Chapter 4: The Ancient Greeks

(1600 BC -- 133 BC)

I. The Impact of Geography

A. Geographic Features1. Mountains, Peninsula, Islands… Isolation,Warfare2. Seas: Ionian, Aegean, Med.; opportunity

B. Geography & the Polis: Small, indep, isolated

II. Early Civilizations

A. The Minoans (2800—1450BC)* Bronze Age civilization.. Crete… Trade w/Egypt & Mesopotamia… Writing, copper & bronze, shipbuilding….Knossos… Sudden collapse

II. Early Civilizations

B. The Mycenaeans (1400—1100 BC) * Indo-European Family… Powerful kings, militant society… Trojan War

** Two civilizations: forerunners of Ancient Greece

II. Early Civilizations

C. The Greeks in the Dark Age (1100—750 BC)* After collapse of Mycenaeans… 300 years… Trade, culture, pop declined, writingdisappeared… * Iron… Phoenician alphabet

II. Early Civilizations

D. Homer* Greatest poets… Wrote of Trojan War in Iliad and Odyssey * Greek values of heroism honor: strive for “Arete” or excellence* Central to history & education… inspired others

III. The Greek City States

A. Polis: The Center of Greek Life1. Polis: Greek for City-State

* Definition, Size, Population, Activities, Loyalty

2. Acropolis… Agora… Gymnasium… Amphitheaters

* Value on public life, physical strength, discipline

III. The Greek City-States

A. Polis3. Rights & Responsibilities… Citizens & Noncitizens4. Military System… Hoplites… Phalanx

III. The Greek City-States

B. Forms of Government1. Aristocracy: ruled by a landowning elite2. Oligarchy: ruled by the few for benefit of few3. Tyranny: ruled by one autocratic leader4. Democracy: govt by the people

III. The Greek City-States

C. Sparta1. Location & Founders

* Peloponnesus & Dorians

III. The Greek City-States

C. Sparta: Society & Govt (charts)* Helots (slaves)* Oligarchy w/ 2 Kings… Ephors… Council of Elders

Ephors: 5 elected men… education & conduct

C of E: decide issues to vote on by male citizens

III. The Greek City-States

C. Sparta5. Achievements

* Strong military role in Greek conflicts… Persian and Peloponnesian War

* Highly Disciplined* However… Strict military role/ tight

social control stifled intellectual development & advancement… discouraged ideas

III. The Greek City-States

D. Athens1. Location & Founders: Attica Peninsula & Mycenaeans

** Charts2. Draco

* Early Athens ruled by kings* Codified laws w/ harsh penalties… led to

calls for reform

III. The Greek City-States

D. Athens3. Solon (594 BC): cancel jail; Counsel of 4004. Peisistratus (561 BC):Tyranny; land to peasants5. Cleisthenes (510 BC): Demo: C of 500: given power to pass laws after open debate

III. The Greek City-States

E. Forces for Unity (Chart)***Rivalry led to fighting… independent spirit, economic rivals1. Same language, culture, ancient heroes, common festivals, same gods2. Mount Olympus… Zeus, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, oracles… honored their gods… Olympic Games 3. General sense of own uniqueness and superiority

IV. Classical Greece

A. Persian Wars1. Darius & Ionian Rebellion

*Attack Athens in revenge

2. Battle of Marathon (490 BC)*Minor defeat for Persian; moral victory for

Greeks

3. Xerxes & Battle of Thermopylae*Persia won, but allowed Greeks to regroup

4. Conclusion… Salamis… Delian League*United Greeks beat an overextended Persia

IV. Classical Greece

B. The Age of Pericles: “Golden Age”1. Athenian Democracy

* Pericles…Direct democracy… Council of 500… stipend… jury… ostracism

IV. Classical Greece

B. The Age of Pericles2. Culture Thrives in Athens

* Shining example for all c/s… more under Contributions 3. Economy

* Farming [olive trees], trade, slavery… support culture

IV. Classical Greece

C. The Peloponnesian War1. Greek Resentment: Peloponnesian League2. Warfare: Begin in 431 BC… 25 years3. Results

* Athens defeated… Sparta win?

V. Alexander the Great & Hellenistic Age

A. Phillip II of Macedonia

V. Alexander the Great

B. Alexander as Conqueror1. Introduction

* Age… Aristotle… Persia… Revenage

2. On the March* Persia & Darius III* Empire: Nile Valley, Persia, India (Map)* While in India… * Ptolemaic Egypt [Cleopatra]; Seleucid;

Antigonid

V. Alexander the Great

C. Alexander as Ruler1. More rights/ opportunities to women

*Legal codes show women no longer restricted to homes

2. Stimulated economy: gold & silver (& one language for trade: Greek)3. Benevolent Tyrant

* Respect religions; local govt; tax rates

V. Alexander the Great

D. Alexander’s Legacy• Hellenistic Culture: Greek, Persian, Egyptian,

Indian• Greek Cities: soldiers, traders, artisans• Alexander himself… • Alexandria, Egypt: Pharos Lighthouse

VI. Greek & Hellenistic Contributions

A. Philosophers: Lovers of Wisdom1. Sophists2. Socrates… Socratic Method3. Plato… The Republic4. Aristotle5. Epicureanism6. Stoicism… Zeno

IV. Contributions

B. Literature1. Homer2. Aeschylus3. Sophocles4. Euripides5. Herodotus6. Thucydides

IV. Contributions

C. Art & Architecture*Parthenon…. Pottery… Hoplite soldiers

D. Science & Math* Aristarchus… Archimedes… Hippocrates… Pythagoras… Euclid

IV. Contributions