Ancient GreeceMr. Hoke

Introduction

Ways to look at history:

P – Political/Military

E – Economic

R – Religion

S – Social (The family unit)

I – Intellectual (Greeks invented history, philosophy and drama)

A – Artistic

Coast of attica

The Thermopylae pass

What will this class cover?

This class will cover Greek history from 3000 to 323 BC

Chronology:6000-3000 – Neolithic

3000-2000 – Early Bronze Age (EBA)

2000-1500 – Middle Bronze Age (MBA)

1500-1100 – Late Bronze Age (LBA)

1100-800 – Greek Dark Ages

800-500 – Archaic Age

500-323 – Classical Age

323-30 – Hellenistic Age

The Rise of Rome - 8th C. BCE

The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 44 CE

The Roman Empire 44 – 476 CE

The Fall of Rome – 476 CE

Neolithic (6000-3000 BC)

Around 6000 people settled into small communities

Farming was introduced

No idea on what language they spoke

Early Bronze Age (3000-2000)

New people arrived

Used bronze to create tools and weapons

Bronze spread from Near East (Egypt) to Greece

No writing

Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500)

Around 2000 the first Greek people arrived

Architecture looks different

New pottery

Horses introduced

Late Bronze Age (1500-1100)

Huge changes

No ‘new’ people

Acceleration of MBA technology

Mycenae (MY SEE NEE) – largest city with fortified walls (meant war existed)

Destruction of Troy by invaders around 1200

Aggressive warlike people

Clay tablets found show evidence of language – Linear A

Late Bronze Age – Mycenae

The Lions Gate - Mycenae

Late Bronze Age - Mycenae

Heinrich Schliemann

Dark Ages (1100-800) Bronze Age system collapses

Coming of the sea people occurred all over the Eastern Mediterranean

Bronze age sites abandoned

Many theories – climate, war, economics?

Lost ¾ of the population

Dorians arrived around 1100

No writing

Architecture takes a hit

Pottery is boring

Big Setback for civilization

Archaic (800-500)

Given the name ‘Archaic’ simply because it comes before the classical period

Exciting period in history

Emergence of new civilization

Olympics (776 BC)

Alphabet introduced

Democracy (508 BC)

First works of Western Lit – Homer (Iliad & Odyssey)

Michael Ventris

Classical (500-323)

Persian Wars (500-479)

Rome founded (476)

Persian Empire – huge and aggressive3 to 4 times the size of Greece

Ends with Alexander the Great (323)

Hellenistic (323-30)

After Alexander

Macedonian Empire breaks into Hellenistic Kingdoms

Rome is rising

When Cleopatra dies, Egypt falls to Rome (30)

Resources/Geographyof Greece

Greece is arid and semi-tropical

Difficult to grow crops

Sea was the ‘GREAT CONNECTOR’ allowing vast trade

Wars were fought over three things: Food, timber and mining (gold and silver)

Bronze Age: Troy in Fact & Fiction

Reality of Troy10,000 – 20,000 population

Heavily fortified

Center of trade/textile manufacturing

Place of interest to superpowers (Hittites/Greeks)

Trojans were Hittites or vassals of the Hittite state

Trojans charged a tariff to pass though the Hellespont

Canakkale, Turkey

Istanbul Archaeological museum

The whirling dervishes

Troy – Level 9 – Roman Era

After visiting Troy!

Beginning of Archaeology

Sir Arthur Evans discovered the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete

Michael Ventris deciphered Linear B in 1952

Heinrich Schliemann – Excavated both Mycenae and Troy

Heinrich Schliemann

1870s – Excavated Mycenae and Troy

Not a scholar

Brilliant, wealthy businessman

His passion was to prove that Troy existed

Smuggled treasures out of Turkey (to Germany)

After Troy he went to Mycenae in GreeceThe Greeks supervised the excavation to make sure that the treasure was not stolen

Heinrich Schliemann

Homer

First author of Western Civilization

Passed stories down through songsOral dictated text

Iliad

Odyssey

Both poems published around 725 BC

Greek Gods

The Greeks were HenotheisticHenotheism – Belief in one supreme god among many

Zeus – Most powerful god, son of Kronos and grandson of Ouranos

Married to his sister – Hera

Hyperactive sex-drive

Less moral than most gods

Sidebar – Hesiod - Poet

Greek Gods

Kronos, father of Zeus overthrows Ouranos

Kronos fearing that one of his children will overthrow him eats all of his children except one (Zeus)

Zeus’ mother Rheina deceives Kronos and smuggles Zeus to Crete

Zeus overthrows Kronos

Zeus has many offspring who could become a threat

Greek Gods

Thetis – Sea-goddess who was destined to bear a great child

Zeus was afraid so he arranged from Thetis to marry a human (Peleus) so the child would be a less powerful Demi-god – Achilles

Eris – Goddess of Discord/Divorce – When she finds out that she is not invited to the Thetis’ wedding, she sends a package – a golden apple with the inscription ‘To the most beautiful women’

Greek Gods

When Zeus’ wife, Hera and his two daughters, Athena and Aphrodite all claim the apple, Zeus refused to select one of the three

Hermes takes the three ladies to Troy to see Paris, prince of Troy

The three ladies all attempt to bride ParisHera offers political control of Asia

Athena offers great military power

Aphrodite offers the love of the most beautiful women in the world - Helen

Helen

Helen had many suitors from all over Greece

Her father allows her to select her husband – Menelaus, King of Sparta

All other suitors agree to protect Helen if she is ever harmed or abducted – origin of the Trojan War

Paris, Prince of Troy

Travels to Sparta where he is treated in alignment with the Greek-Host Code (Treat strangers well)

Menelaus leaves town and while he is away Paris either elopes with or abducts Helen along with treasures from the Spartan palace

Menelaus calls on his brother Agamemnon to gather the troops and retrieve Helen

All the great Greek heroes fight in this war (Culture of Shame)

Odysseus, King of Ithaca

Happily married

Attempted to dodge the draft

Pretends to be mentally ill

Officials took his son – Odysseus decided to fight

The war cost Odysseus 20 years of his life – the ten year war and another 10 to get home

The Trojan War

1225 BC – Date of the Trojan War

1184 BC – Greek date of the Trojan War

Every educated Greco-Roman person knew Homer and it promoted moral values and allowed the Greeks to understand their worldview.

The Iliad and the Odyssey were taken in like mother’s milk

The Trojan War

SHAME vs. GUILT (Culture)

10 year saga

All of Helen’s suitors had taken an oath to retrieve her

Upon the arrival on the shores of Troy, the Greeks needed food and women

The raided the villages on the Troad (outside of Troy)

The Trojan War

They shared the booty by class

Kings got first dibs

Agamemnon, King of Mycenae and the ruling king of the Greeks went to the island of gold, Chryse and took Chryseis as his trophy concubine

Her father, Chryses, a priest of Apollo came to Agamemnon and asked for his daughter back

The Trojan War

Reading from Book One of the Iliad

Agamemnon to Chryses “Never let me find you again old man”

Agamemnon added that the girl would be his slave and then the king sent Chryses on his way

Not long after the Greeks came down with the plague

Nothing in the ancient world happened by change – EVERYTHING WAS ATRIBUTED TO THE GODS

The Death Mask of Agamemnon

The Trojan War

Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis called a meeting to discuss the plague and how the Greeks could get back into good graces with the gods

Kalchus, a priest – sidebar (Agamemnon’s daughter)

Kalchus told Agamemnon to give back Chryseis to her father

Agamemnon returned the girl and then took Achilles concubine, Briseis

Achilles decided to return home and he took his Myrmidons with him

Trojan War

There are 24 Books in the Iliad and Achilles does not return until Book 19 – Culture of Shame

Achilles returns when his best friend, Patroklos was killed by Hecktor and Agamemnon agreed to return Chyseis to her father (Sidebar – Religion)

Heroic Code – Homer – Book 6 – Iliad

 Hektor goes back to Troy to see his wife, Andromache and son, Astyanax.

Andromache’s entire family was wiped out by Greek raids in the Troad.

Andromache asks Hektor to fight defensively and stay inside the walls of Troy.

Heroic Code – Homer – Book 6 – Iliad

 Hektor says he would feel deep shame if he did not fight for his father, King Priam and the people of Troy.

Hektor knew that the Trojans would eventually be defeated, his wife enslaved and still he fought.

This was the last time that the family would be together.

Hektor lived and died by the Heroic Code to avoid SHAME.

Heroic Code

Sarpedon and his sidekick Glauckos were nobles from Lykia.

At the time the Trojans were winning the war and the Greeks were forced to build walls to protect the ships.

Glauckos catches Sarpedon hanging back from the battle and then asks him why they have such great things at home?

Glauckos them says we earn them here on the battlefield.

Heroic Code

Noblesse Obliqe – Nobility Obligates

The theory was that you may die anyway so one should achieve glory while going to their death.

Glory is compensation in a culture of SHAME and allows men to live on in the minds of men.

Helen – Book 3 – Iliad

Description of Helen

Old men – advisors of King Priam

These men feel the beauty of Helen without describing her

The reader is allowed to visualize their own Helen

The Iliad

The Iliad ends when the Greeks deceive the Trojans

Greek soldiers hide inside the large wooden horse and seemingly return to Greece

The horse, an offering to the Gods is brought inside the Walls of Troy

The Trojans celebrate, get dunk and go to bed

The Iliad

As the Trojans slept, the Greeks emerged from the horse, swung over the gates and let in their comrades

Troy was sacked, burned to the ground, its men killed to the man, the women and children enslaved

End of Unit #1

What did you learn?Chronological history of Greek history from 6000 BC to 30 BC & Location of prominent locations in Greece and Asia Minor

The story of the Trojan War

A basic understanding of the Greek Gods

There will be two quizzes this weekQuiz #1 will cover the Chronology/Map – Wednesday

Quiz #2 will cover the Trojan War and Greek Gods - Friday

Exam #1 – Next Wednesday (Review on Tuesday)

Unit #2: Archaic I

The Polis – ‘City-centered state’Controls region or territory

Plural – Poleis

Politeia – Constitution; The Greeks had no written constitution.

It worked on precedence. This is the system of governance of the city-state.

Greece - Hellas

Modern greece is about the size of michigan

700’s – Greece had around 600 city-states.Each one an independent country.

The average size of the city-state was 80 square miles.

Branches of government

Executive/Leaders

Athens Sparta

Archons/Leaders Kings & Ephors/Overseers

Branches of government

Advisory – Elders from prominent families

Athens (2 Advisory Boards) Sparta

Areopagus GerousiaElders (30 members – 2

Kings and 28 others 60 or older)

Boule

Branches of government

Ratification

Assembly – everybody else that counted as a citizen.

Athens Sparta

Ekklesia Apellai

athens

Located in Attica (Peninsula)4 miles from the sea

About the size of Rhode Island or 1,000 square miles

Synoikismos – Living together/Allegiance to Athens

The larger territory of Athens gave them an advantage in manpower and Athens was on its way to becoming a great naval power

Map of athens

The Acropolis

The Theatre of Dionysus

Athens – Archon system

Replaces monarchs at the end of the dark ages (except Sparta & macedonia)

We do not know how the kings fell

Athens – Archon system

Term limit – 1 year (typically)

Could run once for archon

Power is compartmentalized

Nine archons elected each yearMust be at least 30 years old to serve as an archon (usually older)

Athens - Nine archons

One – Eponymous Archon – Leading archon

Six - thesmothetae – Law Givers/Enforcement

One - king Archon – Head of state religionKept gods on their side

Organized festivals

One - polemarchos – Head of military

Areopagus – Athenian Council

Once a man spent one year as an archon he then moved into the areopagus for life

Archons used the areopagus as an advisory board

Athens – 7th c. BC

Total population – estimated 120,00060,000 women

30,000 children

30,000 – 40,000 adult male citizens

Social Economic system

7th century – athens – three classes1.) Hippeis

Millionaires

Blue bloods – family name was important

Wealthiest class

Raised horses

Income came from fertile land

2-5% of total population (1,000)

Thought of as genetically different

Used the word ‘demos’ (vulgar or scum of the earth) to describe the other classes

Social Economic system

7th century – athens – three classes2.) Zeugitae

Owned land (not good land)

Just getting by – there is no middle class

Small farmers

40-60% of total population

Became important when men were needed to create hoplite (infantry) armies

Sometimes starving and in need of help

Social Economic system

7th century – athens – three classes3.) Thetes

Below poverty line

No land

Laborers

Some homeless

40-60% of the population

Slaves

Athens – who gets to Vote?

Land owners – Hippeis and zuegitaeHad personal stake in government as landowners

In 594 BC Solon gives the thetes the right to vote

Hoplite revolution

in 675 BC pheidon of argos – created the hoplite army

Prior to 675 bc cavalry was primary and in 675 BC a revolution shifts emphasis from cavalry to infantry

Hoplite warrior

Hoplite – greek infantry warrior

Hoploi – set of armor (panoply)

Hoplite warrior descriptionArmed in bronze and iron

Greaves (shin guards)

Helmet with felt/leather for cushion

Shield – circular – 20-25 pounds

Hoplite warrior weaponryHoplite warrior – weapons

Spear – primary

Short sword

All weapons made of bronze or iron

Total pack weight was approx. 70 pounds

Hoplite tacticsPhalanx – Block of men – 8 men – 8 rows deep

In blocks of 500 men

Moved in unison

Men must hold rank to be effective

The right side – toughest

When the argives defeated the spartans, the spartans adopted the hoplite system

Within a generation the hoplite system spread

Hoplite tactics

The hoplite was based on force

The men in the middle and in the rear would push – like a rugby scrum

When the battle was decided, the losers would turn and run

The victors would mark ‘Troph’ on the spot where the defeated turned and ran

The zeugitae as hoplite

675 bc – right when the zeugitae were having a difficult time surviving there services were in high demand to serve as hoplite warriors

Hektemoroi – 1/6

Zeugitae became impoverished to the point where the started to take loans from the hippeis class and later the zeugitae were forced to pay 1/6 of their crops.

If the debt went unpaid the Hippeis could take the farmer and or his son(s) as slaves

A member of the zeugitae class could go off to war and come back and forced into slavery

Potential for revolution

TyrannyTyrant – (not like hitler or stalin)

Tyranny – In greek it means to come to power illegitimately or unconstitutionally – not elected/coup de tat

A segment of the hippeis class was disgruntled and led an uprising of Zeugitae

This happened in many city-states in the 7th c BC (AKA – period of tyrants)

There were approximately 600 city-states and most were oligarchies

632 BC - Cylon’s Attempted Tyranny

Cylon – Tyrant

Seized the Athenian Acropolis, 632 BC

Eponymous Archon at the time was Megacles

When Cylon seized the Acropolis his troops did not show up to support him

Cylon Escapes leaving his small army on their own

Megacles offers the rebels a deal – lay down your arms and surrender and then into exile

On their way out of Athens, Megacles orders them to be massacred – the revolt was put down violently

621 BC – Draco & the Law

First written code of law in Athens

Draconian Law – very harsh

Capital punishment for many crimes

Instituted homicide lawIntentional vs. unintentional

Shame-retaliation-vendetta

One could offer compensation to the victim

Lower class benefits – law applied to all

594 BC – Solon – “Seisachteia”

Seis – Seismic

Achth – weight

Eia – off

SolonTruly wise man

Non-partisan – trusted by both sides

Fair

Selected by hippeis & Zeugatae to reform athens as the arbitrator

Solon was allowed to fix the system – radical changes

Reforms of solon

Canceled debt

Abolished debt slavery

Established the people’s court – trial by jury

Expands citizenship – opens immigrationCreated jobs

Economic Reforms of solon

Solon forbids sale of grain outside of attica

Shift to olive oil (expensive) production

Wine exported

Three big crops were: Olives, Grapes and Grain

Entrepreneur class entered athens

Solon created jobs – we need another solon!!!!!!

Four part social class system - solon

1.) Pentekosiomedimnoi – 500 bushels

2.) Hippeis – 300-499

3.) Zeugitae – 200-299

4.) Thetes - < 200

Allowed for social and economic mobility

Solon’s new government

Archons – From first (pente) or second class (Hippeis)

Boule of 400 – from first, second or third classes

All four classes were members of the ekklesia (assembly – all could vote)

Solon is the grandfather of democracy

Solon goes into exile for 10 years

560 – tyranny in Athens

Peisistratus

First coup failed in 560

Two sons – hipparchus & hippias

546 – Peisistratus brings army to athens and becomes tyrant

Good man

Took financial pressure off the poor

Used personal wealth to help the poor

Vigorous foreign policy

Added public amenities

Patronage of religion and arts

Peisistratus - continued

Panatheniac festival to honor athenaAthletic competition

Great prizes

Poetry readings

Religious events

Homer recited

Meat available

Made people feel good to be ‘athenian’Sense of patriotism

Hipparchus

527-514 – When Peisistratus died, his son hipparchus took power as tyrant in athens

Hipparchus was assassinated in 514 by Harmodius & Aristogeiton

Homosexual love triangle gone bad

Both assassins are executed

Hipparchus’ brother hippias takes power

Assassination of hipparchus

Hippias 514-510

After hipparchus was assassinated his brother, hippias took control as tyrant

In 510, with help from the spartans, hippias was overthrown by the family of megacles – the alcmaeonids

Hippias was evil and the athenians once again athens were in need of a new governmental system

Athenians adopt democracy 508

Cleisthenes – father of democracy

Revamp social/economic system into 10 tribes/administrative districts

10 Archons – 1 from each tribe

Council of 500 – 50 from each tribe

Ten strategos – 1 military general from each tribeStrategos held the real power over archons

508 – 417 ostracism

Method to head off tyranny

Many popular athenians were ostracized

Ostrakon – pottery shard – used to vote

Assembly met 40 times per year

6,000 votes needed to ostracize

Honorable exile – 1o years

Sparta

SpartiatesAristocrats with special privledges

Blood related

Prideful

High expectations

20% of population

Perioikoi

PerioikoiThose dwelling about in Laconia

Not Spartans

Served as infantry

Allowed to vote

Owned farms

Not allowed to hold public office

25-30% of the population

Helots

To Capture (helen)

POWs – Messenia

Owned by the state

Worked the land

Largest % of the population

Posed a threat of revolt