Transcript of The Greek World Crash Course World History: Perisans and Greeks.
- Slide 1
- The Greek World Crash Course World History: Perisans and
Greeks
- Slide 2
- Take the How Greek Are You Survey Add up your score and check
against the scale.
- Slide 3
- If you scored between 60 and 80 60 80 Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle, Archimedes, and Homer are you best buds! You value
scepticism and have a healthy questioning of authority. You are a
romantic that can see the beauty of all things, even painful or
hurtful things and you emphasize dialogue and discussion rather
than force and action.
- Slide 4
- If you scored between 40 and 60 40 60 You are very much like a
modern person. You are a product of the modern worlds blending and
exposure to other philosophies and experiences. Some of the Greek
ways of thinking are just not possible in a polis the size of
Winnipeg and even less possible in a country the size of Canada so
its understandable you are not totally Greek.
- Slide 5
- If you scored between 20 and 40 20 40 Still somewhat in the
Dark Ages, you are more action oriented and living in the here and
now. You are focussed and efficient and that which does not concern
your daily life does not clutter your attention.
- Slide 6
- If you scored less than 20 0 20 You, sir, are a barbarian. You
live a life of hedonism and action, you are totally in the moment
and you do not worry about the past and even less about the future.
Peter Griffin, Bart Simpson, and Steve-O are more your
philosophical inspirations. Get your finger out of your nose and
open a window cause you are all about the party!
- Slide 7
- The Mediterranean Civilizations Greece and Rome Part 1 The
Greek World
- Slide 8
- Geography Greece rugged rocky terrain, variable rainfall
amounts unpredictable growing conditions Only 10% of land is
arable, and it must be fallowed often. Poor, chalky, acidic soil.
Heavy reliance on the Mediterranean Triad grains, olives, wine
specifically, beans, barley, and wheat.
- Slide 9
- Maritime Culture No place in the islands or the southern
mainland is more than 32 miles from the sea Relatively calm waters
and inlets along the coast make sailing relatively safe and
reliable. This means that trade becomes important. This combination
of terrain, weather, and soil conditions leads to the formation of
separate, small, farming communities that are periodically forced
to trade amongst each other early forms of city-states
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- The history of settlement in Greece can be divided into 8
distinct periods: Stone Age 1000,000 c3500 BCE Early Bronze Age
(Cycladic) c3500 BCE 2000BCE Middle Bronze Age (Minoan) c2000 BCE
1600 BCE Late Bronze Age (Mycenaean) - 1600 BCE 1100 BCE Dark Ages
1100 BCE 700 BCE Archaic Period 700 BCE 480BCE Classical Period 480
BCE 323 BCE Hellenistic Period 323 31 BCE
- Slide 12
- Stone Age Divided into three eras Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and
Neolithic Paleolithic hunting and gathering, no permanent
settlements and stone tools. Mesolithic agriculture begins gradual
formation of permanent settlements Francthi Neolithic agricultural
revolution is complete, permanent settlements begin to form, social
stratification develops, political class is formed, public works
indicate civic organization palaces
- Slide 13
- The Bronze Age There are three dominant Bronze Age cultures
found in ancient Greece: Cycladic 2500 BCE to 1900 BCE Minoan 2000
BCE to 1400 BCE Mycenaean - 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE
- Slide 14
- Early Bronze Age Development of metallurgy - Bronze multiplier
effect a single event that triggers a chain reaction of
developments in a society Arms race begins and trade follows
city-states fight and trade for new innovations in weaponry
- Slide 15
- Social changes Early Bronze Age Craft specialization trade
skills for staples allows for specialized craftsmen in urban
centers. New professions New social strata Power/wealth shifts
Spatial distribution of settlements change fewer, larger
settlements that control larger areas - markets
- Slide 16
- Social changes of the Early Bronze Age Social stratification
becomes more complex Accumulations of wealth occur As trade becomes
more important, certain settlements along the coast become more
important than others. Urbanization increases Commerce emphasized
The cities begin to rise Aegean Sea and the west coast of Turkey -
Troy
- Slide 17
- Cycladic Period Centered in the scattered, rocky islands in the
Eastern Mediterranean Ios, Naxos, Melos Skilled metalworkers and
craftsmen Not concentrated in towns, not warlike had no defences
for their settlements Religion focussed on female deities No
emphasis on scale all art is small, figurines, etc.
- Slide 18
- Cycladic culture Early Cycladic settlements prominent with
trade and shipping Linear A style develops from the bureaucratic
needs of the local central palace Ends with the Indo-European
invasions c2000BCE only surviving culture from this time is on the
island of Crete Minoans
- Slide 19
- Middle Bronze Age Cycladic society faded slowly but had great
influence on the cultures that would follow. Gradually pushed out
from an invasion from the north - Indo-European tribes linguists
show that this infiltration was gradual and assimilative they
blended with local populations to form Achaeans (proto-Greeks) Only
the Minoans survive on Crete Eventually, Minoans retake the
mainland culture flourishes/spreads Linear A style found -
simplified form of Egyptian hieroglyphics indicating trade and
contact Emphasis on animals and nature loving in art
- Slide 20
- Minoan Centered on the island of Crete last of the Cycladic
islands, resisted the Indo-European invasion Remarkably
sophisticated culture largely unknown until 1899 Arthur Evans
Discovered a massive palace at Knossos held 6000 people, over 800
rooms, no organized floorplan palace appears to have been added to
over time labyrinthine Palace at Knossos
- Slide 21
- Minoan Culture Assumed to be the palace of King Minos from
Homeric poetry. Some walls still had frescoes on them depicting
bulls the bull figured prominently in Minoan culture Minotaur
Prominent traders Crete lies along trade routes between mainland
Europe, Egypt, and the Middle East.
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- Minoan Culture Other large centers have been discovered on
Crete at Phaestus and Hagia Triada. Depictions of Cretan life
showed a peaceful people with a fully developed and prosperous
middle class. Women were depicted topless, indicating they held a
high status. Their style of their art emphasized time, place, and
individuality over idealized and essential in Egyptian art.
Naturalistic rather than stylized.
- Slide 24
- Minoan Religion Minoan religion was centred on worship of the
bull. Young females were often shown bull vaulting presumably
showing reverence and mastery of the savagery and power of nature.
No depictions of the warrior class, no walls or fortifications for
major cities, there are no monumental depictions of the ruler and
the cult of the king is absent possibly due to the high status of
women in the culture There is, however, some evidence of child
sacrifice Minoan Civilization
- Slide 25
- Linear A/B Minoans developed their own style of writing called
Linear A this indicated a bureaucratic class that controlled trade
and taxation. Well developed road systems crossed the island. Towns
had streetplans, drainage, and habitations show a social
stratification between upper and lower classes. First flush toilets
are found in Knossos Levies and taxes were paid in the form of
goods and flowed through regional centers before ending up at
Knossos. A second style of writing Linear B, was found at Knossos,
this later style indicated to Evans that Knossos Palace had changed
hands.
- Slide 26
- Minoan Collapse Beginning around 1450 BCE, Minoan civilization
began to die out with the final destruction of Knossos in 1375 BCE.
There are several theories as to the cause: Eruption of the volcano
at Thera causing massive devastation all over the Cyclades Invasion
from mainland Greeks Mycenaeans Minoan Collapse
- Slide 27
- Late Bronze Age Myceneans capture Knossos conquer Minoans in
c1450 BCE Dynamic pottery becomes static as Minoan influence ends
Greece becomes divided into loose federation of city-states subject
to federal capital at Mycenae Development of Linear B style
Accumulation of wealth as capital gains control of trade routes
through conquest/piracy
- Slide 28
- Mycenae Dominated the eastern Mediterranean from 1600 BCE to
1100 BCE become one of the three dominant Mediterranean cultures:
1) Egyptians 2) Hittites 3) Mycenaeans Dynasty founded in c1600 BCE
Perseus (?) City is named in Homeric epics Agamemnon, Odysseus,
Atreus Mycenaean History and Archeology
- Slide 29
- Mycenaean culture The Mycenaean economy was based on small
scale agriculture, including the Mediterranean Triad as well as
metalworkers and craftsmen. The most important industry was
textiles wool and linen. Above all, while the Minoans were based on
trade and commerce, the Mycenaeans were based on piracy and
conquest. The palace was the administrative center for the
surrounding countryside. It would house the warrior king and their
bureaucracy as well as the service craftsmen required to run the
capital. Land surrounding the palace was either owned by the king
and worked by slaves or leased to free farmers.
- Slide 30
- Mycenaean religion Classical Greek gods begin to arise
Poseidon, Zeus- Hera Role of women is prominent Borrowed heavily
from Minoan culture Priest class subjugated to the king Sanctuary
found at Mycenae for a snake-goddess
- Slide 31
- Mycenae Reached the peak of its power after to came to dominate
the gold trade routes from Eastern Europe 1400s construction of the
citadel: Massive Lions Gate above the main entrance to the city
Cyclopean walls massive stone block construction Cistern dug under
the city water supply could withstand long sieges
- Slide 32
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- Mycenaean burials Peribolos walls surround a series of
graveshafts 2 circles Capital city discovered in 1870s by Heinrich
Schliemann He thought he had found the grave of Agamemnon himself
due to the amount of gold it contained. 2 grave circles contained
19 bodies 8 men, 4 women, 7 children men were all wearing gold,
approx. 6ft. Tall- indicating high wealth, status, and good
nutrition throughout their lives.
- Slide 34
- Mycenaean burials - Tholoi By 1400 Tholos tombs become common
Treasury of Atreus Just outside the walls of Mycenae Circular
beehive construction - corbel largest interior dome for the next
2000 years Lintel stone over 118 tonnes Used for multiple burial
but the treasures were raided obvious, not hidden.
- Slide 35
- Mycenae 2500 BCE earliest evidence of settlement at Mycenae
1600 BCE Wealth comes to Mycenae, probably result of mercenary
activity hired by Egyptians 1200 BCE economic recession, loss of
markets, force Myceneans to attack northern allies Trojans 1180 BCE
according to Homer Helen, a Mycenaean priestess and wife of
Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon is abducted by Paris of Troy
sparking the Trojan War.
- Slide 36
- Slide 37
- Mycenaeans Mycenaeans are victorious, but have eliminated an
ally on their northern frontier and have exhausted the royal
treasury in the process. 1125 BCE Mycenaeans are overrun by the
Dorian invasion.
- Slide 38
- Bronze Age ends Trojan War develops 1180 begins the decline in
power of Mycenae as settlements are raided and destroyed - eg.
Palace of Nestor at Pylos 1200 BCE Mycenaean collapse 1100 BCE The
Truth About Troy
- Slide 39
- Dark Ages - c1200 BCE to 480 BCE After the fall of Mycenae a
Dark Age begins in Greece. No culture surviving, no written records
Federal system is destroyed palaces burned, Knossos, Mycenae, Pylos
civilization drops significantly, very few historical records exist
because writing stopped sometime between 1100 and 1000 BCE
- Slide 40
- Dark Age society Aristocratic Age heroes, great men honour
becomes social focus and prime motivation. Stress of the type not
the individual. Trade collapses produces closed household
economies. Each household aims to consume all it produces.
Exceptions iron, salt Social stratification diminishes becomes more
simple Similar to Egyptians, idealized conceptual art dominates the
Greek world. Geometric design develops.
- Slide 41
- Population Collapse Eg. Pylos population falls to 10% of Late
Bronze Age levels Centralized government, population, literacy,
urbanization, all disappear from Greek life for 400 years Exact
cause is still unknown
- Slide 42
- Possible Causes? Dorian Invasion from the north possible but
not sufficient to destroy the entire culture Decline in Hittite and
Egyptian kingdoms would disrupt trading networks that made Mycenae
so powerful Volcanic or other natural disasters could have caused
agricultural failures
- Slide 43
- Historians now think that the Mycenaean Collapse was internal:
Fragile culture based on military elites dominating maritime
commerce Overpopulation in a land that could not support too many
people Overspecialization on certain cash crops like sheep and
wheat Rivalry among city states lead to mutual sacking of city
palaces
- Slide 44
- Father will have no common bond with son Neither will guest
with host, nor friend with friend The brother-love of past days
will be gone... Men will destroy the towns of other men... Hesiod
(c800 BCE) What kind of society is depicted here? How reliable is
this as a source?
- Slide 45
- The Greeks scatter across the Mediterranean Evidence of
mercenary service in the Egyptian military Many turned to piracy.
Many migrated out of mainland Greece to the islands and west coast
of Asia Minor (Turkey) Each of these migrations develops a separate
nationality for their region. Different dialect of Greek is spoken:
Dorian - Peloponesse Ionion West coast of Asia Minor and islands
Aeolian Attica and scattered mainland settlements
- Slide 46
- Technology Iron replaces bronze as copper and tin become
difficult to import. Quality of iron tools begins to improve as
techniques are mastered over time. Pottery quality declines,
decoration is simple and geometric Pictorial representations of
humans and animals almost disappear and there is little to no
luxury items being produced. What gold from this period that has
been found dates from the Mycenaean Period and was probably robbed
from original tombs.
- Slide 47
- Cultural contributions All that is known from this period comes
from archaeology and from epic poetry: Iliad older poem, dating
from the 8 th c BCE Odyssey dating from c750 BCE Both are oral
histories that originate in the previous Late Bronze Age Mycenaean
period harkening back to the good old days where society was in a
more perfect state. These oral histories transmit a desire to
return to previous culture from generation to generation. The
societies depicted in Homeric poetry are not truly Mycenaean, but
more Dark Age.
- Slide 48
- Literature Literature begins in the Dark Ages essential in
formation of Greek nationalism. word of mouth, historical accounts
passed on from Mycenean ages as mythology in an effort to recapture
the past. Heroic poetry Homer: Illiad and Oddessy Trojan War and
Odysseus return to Ithica becomes the first exploration of human
nature and the human condition
- Slide 49
- Philosophy emerges Didactic poetry Hesiod cosmogony/theogeny
Philosophys first attempt to explain/understand the world around
them Near the end of the period, the realization that religion and
epic poetry are inadequate for this purpose. More is needed.
- Slide 50
- Social Structure Social distinctions were based on ownership
and military prowess. Aristocrats would own farmland and engage in
combat with their own weapons and horses in coalitions with other
aristocrats. Petty kings would dominate small populations of
farmers, herders, kin and military alliances. Tensions were
indicated in literature between emerging middle class peasants and
aristocratic warrior classes.
- Slide 51
- Change begins Beginning in the 11 th century influences from
beyond the borders of Greek civilization begin to appear. Geometric
pottery designs Egyptian? Iron works that have no precedent in
mainland or island Greek culture Greek forms of tomb burial change
and cremation becomes common
- Slide 52
- Changes in art forms throughout the Dark Ages begins to
indicate that it is coming to an end: Geometric Period 900-700 BCE
Geometric style dominates Humans and animals appear for the first
time Depictions of humans in funerals and mourning Orientalising
Period 700 600 BCE Rendering of human form becomes more
naturalistic Egyptian influence prominent in sculpture, pose, size,
materials 2 styles Attic mythological/fantastic stories Corinthian
imaginary/mythological animals Development of Doric and Ionic
architectural styles
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- DoricCorinthian
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- Doric columns on the Greek temple at Segesta, Sicily, c. 424416
bc
- Slide 58
- Corinthian Coloumns at the Church of the Madeleine built from
1807 to 1845 by Pierre Vignon.
- Slide 59
- What is means to be Greek. Awakening of Greek nationalities
Dorian, Ionian, Minoan, Aeolian While a different dialect is used,
their common experience is Greek and they are all unified by the
oral heritage First pan-hellenic Olympic Games 776 BCE at the
festival of Zeus at Olympia City-states emerge at the end of the
period Sparta and Athens dominate oligarchy and democracy
- Slide 60
- Archaic Period - c700 BCE c500 BCE Out of the Dark Age social
structure of farmers and herdsmen loosely ruled by petty kings
develops a radically new social structure New political
organization New military organization New artistic traditions New
intellectual approaches New alphabet
- Slide 61
- C800 BCE Archaic Period begins Population begins to increase,
this stresses the land capacity. Coinage appears money. This
intensifies social stratification, slavery appears Growing sense of
individualism emerges manifested in the appearance of lyric poetry
Sappho, women characters and emotional poetry is in stark contrast
to male dominated epic poetry Drama appears as well. Artwork scale
increases, figures become more lifelike and less Egyptian. 3
dimensional
- Slide 62
- Bust inscribed Sappho of Eressos, Roman copy of a Greek
original of the 5th century BC
- Slide 63
- Emphasis on the individual as valuable and distinct from their
social role or position More spare time and stability allowing for
abstract intellectual pursuits politics and philosophy. All of
these developments become major themes in the development of
Western Civilization
- Slide 64
- Signs of a rapid change in Greek society Huge population
increase in some regions (Attica 7x) Shift in herding to stable
agriculture Increased urbanization, larger settlements Population
soon outstrips carrying capacity of arable land Increased division
of labour
- Slide 65
- Politics The old social structure of chieftains and tribes
becomes inadequate for this more complex society These changes,
combined with the geography of the region lead to a broad social
class with the wealth and leisure time to pursue intellectual
innovation included outside influences through trade. 2 kinds of
political organization emerge: Ethnos Peloponnesian/oligarchy Polis
Aegean/ democracy
- Slide 66
- Polis Polis habitation, house, collective group. The city-
state arises out of these. Organized settlements separated by
landforms and connected by the sea and trade. The result is a
grouping of small administrations the city state, dominated by a
large central permanent settlement.
- Slide 67
- Polis Like a large extended family: Athens 1000 sq miles, the
size of P.E.I. Crete 3000 sq miles, 43 different poleis Lesbos 6
different poleis Winnipeg would have 4 poleis for its size Each
polis would have its own army, administration, leadership, social
mores, its own religion, regional dialect, system of weights and
measurements and its own calendar. Polis root of the word
politics
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- Social Hierarchy These populations got even smaller only adult
males were given full citizenship.. Women subjugated to males
Metics resident aliens, also dont count. Displaced from one polis
to another Slaves did not have citizenship. Children
- Slide 70
- The Emergence of Political Life Athens 250,000 people 20,000
free adult males By far the biggest polis Overall, Greek life takes
place in a very small scale. Everything occurs on a public
setting/family setting. Out of this environment comes political
life a new development
- Slide 71
- Social Stratification Vast wealth accumulations were rare in
Greece gap between rich and poor is very small. With the climate,
there is an abundance of leisure time a totally new development
this leading to public life interaction among relatively equal
members of small communities, political life develops. Small farms,
a focus on individual cultivation, no mass agriculture is possible
horticulture not agriculture. Silver mines are one of the only
large scale industries Laurium just outside of Athens worked by
slaves. Average lifespan of a slave was one year n the mines
- Slide 72
- Ostracism Ostracism some individuals personal characteristics
warrant extreme social isolation and segregation; people could be
voted off the polis Ostracism becomes necessary to maintain social
order and to reduce tensions. There may be crime or guilt involved,
simply social volatility could warrant ostracism. Aristotle man is
a political animal Ostracised individuals would be banished from
their home polis and would be forced to live in exile or try to
join another polis.
- Slide 73
- All of these developments lead to political and social stasis
normal flows of political life are blocked. Tensions begin to build
Solutions: Infanticide killing of the less desirable young to curb
population growth. Colonization finding new breathing spaces to
support higher numbers up to 1500 are established all over the
Mediterranean and parts of Persia brings Greeks into new conflicts.
Colonization period 750 BCE to 550 BCE Tyranny someone who forces
their way into power from outside the social structure, a sudden
and radical political change from one order to another Religion
when faced with difficult social pressures, religion begins to
pervade daily life more and more.
- Slide 74
- Social Development Frederick Jackson Turner American frontier
historian developed the Turner Thesis of social development The
frontier is where innovations take place in a society social,
technological, political, etc. The frontier culture and setting
make the best laboratory for these kinds of developments. They are
then passed into the central culture. This effect is exhibited in
ancient Greek civilization in the Dark Ages as population pressures
lead to colonization and the creation of a frontier culture in the
western Mediterranean and the Southern Balkans
- Slide 75
- Greek religion during the Dark Ages polytheistic spectrum
Apollo calm acceptance: Know thyself Vs Dionysius- Abandon self
control Forget thyself
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- Dionysian approach to religion rooted in the notion of life
cycle rebirth Dualistic religion like the Egyptians Based on
mystery and religious hierarchy. Acceptance into the religion was
granted only after approval and included ceremonies that were kept
secret. This created a mechanism for compensation for de-
individualization of economically strained eras Eleusinian
Mysteries based in the temple of Dionysus in Eleusis place where
mysterious rites were performed that were fabled to grant eternal
life.
- Slide 77
- Classical Greece (480 BCE 323 BCE) This period lasts through
the creation of a Greek empire, by Alexander the Great.
Characterized by most of the cultural wonders that we associate
with ancient Greece. The period of the height of democracy, the
flowering of Greek Tragedy, and the architectural marvels at Athens
Begins either with the fall of the Athenian tyrant Hippias, in 510
B.C., or the Persian Wars, which the Greeks fought against the
Persians in Greece and Asia Minor from 490-479 B.C. When you think
of the movie 300, you're thinking of one of the battles fought
during the Persian Wars. This period ends with the death of
Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.
- Slide 78
- The Rise of Democracy Democracy didnt happen overnight. The
process developed and changed over time. Besides war and conquest,
in the Classical period the Greeks produced great literature,
poetry, philosophy, drama, and art. the genre of history was first
established. It also produced the institution we know of as
Athenian democracy. Democracy lasted beyond the Classical period
and had its roots in the earlier time, but it still characterized
the Classical age.
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- Oligarchy vs. Democracy In the Archaic Age, Athens and Sparta
had followed different paths. Sparta had two kings and an
oligarchic (rule by a few) government A Spartan woman had the right
to own property, whereas in Athens, she had few freedoms. In
Sparta, men and women served the state; in Athens, they served the
oikos 'household/family'. Oligarchy oligos 'few' + arche 'rule'
Democracy demos 'the people of a country' + krateo 'rule'
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- Democracy Oligarchy
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- Tyranny Monarchy
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- Anarchy
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- Economy Economy = oikos 'home' + nomos 'custom, usage,
ordinance' Men were trained in Sparta to be laconic warriors and in
Athens to be public speakers.
- Slide 84
- Persian Wars Despite an almost endless series of differences,
the Hellenes from Sparta, Athens, and elsewhere fought together
against the monarchical Persian Empire. In 479 they repelled the
numerically mightier Persian force from the Greek mainland.
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- Peloponnesian and Delian Alliances For the next few decades
after the end of the Persian Wars, relations between the 2 major
poleis'city-states' deteriorates The Spartans, who had earlier been
the unquestioned leaders of the Greeks, suspected Athens (a new
naval power) of trying to take control of all of Greece. Most of
the poleis on the Peloponnese allied with Sparta. Athens was at the
head of the poleis in the Delian League. Its members were along the
coast of the Aegean Sea and on islands in it. The Delian League
initially had been formed against the Persian Empire, but finding
it lucrative, Athens transformed it into its own empire.
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- Public Office Pericles, foremost statesman of Athens from
461-429, introduced payment for public offices so more of the
population than just the rich could hold them. Pericles initiated
the building of the Parthenon, which was supervised by the famed
Athenian sculptor Pheidias. Drama and philosophy flourish
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- The Aftermath of Peloponnesian War Tensions between the
Peloponnesian and Delian alliances mount The Peloponnesian War
breaks out in 431 and lasted for 27 years. Pericles, along with
many others, dies of plague early in the war. Even after the end of
the Peloponnesian War, which Athens lost, Thebes, Sparta, and
Athens continued to take turns as the dominant Greek powers Instead
of one of them becoming the clear leader, they dissipated their
strength and fell prey to the empire-building Macedonian king
Phillip II and his son Alexander the Great.
- Slide 90
- Alexander the Great Philip II and his son Alexander (of
Macedonia) put an end to the power of the individual city-states
and spread the culture of Greece all the way to the Indian Sea.
Born around July 20, 356 B.C.E. Tutored by Leonidas (possibly his
uncle) and the great Greek philosopher Aristotle. During his youth,
Alexander showed great observational powers when he tamed the wild
horse Bucephalus. In 326, when his beloved horse died, he renamed a
city in India/Pakistan, on the banks of the Hydaspes (Jhelum)
river, for Bucephalus. In 340 B.C.E., while his father Philip went
off to fight rebels, Alexander was made regent in Macedonia. During
his regency, the Maedi of northern Macedonia revolted. Alexander
put down the revolt and renamed their city after himself. In 336
after his father was assassinated, he became ruler of
Macedonia.
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- The Gordian Knot One legend about Alexander the Great is that
when he was in Gordium, Turkey, in 333, he undid the Gordian Knot.
This knot had been tied by the legendary, fabulously wealthy King
Midas. The prophecy about the Gordian knot was that the person who
untied it would rule all of Asia. Alexander the Great is said to
have undone the Gordian Knot not by unraveling it, but by slashing
through it with a sword.
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- Death In 323, he returned to Babylonia and becomes suddenly ill
and dies. cause is unknown. It could have been disease or poison.
It might have had to do with a wound inflicted in India. Alexander
the Great Iron Maiden: Alexander the Great