Greece Based on the creation of city-states rather Based on the creation of city-states rather

than a single political unit.than a single political unit. Each city-state had its own government Each city-state had its own government

typically a tyranny or aristocratic council.typically a tyranny or aristocratic council. The typical city government had The typical city government had

surrounding territory of several hundred surrounding territory of several hundred miles, contributed to this intense political miles, contributed to this intense political concern.concern.

Greece Those who were citizens felt that the state Those who were citizens felt that the state

was theirs and they had rights and was theirs and they had rights and obligations without which their government obligations without which their government could not survive.could not survive.

Hellenistic culture is the merging of Greek Hellenistic culture is the merging of Greek art with other Middle Eastern forms, art with other Middle Eastern forms, particularly Persia.particularly Persia.

..

Persian Tradition

Greeks and Romans had contacts with and Greeks and Romans had contacts with and were influenced by the large Persian (Iran) were influenced by the large Persian (Iran) Empire and it’s descendants.Empire and it’s descendants.

Zoroastrianism, came from within the Zoroastrianism, came from within the Empire.Empire.

Persia was toppled by the Greek leader Persia was toppled by the Greek leader Alexander the Great.Alexander the Great.

Greece Sparta and Athens became the two leading city-statesSparta and Athens became the two leading city-states Sparta represented a strong military while Athens was Sparta represented a strong military while Athens was

proud of its artistic and intellectual leadership.proud of its artistic and intellectual leadership. During the 5During the 5thth Century BCE Pericles dominated Century BCE Pericles dominated

Athenian politics, creating a democratic political Athenian politics, creating a democratic political structure.structure.

Between 500-449 BCE the two cooperated to defeat a Between 500-449 BCE the two cooperated to defeat a huge Persian invasion. huge Persian invasion.

It was during and immediately after this period that It was during and immediately after this period that Greek and Athenian culture reached its high point. Greek and Athenian culture reached its high point. “Golden Age of Greece”“Golden Age of Greece”

Greece

Political decline set in for Sparta and Athens as Political decline set in for Sparta and Athens as they vied for power during the Peloponnesian they vied for power during the Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE), which left both states, Wars (431-404 BCE), which left both states, exhausted. exhausted.

Afterwards the city-states were conquered by Afterwards the city-states were conquered by Alexander the Great, who extended the Alexander the Great, who extended the Macedonian Empire throughout the Middle East Macedonian Empire throughout the Middle East and Egypt.and Egypt.

Hellenism lives on.Hellenism lives on.

Alexander the Great

Roman Republic 400 BCE to 44 BCE Final phase of classical Mediterranean Final phase of classical Mediterranean

Civilization. Began around 400 BCE. Civilization. Began around 400 BCE. Rome acquired a strong military, though initially Rome acquired a strong military, though initially

they may have been driven to protect their own they may have been driven to protect their own territory from possible rivals. territory from possible rivals.

Roman Republic expanded during the Punic Wars.Roman Republic expanded during the Punic Wars. Government typically run through an aristocratic Government typically run through an aristocratic

assembly called the Senate. Aristorcrats.assembly called the Senate. Aristorcrats. Very organized. Very organized.

Roman Republic 400 BCE to 44 BCE

Two consuls shared executive power. Two consuls shared executive power. A series of emperors continued to expand the A series of emperors continued to expand the

reign of the Roman Republic, bringing peace and reign of the Roman Republic, bringing peace and prosperity to virtually the entire Mediterranean prosperity to virtually the entire Mediterranean world. world.

Twelve Tables—first law codes of the Roman Twelve Tables—first law codes of the Roman Republic. Idea of Roman law was that rules, Republic. Idea of Roman law was that rules, objectively judged, rather than personal whim objectively judged, rather than personal whim should govern personal relationshipsshould govern personal relationships

Roman Empire 44 BCE to 476 CE Fall of the Roman republic grew unstable as Fall of the Roman republic grew unstable as

victorious generals sought power.victorious generals sought power. 45 BCE Julius Caesar ended the traditional 45 BCE Julius Caesar ended the traditional

institutions of the Roman state. institutions of the Roman state. Caesar’s grandnephew, Augustus Caesar, Caesar’s grandnephew, Augustus Caesar,

seized power in 27 BCE and established the seized power in 27 BCE and established the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.

Rome Empire The empire suffered a slow but decisive fall, The empire suffered a slow but decisive fall,

which consumed more than 250 years until which consumed more than 250 years until invading peoples from the north finally overturned invading peoples from the north finally overturned the government in Rome in 476 CEthe government in Rome in 476 CE

Julius Caesar was the leading figure in Julius Caesar was the leading figure in transforming the Roman Republic into an imperial transforming the Roman Republic into an imperial form of government ruled by one dictator.form of government ruled by one dictator.

Culture Greeks and Romans did not create a significant, Greeks and Romans did not create a significant,

world-class religion. Greco-Roman religion world-class religion. Greco-Roman religion derived from belief in the spirits of nature elevated derived from belief in the spirits of nature elevated into a complex set of gods and goddesses who into a complex set of gods and goddesses who were seen as regulating human life.were seen as regulating human life.

The idea of a philosophy separate from the official The idea of a philosophy separate from the official religion encouraged celebration of the human religion encouraged celebration of the human power to think.power to think.

Culture Socrates—encouraged his pupils to question Socrates—encouraged his pupils to question

received wisdom. His greatest pupil was Plato. received wisdom. His greatest pupil was Plato. The Socratic principle of thinking things through The Socratic principle of thinking things through by means of skeptical questioning became a by means of skeptical questioning became a recurrent strand in Classical Greek thinking.recurrent strand in Classical Greek thinking.

Science—Greek and Hellenistic work in geometry Science—Greek and Hellenistic work in geometry was particularly impressive, featuring, among was particularly impressive, featuring, among other achievements, the basic theorems of other achievements, the basic theorems of Pythagoras.Pythagoras.

Economy and Society Most were farmers. Most were farmers. Slavery also a key social institution Slavery also a key social institution Tight family structure—women subordinate Tight family structure—women subordinate

to men. However, they were active in to men. However, they were active in business and controlled a small amount of business and controlled a small amount of urban property. urban property.