Classical Greece

Western Civilization I

Classical Greece

45,000 sq. miles

Distinct regions & city-states:

Peloponnesus – Sparta, Olympia

Attica - Athens

Boeotia - Thebes

Thessaly

Macedonia© 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning

Early Greek Civilizations

Minoan (2800–1450 B.C.) – CreteSea-faring people with trade empire

Basis for Herodotus’ description of Atlantis

Knossos had no fortifications

Linear A has never been deciphered

Mycenaean (1600-1100 B.C.) – mainlandTholos tombs

Linear B

Agamemnon may have led attack on Troy around 1250 B.C. described in Homer’s Iliad

Classical Greece

Polis = small, autonomous political unit.Adult males = citizens with rightsWomen & children = citizens without rightsSlaves = non-citizens with some rights

Hoplites = heavily armed infantry, organized into phalanx.Tyrants – seized power unconstitutionally, but often popular.Colonies = independent poleis established by metropolis for trade & to relieve overpopulation.

Greek Colonies

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Sparta

Ruled by 2 kings along with council of 28 elders (Gerousia)

Elders & 5 judges (Ephors) elected by assembly of all male citizens (Apella)

Turned conquered peoples into serfs (Helots) who farmed land

Peloponnesian League formed by 500 B.C.

Martial society reinforced by military state

AthensOriginally ruled by Areopagus (council of nobles) & 9 ArchonsEcclesia = adult male assemblyCliesthenes’ democratic reforms:

Created 170 new Demes – organized into 10 “tribes,” each representing a cross-section of the populationEach demes elected 50 representatives to Council of 500Ecclesia could vote to ostracize (exile) unpopular leaders for 10 years – voted using ostracon (potsherds)Strategoi = 10 general officials who ran daily affairs

Reached height under Pericles (461-429 B.C.)

Acropolis, Athens

The Persian Wars

Persians conquered Ionia in mid-6th century B.C.

Darius crossed Aegean Sea to invade Greece in 490 B.C.

Miltiades led Greeks to victory at Marathon

Revolt in Egypt & Darius’ death in 486 delayed Persians’ return

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The Persian WarsThemistocles led Athens to build strong navy Xerxes invaded in 480 B.C.

Conquered Thrace & MacedoniaLeonidas & 9,000 Greeks held pass at ThermopylaeAthens evacuated & sackedGreek fleet defeated Persians off Salamis

Mardonius defeated at Plataea in 479

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The Peloponnesian Wars(460-404 B.C.)

Athens formed Delian League in 478-77 B.C.1st Peloponnesian War (460-445) ended in stalemate2nd Peloponnesian War ended in Spartan victory in 404 B.C.Spartans’ harsh rule prompted revoltsCorinthian War (395-86) ended in peace dictated by Persian Emperor

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The First Historians

Herodotus (484-425 B.C.) – History of the Persian Wars

Thucydides (460-400 B.C.) – History of the Peloponnesian Wars

DramaSophocles (496-406 B.C.) – Oedipus Rex

Euripides (485-406 B.C.) – The Bacchae

Aristophanes (450-385 B.C.) – The Clouds, Lysistrata

Philosophy

Metaphysics – search for unifying force in nature

Ethics – search for moral standards

Aesthetics – search for beauty

Logic – search for connections between things

Epistemology – search for learning process

Socrates

Pre-Socratic Philosophers

Thales of Miletus (c. 600 B.C.) argued water was the basic element

Pythagoras (580-490) believed music & mathematics = essence of the universe

Empedocles (493-433) postulated four elements: earth, water, fire & air

Democritus proposed atomic theory

Hippocrates = said body was regulated by four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile & yellow bile

The “Big Three” of Philosophy

Socrates (469-349) – “Knowledge is virtue”

Plato (429-347) – The RepublicProducers

Warriors

Philosopher-Kings

Aristotle (384-322)Monarchy becomes tyranny

Aristocracy becomes oligarchy

Constitutional republic becomes democracy (anarchy)

Religion

Zeus = king, Hera = queen

Poseidon = god of the sea

Ares = god of war

Apollo = god of the sun

Artemis = goddess of hunting

Athena = goddess of wisdom

Hephaestus = smith of the gods (volcanoes)

Hermes = messenger of the gods

Pan-Hellenic Games

Four sets at four different locations:Olympia – dedicated to Zeus (776 B.C. – 5th cen. A.D.)Delphi – dedicated to ApolloNemaea – dedicated to HeraclesCorinth – dedicated to Poseidon

Events included:RunningChariot racesBoxing & wrestlingPentathelon (running, wrestling, boxing, javelin toss & long jump)