The Shaping of Classical Greece 2000 B.C. – 300 B. C. Chapter 5 Section 1 Cultures of the Mountains and the Seas.

The Shaping of Classical Greece2000 B.C. – 300 B. C. Chapter 5Section 1Cultures of the Mountains and the Seas

Geography Shapes Greek Life

• Three seas: Ionian, Aegean, and Mediterranean – Linked parts of Greece

together– Connected Greece to other

societies– Sea travel and trade were

important due to Greece’s lack of natural resources

Key Classical Greek City-States

Aegean SeaIonian Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea

Land of Rugged Mountains• Mountains covered ¾ of Ancient

Greece- only ¼ of the land was arable (suitable for agriculture)

• Effect on politics– Small, local community

governments- NEVER united into one empire

• Effect on population– Not enough farm land to support a

large population

The Climate

• Greece’s climate is mild with varied, moderate temperatures

• This supported outdoor, public meetings which will shape the Greek political system

Civilization Develops

• Mycenaeans– Indo-Europeans who settled in the

southern mountains of the peninsula

– Dominated by strong warrior kings from 1600 BC to 1100 BC

• Minoans- (Remember the island in the Med Sea!)– Mycenaeans had contact with them

after 1500 BC- probably through trade

– Mycenaeans adapted the Minoan language into Greek, and Minoan culture influenced art, religion, politics, and literature.

The Trojan War

• When?– 1200’s B.C lasted 10 years

• Once was thought to be a fictitious legend (archeologist discoveries of cities that may have influenced the stories)

• One of the last Mycenaean battles.

Video Link

Dorians

• Represented a decline in Greek culture following the Trojan War– Less advanced– Economy and trade collapsed– Lack of history from 1150 BC – 750 BC

indicated no form of writing– Homer

• Blind story teller• Narrative, heroic poems- Illiad and

Odyssey– Myths

• Traditional stories about gods and goddesses used to explain nature and natural eventsVideo

The Greek City States

Chapter 5 Sections 2•Warring City States

Rule and Order in the City-StatesRemember, a city-state is a city and it’s

surrounding lands controlled by a strong government----- the Greeks did not unite into an empire- but a league of loosely united city-states

• Polis- fundamental political unit in ancient Greece– 50-500 square miles– Less than 10,000 residents– Citizens gathered at the agora

(marketplace) on the acropolis (fortified hill-top) to discuss city government

www.grisel.net/acropolis.htm

The Acropolis in Athens Today

Let’s Review:

1. Why did the population in most city-states stay relatively small?

The lack of arable land

2. What made it possible to have open markets and an acropolis?

Climate and mountainous terrain

Forms of Government

• Monarchy- a single person, KING, ruled the government

• Aristocracy- ruled by a small group of noble, land-owning families.

• Oligarchy- ruled by a few powerful people a new class of wealthy merchants dissatisfied with nobles took over power

• Tyrants-powerful leaders who gained support of common people after agreeing to set up building programs and provide jobs for their supporters.

Question:

What is the difference between a tyrant today and the tyrants of ancient Greece?

Today tyrants are considered harsh and cruel.

Athenian Democracy

• Athenian democracy= rule by the people in Athens

a. Draco- legal code- all Athenians were equal * death was punishment for most crimes & upheld debt slavery

b. Solon- four social classes based on wealth- only TOP three could hold political office all could participate

c. Cleisthenes- divided citizens based on where they lived not wealth

*citizens could submit laws, council of Five Hundred proposed laws and counseled the Assembly (members were chosen at random)

Question:

What was citizenship based on?

free adult male property owners could be citizens

Sparta- Military State

Branches of government

a. Citizens and elected officials general assembly-voted on issues

b. Elders 30 older citizens that proposed the laws to the assembly

c. 5 carried out the laws and 2 kings for military operations

* This is closer to a republic than a pure democracy.

Military Operations

•All men served in the army until age 60

•From age 7 – 30 they lived in Army barracks and trained

•Girls received some military training

•All put service to Sparta above everything else

•Iron weapons affordable to all

•New army of foot soldiers – hoplites

•Formation called the phalanx – the most feared force in the ancient world.

•Assisted Greeks in the Persian Wars

The Phalanx

The Golden Age

Chapter 5 Sections 3•Democracy and Greece’s Golden Age

461-429 BC Pericles’ Plan• Goals

– Strengthen democracy– Hold and strengthen the

“empire”– Glorify Athens– Strengthen democracy

increased the number of paid officials Direct Democracy= citizens rule directly, not through representatives

Question:

Is the US a direct democracy?

No, we are a representative democracy

Art and Archetecture

• Parthenon- temple built to honor Athena (goddess of wisdom and protector of Athens)

(video)

Greek Sculpture

• Sculpture- perfectly formed figures not realism

Classical art- harmony, order, balance, and proportion

Drama

• Tragedy- serious drama about love, hate, war or betrayal

• Comedy- filled with slapstick situations and crude humor- usually made fun of politics and respected people

Peloponnesian War (video)

• Sparta vs. Athens- 431 BC• Sparta had a strong army, Athens

had a strong Navy- both wanted war!– Athens weakened (during the 2nd year

b/c of a plague)– 421 BC- signed a truce– 415 BC- Athens attacked Sicily (an

ally of Sparta)– 404 BC- Athens is defeated in Sicily,

but held out for 9 more years defending their city.

Greek Philosophy

1. Socrates- absolute truth and justice don’t exist, question everything (Socratic Method)

2. Plato- student of Socrates: The Republic (book) his vision of a perfectly formed society- was not democracy

3. Aristotle- invented rules of arguing that form the basis of the scientific method

Alexander and His EmpireChapter 5Section 4: Alexander’s EmpireSection 5: Spread of Hellenistic Culture

The Rise of Macedonian PowerReminder: Greek city-states

were weakened by the Peloponnesian War

• Location- Just north of Greece- rocky terrain and cold climate- Most Macedonians were animal herders

• Major resource- shrewd & fearless kings

• Thought of themselves as Greeks– Greeks saw them as uncivilized b/c

they had no great philosophers, sculptors or writers.

Phillip II

• King at 23 years old• Brilliant general and a ruthless politician• Turned the peasants into a strong

professional army– Phalanxes (16x16) to break through

enemy lines– Fast moving cavalry to crush opponents

• Attacked & easily defeated the Greeks– City-states could not agree on anything– Athens and Thebes united, but it was too

late– Began centuries of foreign control of

Greece

Philip’s Plans

• Greece would be first• Persia would be next• Never was able to complete this

b/c he was assassinated at his daughter’s wedding (literally stabbed in the back)

• Alexander proclaimed himself king• Crushed an early rebellion by

Thebes – 6000 killed- survivors sold into

slavery and the city was destroyed

Who was Alexander?

• Philip’s 20 year old son

• Educated by Aristotle in science, geography and literature

• Military training throughout his childhood by his father

The Defeat of Persia

• Goal- to carry out his father’s plan• Campaign in Anatolia

– 35,000 troops vs. 40,000 Persians– Launched a quick attack and

destroyed the Persian defenses of DARIUS II (King)

– Darius vows to win and an army of up to 75,000 (Alexander was SERIOUSLY outnumbered)

– Surprise attack- straight to Darius!

Alexander’s Conquests

• Anatolia- Darius II ran away- offered him all land west of the Euphrates River, Alexander declined and vowed to conquer all of Persia

• Egypt- welcomed him as a liberator and crowned him pharaoh

• Mesopotamia- Darius had 250,000 men- again they fled This ended the Empire

Was Persia Enough???

• NO WAY!!! He wanted to control ALL of Asia

• India- huge offensive- but won• The army was tired

– 11 Years– 11,000 miles– Climate changes- deserts,

monsoons, etc.– BEGGED him to turn back-

reluctantly he agreed

Alexander’s Empire

Problems with Alexander’s Empire• Politics were neglected• After agreeing to turn back

he planned to strengthen and unify his lands– Roads, cities, harbors– Conquer Arabia

• Alexander never carried out his plan b/c he died.

The Empire After Alexander

• Divided among three generals• They ignored the traditions of the

Greek polis and ruled as dictators

• Cultural impact– Alexander adopted many Persian

customs– Included Persians in his army– A new culture- blending of Greek

and eastern emerged

The Spread of Hellenistic CultureChapter 5 Section 5

Q: # 1

• What Cultures did Hellenistic Blend

• Why was this important to Alexander?

• Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian

• His ambitions were not only military and political, but cultural. He desired to preserve culture. He wanted to unify his empire.

Q2:

• Why might the new language, Koine, be named for the word “common”?

• It allowed educated people and traders from diverse backgrounds to communicate in cities throughout the Empire.

Q 3:

• What were some reasons why Alexandria may have been a popular tourist destination during the Hellenistic period?

• It was a beautiful city with wide streets lined with marble statues of Greek gods. Royal palaces, Alexander’s tomb, lighthouse, library, and museum (zoo, botanical gardens) were places to see.

Q 4:

• Why might Alexander have founded a library in Alexandria?

• He was educated by the Greek philosopher and teacher Aristotle who taught him to love learning.

Q 5:

• What were two theories astronomers in Alexandria believed to be true?

• The sun was at least 300 times larger than the earth and the earth and other planets revolved around the sun.

Q 6:

• What contributions did the following people make to the worlds of science and mathematics?

• Euclid: book, Elements, proposed 465 geometry propositions and proofs- still used today

• Archimedes- value of pi, law of the lever, screw to raise water from the ground and a compound pully.