Ancient Greece

1. Ancient Greece

2. Greek Civilization • Many consider as foundation of Western Civilization • Powerful influence on Roman Empire & European Culture • Influenced language, politics, history, educational, philosophy, medicine, drama, art and architecture of the modern world • Shared common traditions & language • Biases of Greek Writers • Arrogant, Athenian & Male

3. The Mediterranean World

4. The Greek World • Mountainous terrain • Many islands • Asia Minor (Ionia) • No city-state could rule all • Each very independent • Colonies spread throughout Mediterranean • Common Hellenic Culture

5. Greece Chronology Mycenaean Civilization 2000-1100 BC “Dark Ages” 1100-900 BC Geometric Period 900-700 BC Archaic Period 700-480 BC Classical Period 480-323 BC Hellenistic Period 323- 31 BC Roman Period in Greece 31 BC – 323 AD Byzantine Period in Greece 323 – 1453 AD

6. Mycenaean Civilization • Bronze Age Greece • Indo-European Greek Speakers • Settled around 2000 BC • Wealthy, hierarchal society • Powerful kings • Agamemnon of Mycenae • Trade throughout Mediterranean • Very warlike • Writing system – Linear B • Adopted from Minoans

7. Greek Alphabet • Used to write the Greek language since about the 9th century BC • First to use separate symbols for each vowel and consonant • Modification of the Phoenician alphabet • Gave rise to Latin alphabet

8. Greek Ideal – The Hero • Arete – highest virtue • Manliness, courage & excellence • Man of action • Pursuit of life of glory • Seize power & glory for oneself • Images and depictions found everywhere in Greek art, literature and mythology • Herakles, Theseus, Odysseus

9. The Trojan War – c. 1250 BC Homer’s poem The Iliad Historical memory Political & economic competition in the Aegean Sea Stories believed to be authentic history by Greeks Part of common Greek heritage & identity Tremendous impact on Greek culture Personalities in literature, art & philosophy Discovery of Troy Heinrich Schliemann - 1871

10. Homer • Legendary early Greek poet • Credited with the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey • Assumed 8th century BC - Ionia • Debate: Real person or name given to one or more oral poets who sang traditional epic material • Name means “hostage” • Homeric poems are the product of an oral tradition • Iliad and Odyssey underwent standardization and refinement out of older material beginning in the 8th century BC • Production of a canonical written text.

11. “Dark Ages” 1100-900 BC • Fall of Mycenaean Civilization • General disruption throughout Mediterranean • Invaders from north – Dorian Greeks • Cities abandoned • No writing from time

12. Geometric Period 900-700 B.C. • Greek polis "city-state" develops • Athens, Corinth, and Sparta • Expansion into Ionia • Artistic output - painted pottery • Rise of trade • Olive oil, wine, pottery • Colonies established in Italy, Sicily & elsewhere • Development of Greek writing • Greek alphabet adapted from Phoenician • Homer – Iliad & Odyssey • Become widely circulated

13. Polis (Poleis) • Independent City-State • Intense loyalty of citizens • Develop autonomous traditions • Own form of government • Artistic styles • Founding myths • Acropolis – fortified high ground • Agora – marketplace • Temple

14. The Archaic Period 700-480 BC • Individual city-states and their colonies prosper • Development of centers of political, religious, philosophic and artistic achievement • Many cities ruled by “tyrants” • strong-willed men who rule, not by constitutional authority, but by popular support • Monumental sculpture, stone temple architecture, & civic building programs

15. Olympics • Share common culture • Founded in 776 BC at Olympia in southern Greece • Pan-Hellenic contests every four years • Opportunity to display heroic qualities & civic pride • Contests- running, chariot racing, boxing, wrestling • Laurel wreath to the victor • As many as 40,000 gather at games from throughout Greece

16. Greek Colonies • Population grew beyond the capacity of its limited arable land • About 750 BC began 250 years of expansion • Independent city-states found colonies • Colonies not politically controlled by founding cities • Often retained religious and commercial links • Aegean coast of Asia Minor colonized first • Albania, Sicily,southern Italy,south coast of France, Corsica, northeastern Spain • Colonies were founded in Egypt, Libya and the Ukraine • Polis became the basic unit of government • All aspects of Greek culture continued

17. Greek Colonies

18. Warfare City-States constantly at war with each other Hoplites • Army of infantrymen • Citizen soldiers for Polis • Supplied own weapons – 60-70 pounds • Fought in phalanx - impenetrable • Surrounded by family & friends Strict rules of warfare - honor • War defined as challenge between two armies • Quick decisive battles • Exchange of dead after battle • Winner annexes land

19. Sparta Militaristic state – totalitarian • Opposite of Athens • Ruthless expansionists • Conquered all surrounding areas Practiced selective breeding Brought up from birth to be soldiers • Lives structured around discipline and war • Barracks center of life for men • Few possessions except for weapons • Spartans were forbidden non-military pursuits and occupations • Wealth derived from property Periokoi – conquered peoples of region • Worked as traders, craftsmen, & artists Helots – serfs worked the land • Required to pay half of output to owner

20. The Persian Wars 490 – 480 BC • Invasion of mainland Greece by the Persians in 490 BC – Darius I • Battle of Marathon – Victory led by Athens • 480 BC - Xerxes I sent more powerful force by land • Battle of Thermopylae • Delayed by Spartans • Athens captured & burned • Battle of Salamis • Athenian leader Themistocles • Persians defeated by Athens navy • Persian army defeated at Plataea

21. Classical Period 480-323 BC • Period of greatest cultural achievement • Literature, drama, philosophy & arts flourish throughout the Greek world • Period of wealth & power for Athens – naval power • Trireme • Statesmen Pericles leads Athens to glory • Empire through Delian League • Democratic reforms • Great building program • Parthenon & Acropolis rebuilt

22. Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) War between Athens and Sparta & their allies Lasted 27 years Very destructive & brutal Chronicled by Thucydides Cause - resentment of Sparta and its allies at the dominance of Athens over Greek affairs Athens naval power Sparta land power War of attrition Athens retreated behind long walls Sparta ravages country-side Both side win battles Athens defeated by Sparta in 404 BC Term of defeat - Athens lost her city walls, her fleet, and all of her overseas possessions

23. Greek Religion • Tolerance for religious diversity • No "dogma" or "theology" in the Greek tradition • No single truth or code • Produced no sacred, written text like the Bible or the Qur’an • Different cities worshipped different deities • Many cult centers • No single true way to live in dealing with the gods • Individuals had a great deal of autonomy in dealing with the gods • Unclear lines between divinity and humanity • Religious ideas continued to develop over this time

24. Greek Religion • Virtues fostered by Greek religion were chiefly respect for the gods • Seek to understand their will • Temples were home of the diety • Cult image revered • Variety of rituals and local festivals • Must be performed correctly • Most widespread public act of worship was sacrifice • Grain or animal offered • Votive gifts were offered to the gods by worshippers • Temples become treasurers

25. Greek Mythology • Mythology formed a central reference point in Greek society • Interwoven with ritual and other aspects of social existence • Stories about the origins and actions of Greek divinities varied widely • Depended on where the tale appeared • comedy, tragedy or epic poem • Greek gods resembled human beings in their form and in their emotions • Lived in a society that resembled human society in its levels of authority and power • Crucial difference existed between gods and human beings: Humans died, and gods were immortal • Heroes also played an important role • Stories about them conveyed serious themes • Felt connected to human heroes from the past

26. Purposes of Greek Myths 1. Explained the world • Lent structure and order to the world • Origin of current state of things • Pandora released diseases & miseries upon world • Origin of rituals - Prometheus outwits Zeus in first sacrifice 2. Exploration of human emotions and moral behavior • Examining contradictions and ambiguities • Explore social questions by placing them, in extreme and exaggerated form

27. Purposes of Greek Myths 3. Provided authority and legitimacy • Myths were regarded as history rather than allegory • Gave authority to a claim, an action, or a relationship • City-states and aristocratic families often traced their ancestry back to the heroes or gods • Validation of the identity and culture of individual communities 4. Provided entertainment • Public performances of drama were hugely popular

28. Delphi • Dates to 1400 BC – one of oldest sites in Greece • Phythia - Oracle of Apollo • Gave advice on decisions from personal problems to fates of cities • Visitors required to pay a fee based on the importance of the question • Inquire on what course of action should be taken • Obscure answers very difficult to interpret • Sacred spring at site • Hugely popular appeal for its beauty • became extremely rich

29. Athenian Democracy • “Democracy” - “rule by the people” Solon – reformer • start of 6th cen. • Sought to limit oppression of poorest Athenians • Abolished debt and debt slavery • Ended aristocracy’s monopoly on public affairs • Gave all citizens right to appeal decisions of judicial officials

30. Athenian Democracy • 508 BC – revolt against oppression of tyrant by ordinary people • Cleisthenes called from exile & asked to build government • Established world’s first democracy • Gave citizens say in government • Designated citizen’s assembly • Assembly to meet every nine days • Instituted simple vote – yes or no • Organized citizens into ten tribes • Created new Council of 500 • People to decide on all issues • Ordinary Greeks could be heroes in politics

31. Athenian Democracy • Reforms of Ephialtes – 462 – 461 BC • Curbed power of Areopagus – ancient aristocratic council (ex-Archons) • transferred powers to Court, Council of 500 & Assembly • Archonship – Highest office • Extended to more citizens • 9 appointed each year • Council of 500 – chosen by lot from all citizens over 30 years old • Sets agenda for Assembly • 50 from each tribal unit • Assembly – Ecclesia – all adult male citizens • Votes on legislature presented by Council • People’s Court of Appeal • Selected by lot

32. Athenian Democracy Ostracism • Once a year - vote to expel one person who was seen as threat • Themisticles - regarded as having gained too much power after war with Persia Citizenship • Males only • Required land ownership • Large number of small farmers – each had a limited voice in public affairs • Not extended to foreigners, women or slaves • Hoplites – citizen soldiers • Required to serve in military

33. Judicial System in Athens • Communities established system of impartial judges to keep vendettas from developing • Armed men ready to defend their honor • Trivial quarrels turn violent & lead to more blood • Third parties need to resolve disputes to stop cycle • By early 6th cen. BC – citizens chosen by lot & sworn to render impartial verdicts • Jurors sat in panels of 500, 1000, 1500, even 6,000 once • Called dikastai or judges • Collective opinion was final • Jurors sworn en masse once a year • Jurors voted after listening to both prosecution & defense • Simple majority determined verdict – tie to the defendant

34. Judicial System in Athens More formal system enacted in early 4th cen. BC • Eligibility requirements – male, at least 30, free of public debt • Jury divided into sections and given identification tags • Jurors swore oath Efforts to prevent corruption in courts • Random selection based on name tags • Elaborate precautions to safeguard fairness • Assigned seating • Even representation of tribes Trials could last no longer than a day • Water clock monitored length of time prosecution, defense, witnesses and accused could speak • Jurors voted with disks either for acquittal or conviction at end of day • No deliberation among jurors

35. Women in Greek Society Society dominated by men • Few opportunities outside home • Wife's duty to bear legitimate children and manage the household • Expected to remain inside her home except for rare occasions • Athenian philosophers believed that women had strong emotions and weak minds  • Had to be protected from themselves  • Pandora • Could not own property Guardianship system • Kyrios (guardian) - either her closest male birth-relative or her husband • Controlled everything about her life

36. Women in Greek Society Marriage • Management & preservation of property • Production of children as future care-givers & heirs • Arranged by families based on dowry • Unveiling of the bride at wedding • Men around age 30 • Girls around age 14-15 • Want to ensure virginity • Unlikely to produce deep love • Husbands could pursue relationships outside of home • Wives expected to remain completely faithful

37. Women in Greek Society Religion - only way of influencing public affairs by wives of citizens • Could attend festivals of specific cults that were open to woman - Maenids • Important priestesses & goddess cults • Priestess of Athena & Oracle of Delphi could influence public affairs Courtesans - hetaera • Most privileged women - very accepted • Could attend male parties – symposium • Often of foreign origin Sparta - Women were more independent than in other Greek societies

38. Sappho- Poetress from Lesbos • 7th cen. BC • Aristocratic background • Island of Lesbos • Reputation for excessive sexual behavior • Came to denote female homosexuality • Taught circle of girls • Wrote love poetry to women • Writes of love lost

39. Homosexuality • Men expected to spend most of time with other men because of defined roles • Bisexuality accepted • Men expected to have successful heterosexual lives • Excessiveness & effeminacy discouraged • Homosexual relationships mainly Pederastic – boy & older man • Encouraged, ritualized & facilitated by gathering places like the gymnasium • Relationship last from age 12 to 20 • Arranged by male friends • Generally with one mentor • About initiation and domination • Mature into life-long useful friendships • Adult male relationships rare • Seen as rebellion against society • Gods have homosexual relations • Apollo has 19 males lovers • Zeus & Ganymede

40. Slavery Property of their masters rather than citizens of Greece Major role in ancient Greek civilization • domestic servants • factory workers • shopkeepers • mineworkers • farm workers • ship's crewmembers • police force • clerks at the treasury office Different ways to become a slave • born into slavery • taken prisoner in war • sell family member Treated differently depending upon what their purpose was

41. History Herodotus of Halicarnassus - 480-429 BC • World's first true historian – Chronicled Persian War • Insatiable curiosity – Traveled throughout the world interviewing people about current & recent events • Attached great importance to truthfulness • Blended oral and written styles in his history • Showed curiosity, consideration and respect for other cultures • Contains ethnographic descriptions of peoples, fairy tales, gossip & legends Thucydides – 460-395 BC, former Athenian general • “History of the Peloponnesian War” • Offers an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms of war • Tries to remain objective, but can’t hide personal judgment Xenophon - 430-354 BC, Athenian historian • Takes up where Thucydides left off • Lacks objectivity and veracity often in question

42. Philosophers Thales of Miletus (6th cen. BC) • Provide give rational explanations for physical phenomena • Idea to look for deeper causes was the true beginning of philosophy and science Socrates • Leader in revolution in thinking • Spent life questioning assumptions • Rejected conventional wisdom • Examine all issues rationally through dialogue • Search for universal truths • Use reason and logic to study people • Group of youthful followers – Plato, Xenophon • Tired & executed (d. 399 BC) • Charged with undermining youth and corrupting public morals • Becomes great hero after death

43. Philosophers Plato (427–347 BC) • Writer of philosophical dialogues - Socrates' point of view • Founder of the Academy in Athens • Lectured on politics, ethics, metaphysics, & epistemology • Themes in dialogues: • best possible form of government • role of heredity & the environment on human intelligence & personality • distinction between knowledge and true belief Aristotle (384 BC –322 BC) • Student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great • Wrote books on physics, poetry, zoology, logic, rhetoric, politics, government and biology • One of the few figures in history who studied almost every subject possible at the time

44. Medicine • Greek physcians first to separate medicine from supernatural • Diseases have natural causes which can be known • First known medical school opened in Cnido in 700 BC • Practice of observing patients first established • Alcmaeon, author of the first anatomical work Hippocrates, c.460-377 BC • Father of modern medicine • Established his own medical school at Cos • Emphasized four main aspects of medical care: • observation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment • Hippocratic Corpus contains the core medical texts of school • Hippocratic Oath implies that a group of professional physicians are bound by a strict ethical code. Asclepius - God of healing • Asclepieion – Healing sanctuaries all over Greek world

45. Theater • Theater in every major Greek city • Home of popular entertainment • Drama starts during Athens age of tyrants • Encourage Athenian patriotism • Contest for reciting famous stories at Pan-Athenaic festival First theatrical productions - Athens Dionysus festival • Athens Theater of Dionysus built about 500 BC • Initially a single actor accompanied by a chorus of singers • All wore masks – allowed actors to play multiple roles • All male cast – played female roles • 472 BC – oldest play “The Persians” by Aeschylus • Aeschylus – added second actor • Sophocles – added third actor • Plays sponsored by wealthy patrons • Very noisy audiences

46. Theater Tragedy • stories of great men falling from heights • Athenians invented an art form that confronts unpleasant truths head-on • Played out such deadly myths as the Trojan War, murder among families, and Oedipus • Tragedies concerned with social and political problems – raise important civic questions: • What makes a good leader? • Should citizens resist illegitimate authority? • How can a society develop fair laws and administer justice equitably? • How should society treat women, slaves, and immigrants? • What can we learn from the excesses and failures of others? Comedy – look at the lighter side of life

47. Pottery • The Vase - great artistic legacy • Pottery made for everyday use, not for display - drinking & storage • Freshness & naturalness to art • Potters not a respected profession • factories in Athens prostitute district • tried to outdo each other other • Corinth & Athens dominate trade • Pottery exported all over the Greek world • Many mass-produced & low quality • Greek pottery frequently signed by the potter, not artist

48. Pottery Pottery Types: • amphorae • kraters (bowls for mixing wine & water) • hydria (water jars) • Kylix – wine cup • libation bowls, jugs Historical styles • Protogeometric from about 1050 BC • Geometric from about 900 BC • decorated with abstract designs • Black Figure from tearly 7th century BC • red and white details and incising for outlines and details • Red Figure from about 530 BC • pots being painted black & the figures painted in red

49. Sculpture • Marble & Bronze • Human form the most important subject for artistic endeavour • Gods in human form • No distinction between the sacred & secular in art • Immensely influential on Western art • Renaissance • Classical revival • Little has survived, mostly in Roman copies • Sculpture not merely for artistic display • Public memorials, temples, grave markers, decorative friezes

50. Sculpture Archaic Period • Most important sculptural form was the kouros • Standing male nude • Very stiff in posture Classical Period • Revolution in statuary • Poses more naturalistic • Technical skill greatly increases • 500 BC - statues began to depict real people • Funeral statuary - highly personal family groups • Know names of individual sculptors • Phidias (Parthenon), Praxiteles