Infants were examined and if they were not considered healthy they were taken and left on a hillside to die. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Women – trained to be strong – usually married by the age of 19. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Women had more personal rights and freedom than other Greek women. --------------------------------------------------------------------- They were the head of the household while their husband was away fighting.

13. XI. Spartan Government Oligarchy => Power rested with just a few => mainly the wealthy Little Cultural Emphasis Little Individual Freedom Few Cultural Achievements

14. XII. Athenian Government Athens – part of central Greece call Attica – Stressed public service and education for men. – Boys started school at 7 and graduated at 18. – Studied the following: Arithmetic / Geometry Drawing / Art Music Gymnastic Rhetoric (public Speaking) – Freemen were citizens

15. XIII. Athenian Government Con’t At one point in history Athens had the following types of government: – Oligarchy – Tyranny – Democracy Assembly

16. XIV. Path to Athenian Democracy Development of Written Laws 621 BC – 500 BC Ruled by Tyrants Draco – Draconian Code 621 BC Salon => Freed Debtors Cleisthenes – led Athens to democracy – Divided Athens into 10 Tribes – Each Tribes Selects 50 Men – Council of 500 – General Assembly Direct Democracy – each citizen participate directly in government decisions

17. XV. Life in Classical Athens Large Population – Many Slaves Economy based on Farming and Trade Many Fine Public Buildings Less Extravagant Private Homes Most Parents Arranged Marriages Women had very little power.

18. XVI. Life in Classical Athens Con’t At the age of 18 every man served 2 years in military service. Question: - How did the life of girls compared to boys?

19. XVII. Greek Philosophy Nature of the Universe explained through unifying principles Questions of reality and human existence Thales – 1 st philosopher – Questions about the cosmos Parmenides – Developed rules of logic Democritus – Theory of mater being composed of atoms

20. XVIII. Socrates Belief in the individuals power to reason Question authority – “Know Thyself” Less memorization and more questioning Socratic method - question and discussion Charged with corruption of youth and denial of the gods Socrates executed

21. XIX. Plato – Student of Socrates Dialogue format of writings – Showed prominent Greeks debating the knowledge of the world “The Republic” – The virtuous state – Men and Women as equals The Academy

22. XX. Aristotle – Student of Plato Observation and investigation Scientific investigation Broad academic interests

23. XXI. Greek Drama Created Drama – Action, Dialogue, Conflict, Emotion – Tragedies – Hero, Fate, Outside Events – Defeat Usually because of pride Comedies – Questioned old ideas – Heroes usually solve their problems

24. XXII. Literature Defended Greek Values – Greek play writers Sophocles Euripides Aristophanes Only men performed in the Theater Chorus described the action, scenes and gave commentary

25. XXIII. Literature History – Herodotus Father of History – Thucydides Wrote History of the Peloponnesian Wars

26. XXIV. Greek Art Traits of Greek art – Glorified Humans – Use of Gods and Goddesses – Regular human scenes and people Harmony, balance, order, moderation Beauty and function Art simply of enjoyment

27. XXV. Greek Art The Ideal, Beautiful Human Temples – Example: Parthenon