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Explore the early Greeks' legacy as masters of the sea and great shipbuilders, their city-state governments, and the significance of Greek mythology and the Olympic Games.
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Sea and Land • Every part of the mainland was close to the sea. • Many Greeks became sailors, fishers, and traders. • Farming was very difficult because of the hilly terrain. People relied on trade • Their legacy was as masters of the sea and great shipbuilders.
Early Greek Peoples • The Minoans: Named after legendary king of Crete King Minos • Palace in the city of Knossos. They built a great civilization in Knossos. • Had running water, colorful paintings all over walls, carved figures from bronze, gold, ivory, silver, and stone. • They also developed their own form of writing
Why did they end? • In 1628 b.c. a volcano erupted on a nearby island & destroyed many nearby settlements in Crete. • Minoan civilization grew very weak and the Mycenaeans conquered central Crete.
Where did they come from? • The Mycenaean came from the grasslands of southern Russia to the lowlands of Greece. They traded with and learned much from the Minoans. • Adopted many elements of Minoan civilization: Minoan system o writing Linear B • Controlled mainland Greece from 1600 b.c. to about 1200 b.c. • Warring people who grouped themselves in clans or tribes. • Earthquakes and warfare destroyed Mycenaean cities.
City-States • Polis- Greek word for city-state • Covered a small area of land • Population fewer than 10,000 people • Original fort built on an Acropolis (hill) • Agora or marketplace • They loved their Polis and were willing to die for it. • Each Polis formed its own government & laws • Calendar and money
City- States • Examples of forms of governments in City-States • Monarchy: rule by one • Aristocracy: ruled by the nobility • Oligarchy: rule by a few • Democracy: rule by the people
Homeric Age • Iliad written by Homer • Legend of the Trojan war • The Trojan prince Paris fell in love with Helen, the wife of the Mycenaean king. He kidnapped her, taking her to Troy. The Mycenaean's sailed to Troy to get her back. • After ten years of fighting, Odysseus suggested they build a large wooden horse and place their best soldiers in it. Then the rest of the Mycenaean's returned to their ships and sailed away.
When the Trojans saw the horse • The Trojans saw the soldiers leaving, and they thought the horse was a gift and pulled it into the city. Once out of sight, Odysseus turned the ships around and began to sail back toward Troy. During the night, the soldiers inside the horse climbed out, opened the gate and let the returning soldiers into Troy.
What happened. . . • The Mycenaeans killed the king of Troy and burned the city. • Then they returned to their homes with Helen.
Homeric Age • Odyssey written by Homer • Tells what happened after the Trojan war • Adventures of the Mycenaean king Odysseus on his way home from war • Use the word Odyssey to refer to a long journey
The Legacies of Ancient Greece epics architecture theater scientific method democracy Socratic Method tragedy comedy Greek mythology classification philosophy trial by jury Olympics marathon Hippocratic Oath
Religion • Different than earlier civilizations • Looked to religion for 3 things: • Explain nature • Explain the emotions that sometimes cause people to lose self control • Believed religion could bring them certain benefits here and now (ex: long life, good luck, and good harvest) • Not as concerned as other ancient people about what happened after death
Greek Mythology • Myths are stories about gods & goddesses that were used to explain events in nature. 12 Major Gods & Goddesses of Mt. Olympus Poseidon Hades Zeus Hermes Hephaestus Artemis Apollo Hera Ares Aphrodite Demeter Athena
Olympic Games Festival held in Olympia to honor Zeus Every four years - began 776B.C. Olympians swore not to cheat. Called a truce from war Won an olive wreath Winners were heroes.
Olympic Games Foot races Javelin Warrior’s Race Discus Boxing Wrestling Horse Racing Messengers & Trumpeters
Government • Small group of land owners known as Aristocrats came to represent each city-state’s noble class. • Little by little nobles gained more land and more power. • By 700 b.c. nobles in many city-states had overthrown their kings and taken over power. • Over time a new middle class of wealthy merchants emerged and they began to dominate city-states
Government • Hoplites: heavy infantry who carried long spears and who fought in closely spaced rows. • Began to take over….they became more important to the defense of city-states so they began to demand more say in daily government. • Tyrant: someone who illegally took power but had the peoples support • At first they ended the nobles power and promoted trade • Popular Government: Idea that people can and should rule themselves • Developed forms of democracy
Sparta • Invaders from the north conquered much of Peloponnesus (southern Greece) • Conquered people were called Helots (the lowest class in the Spartan society) • Sparta was located in a valley • A strict and highly militarized society
Spartan Society • 3 social groups • Equals: descendents from the invaders. Controlled the city-state. Land was divided equally among these citizens and their families. • Half-citizens: they were free, paid taxes, and served in the army. Had no political power • Helots: lowest group in society. Slaves of the state and Spartans decided how the Helots should work and live. The Spartans constantly had to use force to control the Helots.
Government • Two kings were at the head of the government • One king led the army and the other king took care of matters at home. • Elders: Group of 28 men over the age of 60. • Proposed laws and served on criminal courts. • Assembly: all male citizens over 30 years old. Voted to accept or reject laws proposed by the Elders.
Military Society • Controlled life of citizens from birth to death • Goal was to make every male citizen part of the military machine. • Individualism and new ideas were discouraged. • At age 7 boys left home for a military barracks • Ages 18-20 was strictly training for war • At age 20 they began their military service and could not live at home until they were 30 • Girls also had to be strong and healthy. Received strict physical training and expected to be devoted to the city-state.
Athens • Located on the Attic peninsula one of the least fertile areas in Greece • Sea traders
Athenian Society • Citizens formed top group in • Metics: non-citizens worked as merchants or artisans. Could not take part in government or own land. • Slaves stood at the bottom of society
Government • Aristocratic government: only those who owned land held office. • Citizens Assembly: open to all male citizens but only the first 5,000 who gathered could attend meetings. • Draco: believed to have created Athens first written law code. • Solon: settled the disputes about debt by erasing the debts of the poor and outlawing slavery for debt. • He divided the society into 4 groups based on wealth • 2 richest groups could hold office • Set up a court of citizen jurors
Democracy in Athens • Athens had the first democratic constitution. (A set of rules for how the government should run.) • All men over 20 years old could participate in the Assembly. (The lawmaking group) • Each year 500 names of citizens were drawn to be on the Council of Five Hundred who ran the daily business of Athens.
Government • Peisistratus • Tyrant • Improved Athens economy • Clashed with nobles • After the rule of his sons the nobles returned to power. • Cleisthenes • Seized power and turned into a democracy • Divided into 10 tribes • Council of 500 • Courts became more democratic • Direct democracy
Women • Had no share in public life. Lived a secluded existence • Aristotle saw women as imperfect beings who lacked ability to reason as well as men. • Managed the household • Cared for children • Prepared food • Poorer women worked outside the home, tending to sheep or working as weavers or potters. • They were citizens but could not own or inherit property.
Daily Life • Built magnificent temples and other public buildings • Lived in simple homes: believed that money should be spent on buildings to benefit the entire community • Marriages were very important • Parents always arranged marriages • Girls married at age 13 to 14 • Main purpose of marriage was to have children
Education and Military Service • At age 7 boys came under the care of their Pedagogue • Went everywhere with the boy even school • Boys: went to elementary school and studied reading, writing, grammar, poetry, and, music • Studied to become skilled public speakers • Military training to keep their bodies healthy • Encouraged men to explore many areas of knowledge • Girls received no education except how to care for the household.
Persian Wars • A series of conflicts between Greece and Persia • Darius: Crushed the revolts in Asia Minor. Conquered Thrace and Macedonia. Invaded Greece in 490b.c. (Persian Leader) • Battle of Marathon: Athenians defeated Persians • Xerxes: Led another army fleet into Greece in 480b.c.(Persian Leader) • Persians advanced to Thermopylae where 300 Spartans met them there. • Spartans largely outnumbered, but refused to surrender. Fought until they were all killed.
Persian Wars • Persians marched towards Athens • Themistocles Athens's leader told people to escape city • Xerxes: army entered Athens and destroyed it. • Salamis Strait: Persian navy was larger but Greek ships were more maneuverable. • Greeks sank much of the Persian fleet • Athenians and Spartans joined forces to defeat the Persians. • Ended the Persian Wars
Results • Greek city-states in Asia Minor free from Persian rule • Persian Empire still very powerful • Athens rebuilt their city and entered a period of great cultural achievement • Athens began to create its own empire in the Aegean Sea • Delian League: an alliance of city-states with Athens as the leader. • Delian League not democratic….Athens made all the decisions
The Age of Pericles • General, orator, and statesman • Athens reached its peak in power and wealth • Under Pericles Athens was a Direct Democracy • All male citizens except for the lowest class could hold public office • Officeholders were paid a salary • Office holders chosen by lot • Could serve on Juries • Used the Athenian navy to keep the Persians out of the Aegean Sea. • Brought stability and prosperity to the region
Peloponnesian War • Pericles failed to unite Greece under Athens • Tensions grew between Athens and Sparta • To counter the Delian League Sparta and other enemies of Athens created the Peloponnesian League • War broke out in 431b.c. • Spartans had the stronger army • Sparta invaded the Attic Peninsula • Athens had the better navy • The war continued for 30 years • The struggle even spilled over into the rest of Greek world
Peloponnesian War • Results: • Ended Athenian domination of the Greek World • Greece was politically unstable and Sparta emerged as the leading city-state. • Over time: • Athenian economy eventually revived and Athens was once again the cultural center of Greece • For the next century fighting continued to disrupt the Greek World
