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Ancient Greece. Greek Geography. It is about the size of Louisiana It’s very close to Egypt, the Persian empire (includes Turkey) and Rome. Greece is a peninsula surrounded by islands Peninsula – land surrounded by water on three sides. Greek Geography. Greece is very mountainous
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GreekGeography It is about the size of Louisiana It’s very close to Egypt, the Persian empire (includes Turkey) and Rome. Greece is a peninsula surrounded by islands Peninsula – land surrounded by water on three sides
Greek Geography • Greece is very mountainous • Greek communities often developed independently and were isolated because of the mountains • As a result, Greek communities were very diverse (different)
Impact of Geography • City-states developed independently (separately), having different traditions, economies, political systems • This independence resulted in rivalry and warfare • Mountains led to isolation, which kept the city-states small • Small city-states resulted in more people being involved in government
Technology results from necessity • Technology - using knowledge to make tools or materials to produce goods and services • Because Greek coastal cities were sandwiched between the ocean and the sea, they developed an awesome navy for trading and fighting. • Trade and colonization of nearby islands resulted.
THE MINOANS • Minoans-early civilization on island of Crete • Called Minoans after King Minos • Success was based on trade • Rulers lived in palace at Knossos • Walls covered with frescoes • the first Greek-speaking people of whom we have a written record. • By 1400 BC Minoan civilization disappears • May have been a natural disaster • Invaders probably played a role • These invaders were Mycenaeans
Mycenaean Society • The Mycenaeans established a society on the Greek peninsula beginning with migrations in 2200 B.C.E. • From 1500 to 1100 B.C.E., they expanded their influence beyond the Greek peninsula, overpowering the Minoan society in Crete
Polis = City-State • Greece was divided into city-states, each known as a polis. • Each polis was built around an acropolis, a hill with the temple of the local god at the top. • At the foot of the acropolis was the agora, an open area used as a marketplace.
By 700 B.C. this inner part of the polis had become a city. With the villages and farmland around it, it made up a city-state. The ancient Greek city-states never united because the mountains made travel difficult. The two main city-states were Athens and Sparta. Structure of the Polis
Architecture • Architecture – the designing of buildings, furnishings, and other artificial constructions • The architecture of ancient Greece is the basis for virtually all Western architectural developments
Influence of Greek Architecture The Parthenon The Lincoln Memorial
Greek Government • Kings (tyrants) ruled the city-states of early Greece. • Later each city-state developed its own form of government. • In some city-states the aristocracy shared authority with the king. • In other city-states democracies were formed and male citizens took part in assemblies to make laws. • Why did different city-states form different types of government?
Athens • Athenians were encouraged to engage in activities like art, philosophy, music (education).
Athens • Athens was the first democracy. • Democracy: type of government ruled by the people • Athens was a direct democracy where people voted on everything. • Citizens were encouraged to participate in government. • The U.S. today is a representative (indirect) democracy, where we vote for people to make decisions for us.
Athenian Democracy • Direct participation was the key to Athenian democracy. • In the Assembly, every male citizen was not only entitled to attend assemblies as often as he pleased but also had the right to debate, offer amendments, and vote on proposals. • Every man had a say in whether to declare war or peace. • Basically any thing that required a government decision, all male citizens were allowed to participate in.
This is Sparta! • No really…it’s in ruins • Sparta was an isolated city-state that was culturally and politically different from Athens. • Sparta was an oligarchy, government ruled by a few. They had 2 kings. • During the Peloponnesian War Sparta sacked Athens.
Sparta • Spartan society was obsessed with war. • Boys were sent to military school at a young age. • Boys who are born deformed are left to die on mountainsides
Sparta: Society • In theory, all Spartans citizens were equal • To discourage economic and social classes, Spartans practiced a simple, plain lifestyle • No jewelry, elaborate clothes, luxuries, or accumulation of great private wealth • Even today, “spartan” means - Practicing great control - Unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment - Resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity
Sparta: Society • Class distinctions based not on wealth or social status, but on prowess, discipline, and military talent • Spartan educational system cultivated this idea: • Boys left their homes at age seven to live in military barracks under a rigorous regime of physical training • At age 20 they went into the military where they served until retirement
Sparta: Society • Women married at age 18 or 20 but did not live with their husbands • The men stayed in the barracks until about age 30 when they began to set up households with their wives and children • Women maintained strict physical regimes in the hopes of bearing strong children
Spartan Government • Sparta had 2 kings - oligarchy • Kings had little authority except in war • Each king was part of a 30 member senate (all 60 years or older) • All male citizens were allowed to participate in the assembly • 5 wealthy landowners were elected to handle daily governing (euphors)
The Persian Wars • Persian leader Darius I upset at Athens sends ships to invade Greece at Marathon • Greece defeats the larger Persian force but decides to build a fleet of ships after the victory • 480 B.C. Darius I son Xerxes leads a massive force to try and conquer Greece
Persian Wars • This time Athens persuades other city-states to help in the cause • Sparta sends troops to intercept at Thermoplyae • Xerxes reaches Athens and burns it to the ground… • Athens trapped Xerxes fleet into the harbor of Salamis • Athens wins the Persian War
BATTLE FORMATION Greeks used the phalanx formation in battle to protect themselves and strike opponents easily
The Peloponnesian War • The Golden Age of Athens • Delian League • Sparta grows tired of Athenian dominance • Athens vs. Sparta • Athens has geographical disadvantage because of their reliance on their Navy
Review – Venn Diagram Athens Sparta
Limited Democracy Outlawed debt slavery Allowed grants of citizenship to some foreigners Merchants and Farmers Traded with other city-states Boys received education if their families could not afford it Education included many areas of knowledge Monarchy with two kings Military society Boys trained to be soilders Women could inherit property Conqured people became state-owned slaves (POWs) Only native-born Spartan males could be citizens Looked down on trade Isolated itself from other city-states Review – Venn Diagram Athens Sparta
Athens/Sparta Similarities • Common language • Shared religious beliefs • Sense of superiority over non-Greeks
Socrates • No personal writings • His student Plato wrote about Socrates’ teachings • He believed the goal of education was to improve the individual, so accepted no pay • Socratic method still used today – a Question/Answer format • Believed real knowledge already within us • “The unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates • He questioned authority – in conflict with government and was forced to drink hemlock, a poison (death sentence)
Plato • Student of Socrates • Plato wrote a lot about the question of reality • He wrote The Republic • Examined his distrust of democracy • A just life means philosophers become kings, the warriors protect the people, the masses were the producers • Believed men and women were equal
Aristotle • Student of Plato • Established a school called the Academy • Believed observation and investigation is key • People should analyze existing governments to find best one • Wrote Politics and discussed the best forms of government as monarchy, aristocracy, and constitutional government (his favorite)
Greek Writing • Homer • Wrote epics: a long poem which tells a story involving gods, heroes, and heroic exploits • Iliad: Greek perspective on the war against Troy in the 12th Century B.C. • Odyssey: Experiences of the Greek hero Odysseus as he sailed home after the Trojan War • Depicted not just heroic adventures but also much about Greek travel, communication, and interaction in the Mediterranean basin
Greek Writing • Herodotus (484-420 B.C.) • The “Father of History” • Not the world’s first historian, but the first to make investigation the key to history • Traveled to where the event occurred and interviewed witnesses • Established the concept that history requires research • The Histories chronicles Greece’s war with Persia
Greek Decline • The Greeks began to lose their sense of community and fought with one another. • In 338 B.C. Philip II of Macedonia north of Greece (Alexander the Great’s father) conquered Greece.
Persian Empire Politics: “King of Kings” & satraps Economics: trade, tribute, taxes Military: 10,000 Immortals Religion: Zoroastrianism Often seen through Greek eyes….
“King of Kings” Cyrus (559-530 BC) Cambyses (530-525 BC) Darius (521-486 BC) Xerxes (486-465 BC) King Darius
Persepolis Persepolis Darius I began the elaborate citadel; his son, Xerxes, continued its construction; and his grandson, Artaxerxes I, completed the magnificent city of Persepolis, which was a confluence of styles--Median, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek. Only portions of the audience hall remain. (George Holton/Photo Researchers, Inc.)
Persian military 10,000 Immortals Meritocracy Very large army Cataphracts = Persian knight
Persian economy Gold daric & silver shekels standardized Royal Road: 1700 miles from Sardis to Susa “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness…” (Herodotus) International trade
Silver rhyton Silver rhyton This Achaemenid Persian silver rhyton (drinking vessel) is in the shape of a griffin, a mythological animal that is part lion and part eagle. Persian rulers commanded the talents of western Asia's best artists and craftsmen, silversmiths among them. (Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum)
Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions. It was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster in Persia approximately 3500 years ago. For 1000 years Zoroastrianism was one of the most powerful religions in the world. It was the official religion of Persia from 600 BCE to 650 CE. Zoroastrians believe there is one God called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) and He created the world. Zoroastrians are not fire-worshippers, as some Westerners wrongly believe. Zoroastrians believe that the elements are pure and that fire represents God's light or wisdom.
Stone relief of Persian Magi Stone relief of Persian Magi This stone relief from Dascylium, headquarters of the Persian governor in northwest Anatolia, shows two magi wearing veils over their mouths and holding bundles of sticks used in the ceremony of sacrifice. The Persian kings and their subordinates were Zoroastrians, and it is likely that Zoroastrianism spread to the provinces, where significant numbers of Persians lived, and influenced the beliefs of other peoples. (Archaeological Museums of Istanbul)
