Mediterranean Classical Civilization GREEKS AND ROMANS
Jan 18, 2016
Mediterranean Classical Civilization
GREEKS AND ROMANS
Vocab Alexander the Great
Extended Greek Empire into Persia and India
Hellenistic Period (After ATG died) Greek culture merged with ME. Alexandria becomes important
Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) Between Roman republic and Phoenicians in Carthage Hannibal defeated and Rome take N Africa and Greece
Julius Caesar Dictator of Roman Republic who made it an empire
Constantine End of Roman empire moves capital allows Christianity to flourish
Greek city-states “Polis” in Greek means city-state. United in language and religion but not gov
Socrates Philosopher Encouraged students to challenge conventional wisdom
Plato Socrates pupil Thought people could approach perfect forms of truth, beauty and
goodness
Aristotle Student of Plato developed logic and reasoning in Western sense stressed moderation
Iliad (Homer) Greek poem about the Trojan Wars
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian Types of columns
Battle of Marathon Persians invaded Greece and were defeated at Marathon
King Xerxes Persian king that invaded Greece ultimately defeated
Battle of Thermopylae Spartan King Leonidas and 300 take on Persian army Defeated but bought time
for Greeks
Zoroastrianism Persian religion developed by Zoroaster (600 BCE) Taught life is struggle good vs
evil Humans choose
Olympic Games Held at Olympia in honor of Zeus
Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE) Athens vs Sparta Sparta wins but Greek city-states are weakened
Alexandria Seaport in Egypt founded by Alexander Center of Hellenistic culture
Carthage Ancient Phoenician city-state N Africa (Tunisia) Rome defeats
Hannibal Carthaginian general led troops into Italy 2nd Punic War Lost
Augustus Caesar (63 BCE-14 BCE) Grandnephew of Julius Caesar Restored order to Rome 1st emperor
Polis Greek word for city-state
Herodotus Greek historian called the “Father of History” wrote of Persian Wars
Pythagoras Hellenistic mathematician basic geometric theorems still used today
Euclid Hellenistic mathematician “Father of Geometry”
Ptolemy Hellenistic astronomer dealing with geocentric theory
Vergil (Virgil) Roman poet wrote the Aeneid
Indo-EuropeansSame as the Aryans
Move into Greek islands (particularly Crete)
Influenced by Nile and T&E Civilizations
Eventually the Mycenae Kingdom emerges (1400 BCE)Trojan Wars (depicted by
Homer)Iliad is about the last year
Eventually destroyed by invaders
Aeneas escaping Troy Helps found Rome
PersiaModern day Iran
Major influence
Had absorbed many Mesopotamian traits
Cyrus the Great (550 BCE)Established an large empire
Tolerant of local customsAdvanced iron technologyDeveloped Zoroastrianism
Good vs evil and man must choose
Art celebrating their rulers
Ultimately had little influence on Med coast but Persian language and culture lasted in area of Iran until today
Conquered by Alexander the Great
Rise of Greek Civilization800-600 BCE
1. Strong city-states (why could this be a problem?)Gov worked well b/c of mountains and terrain
2. Trade developed3. Common language (From Phoenician alphabet)4. Common culture (including gods)5. Olympic Games (Why?)
Sparta and Athens emerge as the most powerful
Olympic GamesStarted in 776 BC
Running (originally the only sport) JumpingDiscusBoxingEquestrianPankration
Athens vs Sparta2 leading city-states
Worked together to defeat the Persians
Spread culture to S Italy and TurkeyAthens
Diverse commercial state with slavesArt, architecture and intellectual advancesLeadership was direct democracy
SpartaStrong military aristocracy with slaves
AthensPericles (most famous politician)
Aristocrat that ruled by influence and negotiationAllowed each citizen to participateAssemblies to
1. select officials2. pass laws
Restrained some Athenians trying to expandCouldn’t ultimately stop them
Peloponnesian War431-404 BCE
Athens vs Sparta (Sparta wins)
Philip II of MacedonEventually conquered those cities
in 338 BCEAlexander the Great takes over
Extends empire to 1. ME 2. India 3. Egypt
Dies at age 33 and empire is splitStart of Hellenistic Period
Hellenistic Period
Comes from Hellenes (AKA Greek)1. Not much
political innovation but consolidates Greek Civ
2. Trade flourished3. Scientific study
increase4. Alexandria
becomes educational center
ROME
Final phase of classical Mediterranean civilizationSubjugated Greek and Hellenistic Kingdoms (1st century)
Began in 800 BCE
Etruscans (616 BCE) Introduced the archBuilt 1st sewers and walls Introduced gladiator games and chariot racesOverthrown by Roman aristocrats (509 BCE)
Establish more elaborate political institutions for city-state
Begins Roman Republic
Roman RepublicExtends over the Italian
Peninsula
Social class1. Patricians2. Plebeians
Cincinnatus (519-430 BCE)Early roman hero Patrician becomes dictator during
warWins the war gives up power and
returns to his farmServe for greater good
Punic Wars
264-146 BCE
Fought Carthage (Phoenician city)Hannibal invades Italy (Over the
Alps)Wins and controls much of Roman
area for 15 yearsEventually defeated by Scipio
Africanus
Carthage is destroyed
Spread salt around the city WHY?
Rome now controls Northern Africa and Greece
Roman Republic End Government becomes unstable
Victorious generals want more power Poor rebel
60 BCE Caesar, Crassus and Pompey (1st
Triumvirate) Crassus dies and Pompey aligns with Senate
Caesar wins Gallic Wars (51 BCE) Gives Rome present day Belgium and France
Caesar invades Britain
Ordered to step down but crosses the Rubicon instead Leads to Civil War Caesar wins but is murdered Ides of March
(15th 44 BCE)
2nd Triumvirate
Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son and heir) Joins with Mark Anthony and Marcus LepidusDefeat Caesars assassins
In fighting leads to: Lepidus being exiledMark Anthony commits suicide after being defeated
Cleopatra commits suicide soon afterHer son (Julius Caesar’s son) was executedPtolemaic Dynasty ends
Octavian becomes Augustus Caesar 27 BCE
Roman EmpireGovernment
1. Kept Senate but now mostly for show
2. Larger organizational capacity than city-states
3. Tolerance of local rule, customs and religion WHY?
4. Military held tremendous power
5. Law based on 1. objective judges not personal whim2. promoted fairness based on commonsense
Story of slave being shaved
Roman EmpireBuilt vast public works
Built to entertain and distractColosseum (Flavian Amphiteater)
Gladiator games etcCircus Maximus
“bread and circus”Public bathsTheaters
Built for military and tradeRoadsHarbors
Roman ReligionDidn’t create a significant world class religion
Christianity did arise from the Roman Empire
Belief in spirits and gods and goddesses that regulate life
Provided stories on how the world came to be but not how to behave/act ethically
Roman ReligionOfficial religion
Allowed other religions as long as it didn’t interfere with loyalty to the state
What religion was persecuted at times? Why?
Public ceremonies
Jupiter (Zeus) Faun
Apollo Flora
Neptune Bacchus
Mars Ceres
Venus Cupid
Roman ReligionMany common people not attracted to this
Many turn to “mystery” religionsSecret rituals
Creates a further divide between upper and lower class
EconomyMostly farmers
Tied to religious events and rituals for harvest
Belief in afterlife WHY?
Many farmers forced to be under large landlords
Further leads to class division
Pax Romana27 BC- 180 AD
Time of relative peace in the Roman Empire
Empire continued to expandFought on borders but not much in the empire
Ends when Marcus Aurelius dies
Minoan CultureCrete
2700-1450 BCE
Known for building columns etc (influenced Greeks etc)
Cultural center was Knossos
Hellenistic SocietyUsed math to explain nature
Made advances in geometry in medicine
Comparing Greece to Rome
DifferencesG- known for politics (Athens- direct democracy)R- known for engineering
SimilaritiesDeveloped large commercial estates (little agr. Advances)Had slaves (agriculture, household, tutors, entertainment,
mines) Involved citizens (although G sometimes elected tyrants)Strong militaryWorship of godsPublic worksMost common gov was aristocratic democracyBoth colonized overseas areas
Rome compared Han Empire
Similar to HanCultural traditions established Imperial roads connected to Silk RoadPeace in the empireExpansion of the empireLong established central gov. followed by bad leaders
Different from HanH- Confidence in trained officialsR- confidence in lawsH- Assimilated the people they ruled (unified them)R- Allowed people to keep customs for loyaltyR- created monumental architectureH- Gov positions based on scholarly achievement