Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

-Key Concepts--Key Concepts-

I. Prehistoric BeginningsI. Prehistoric Beginnings

• The Myceneans and The Myceneans and the Minoansthe Minoans

• Heinrich Heinrich Schliemann’s Schliemann’s DiscoveriesDiscoveries--Ancient Troy (1870)--Ancient Troy (1870)--Mycenae (1876)--Mycenae (1876)

• Arthur Evans Arthur Evans Uncovers Knossos Uncovers Knossos (1899)(1899)

A. Minoan CivilizationA. Minoan Civilization

• Society at its peak Society at its peak between 2000-1500 between 2000-1500 BCEBCE

• Harmonious and Harmonious and peaceful societypeaceful society

--first known flush toilet--first known flush toilet

• Minoan civilization Minoan civilization closely interrelated to closely interrelated to Mycenean civilizationMycenean civilization

• Minoan governmentMinoan government

A. Minoan Civilization (cont)A. Minoan Civilization (cont)

• Minoan Social ClassesMinoan Social Classes

• Treatment of WomenTreatment of Women

• Minoan EntertainmentMinoan Entertainment

• A Gift for Inventions A Gift for Inventions and Engineeringand Engineering

• Minoan ReligionMinoan Religion

• Minoan ArtMinoan Art

B. Mycenaean CivilizationB. Mycenaean Civilization

• Emergence of Mycenean Emergence of Mycenean CivilizationCivilization

• Mycenean Conquest of the Mycenean Conquest of the MinoansMinoans

• The Fall of Mycenean The Fall of Mycenean CivilizationCivilization--Dorians--Dorians

• Mycenean Culture and Mycenean Culture and GovernmentGovernment-- “wanax”-- “wanax”

• A culture geared toward A culture geared toward warwar

• Mycenean ArtMycenean Art

C. Influence and Significance C. Influence and Significance of Early Greek Civilizationof Early Greek Civilization

• Minor impact on later Greek Minor impact on later Greek life and culturelife and culture

• Cultural slate “wiped clean” Cultural slate “wiped clean” by Dark Ages (1200-750 BCE)by Dark Ages (1200-750 BCE)

• Great wave of immigration Great wave of immigration during this era all over the during this era all over the Aegean and along western Aegean and along western coast of Asia Minorcoast of Asia Minor

• Still, significant contributions:Still, significant contributions:--earliest European --earliest European civilizationscivilizations--progressive Minoan art--progressive Minoan art--Minoans: worldly and --Minoans: worldly and innovativeinnovative

II. The “Dark Ages” (1200-750 II. The “Dark Ages” (1200-750 BCE)BCE)

• ““Dark Ages” in the Dark Ages” in the Near East were Near East were shorter, ending around shorter, ending around 900 BCE900 BCE

• Homer provides some Homer provides some glimpsesglimpses

• Simple political Simple political patternspatterns

• Emergence of an Emergence of an aristocracy exerting aristocracy exerting influence over societyinfluence over society

II. The “Dark Ages” (cont)II. The “Dark Ages” (cont)

• Social Life during the Social Life during the “Dark Ages”“Dark Ages”

• Purpose of Early Greek Purpose of Early Greek ReligionReligion

• Anthropomorphic Anthropomorphic Greek godsGreek gods

• Greek indifference to Greek indifference to an afterlifean afterlife

• The role of The role of aretearete or or “excellence” in early “excellence” in early Greek thoughtGreek thought

III. Early Greek Literature and III. Early Greek Literature and the Greek Alphabetthe Greek Alphabet

• Development of the Development of the Greek alphabetGreek alphabet

• Benefits of the Greek Benefits of the Greek alphabetalphabet

• Homer’s Homer’s IliadIliad

--Achilles and the --Achilles and the Trojan WarsTrojan Wars

• Homer’s Homer’s OdysseyOdyssey

--Odysseus and --Odysseus and PenelopePenelope

III. Early Greek Literature III. Early Greek Literature (cont)(cont)

• Lessons of Homer’s Lessons of Homer’s EpicsEpics

• Women as well as men Women as well as men pursued excellencepursued excellence

• Homer’s depiction of the Homer’s depiction of the godsgods

• AreteArete and the Birth of and the Birth of the Olympic Games (776 the Olympic Games (776 BCE)BCE)

• Centrality of religion for Centrality of religion for communal activitycommunal activity

III. Early Greek Literature III. Early Greek Literature (cont)(cont)

• Hesiod and the theme Hesiod and the theme of justiceof justice

-- -- Works and DaysWorks and Days

• Solon and the theme Solon and the theme of moderationof moderation

• 66thth Century BCE Lyric Century BCE Lyric PoetryPoetry

--Sappho from the --Sappho from the island of Lesbosisland of Lesbos

--Archilocus the sailor--Archilocus the sailor

IV. Greek GeographyIV. Greek Geography

• Mountains and islands Mountains and islands created isolationcreated isolation

• Blessed with lots of Blessed with lots of good harborsgood harbors

• Isolation led to Isolation led to political disunitypolitical disunity

• Intimate size of Greek Intimate size of Greek city-statescity-states

• Most plentiful natural Most plentiful natural resourcesresources

V. Early Political History and V. Early Political History and ColonizationColonization

• The Emergence of the The Emergence of the City-State (“Polis”)City-State (“Polis”)--Athens, Sparta and --Athens, Sparta and ThebesThebes

• Importance of access to Importance of access to the sea in trading the sea in trading internationallyinternationally

• Role of the gods in sea Role of the gods in sea traveltravel

• The prosperity of The prosperity of CorinthCorinth

• Origins of Greek Origins of Greek colonization movementcolonization movement

V. Early Political History V. Early Political History (cont)(cont)

• Reasons for Greek Reasons for Greek colonization between colonization between 735-600 BCE735-600 BCE

• The Pattern of Greek The Pattern of Greek colonizationcolonization-- “metropolis”-- “metropolis”-- -- oikistoikist

• Interaction with local Interaction with local inhabitantsinhabitants--1500 city-states --1500 city-states stretching from stretching from modern Spain to Asia modern Spain to Asia Minor (550)Minor (550)

V. Early Political History V. Early Political History (cont)(cont)

• Influence of other Influence of other cultures through trade cultures through trade on Greek cultureon Greek culture

• Evolution of Greek Evolution of Greek city-state governmentcity-state government

----phalanxesphalanxes

• Difference between Difference between ancient Greek political ancient Greek political system and current system and current American systemAmerican system

V. Early Political History V. Early Political History (cont)(cont)

• The concept of The concept of Greek citizenshipGreek citizenship----ethnosethnos (“league”) (“league”)----meticsmetics

• Extension of some Extension of some political rights to political rights to the poorthe poor

• Humanistic Humanistic approach to politicsapproach to politics

VI. The Centrality of the Greek VI. The Centrality of the Greek PolisPolis

• The basic political unit The basic political unit was the was the polispolis

• The center of the polis The center of the polis was the acropoliswas the acropolis

• The Greek The Greek agoraagora or or marketplacemarketplace--Athen’s Painted Stoa--Athen’s Painted Stoa

• Most Greeks were Most Greeks were farmersfarmers

• Some small-scale Some small-scale craftsmencraftsmen

VI. The Centrality of the Greek VI. The Centrality of the Greek Polis (cont)Polis (cont)

• Intimacy was a key Intimacy was a key feature of polis lifefeature of polis life

• Polis laws and Polis laws and government variedgovernment varied

• The simplicity of the The simplicity of the Greek lifestyleGreek lifestyle

• Layout of Greek homesLayout of Greek homes--men’s dining room--men’s dining room--women’s room for --women’s room for working woolworking wool--courtyard--courtyard

• Furniture and clothingFurniture and clothing

VI. The Centrality of the Greek VI. The Centrality of the Greek Polis (cont)Polis (cont)

• Greek Dietary HabitsGreek Dietary Habits• The nature of Greek The nature of Greek

slaveryslavery• Duties of Greek slavesDuties of Greek slaves• Sources of slavesSources of slaves• Treatment of slavesTreatment of slaves• Leisure and sociability Leisure and sociability

of Greek lifeof Greek life• Greeks were very Greeks were very

religious peoplereligious people• Individual defined by Individual defined by

place within the polisplace within the polis

VII. The Armed Camp of VII. The Armed Camp of Sparta Sparta

• Spartan militarism Spartan militarism forged out of treatment forged out of treatment of their neighborsof their neighbors

--Messenian Revolt --Messenian Revolt (650 BCE)(650 BCE)

• Spartan governmental Spartan governmental systemsystem

----ephors ephors (overseers)(overseers)

• The equality of Spartan The equality of Spartan citizens— “Equals”citizens— “Equals”

VII. Ancient Sparta (cont)VII. Ancient Sparta (cont)

• Treatment of Treatment of HelotsHelots• The training of The training of

Spartan boysSpartan boys• The role of women in The role of women in

SpartaSparta• The “common mess” The “common mess”

of Spartan menof Spartan men• Spartan attitudes Spartan attitudes

toward materialismtoward materialism• Spartan military Spartan military

posture was posture was isolationist and isolationist and defensivedefensive

VIII. The Athenian Political VIII. The Athenian Political PartnershipPartnership

• The legend of TheseusThe legend of Theseus• Athens evolved in a Athens evolved in a

different direction than different direction than SpartaSparta

• Hereditary aristocracy Hereditary aristocracy ruled from 750-600 BCEruled from 750-600 BCE--Draco’s Laws (610 BCE)--Draco’s Laws (610 BCE)

• Emergency powers given Emergency powers given to Solon (594 BCE)to Solon (594 BCE)

• Solon introduces Solon introduces democratic principlesdemocratic principles

VIII. Athenian Political VIII. Athenian Political Partnership (cont)Partnership (cont)

• The tyranny of The tyranny of Pisistratus (546 BCE)Pisistratus (546 BCE)

• The overthrow of the The overthrow of the tyranny of Hippias (510 tyranny of Hippias (510 BCE)BCE)

• Lasting stability Lasting stability introduced by introduced by Cleisthenes (507 BCE)Cleisthenes (507 BCE)

• All Attica divided into All Attica divided into 10 regions— “10 regions— “demes”demes”

VIII. Athenian Political VIII. Athenian Political Partnership (cont)Partnership (cont)

• Basic components Basic components of Athenian of Athenian political system:political system:--Assembly--Assembly--Athenian Council--Athenian Council--magistrates--magistrates--generals--generals

• The institution of The institution of ““ostracism”ostracism”

VIII. Athenian Political VIII. Athenian Political Partnership (cont)Partnership (cont)

• Athenian democracy Athenian democracy was never truly was never truly democratic, but closedemocratic, but close

• Problems with the Problems with the system:system:--undue influence of --undue influence of persuasive speechpersuasive speech--continuity of --continuity of experience of experience of officeholdersofficeholders

• Reason-focused, Reason-focused, humanistic foundation humanistic foundation for Athenian political for Athenian political systemsystem

IX. Greek Military HistoryIX. Greek Military History

The golden age of Greece is The golden age of Greece is set between two wars like set between two wars like

giant bookends.giant bookends.

A. The Persian WarsA. The Persian Wars

• Initial Athenian contact Initial Athenian contact with Persiawith Persia

• Athenian assistance to Athenian assistance to Ionian GreeksIonian Greeks

• Two Persian Two Persian campaigns: 490 and campaigns: 490 and 480-479 BCE480-479 BCE

• The Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)(490 BCE)

• Xerxes’ invasion of Xerxes’ invasion of Northern Greece (480)Northern Greece (480)

A. The Persian Wars (cont)A. The Persian Wars (cont)

• The burning of Athens The burning of Athens and Spartan resistance and Spartan resistance at the Pass of at the Pass of ThermopylaeThermopylae

• The naval battle of The naval battle of Salamis (479 BCE)Salamis (479 BCE)

• Significance of victory Significance of victory over the Persiansover the Persians

• Victory released a Victory released a tremendous surge of tremendous surge of confidence and confidence and optimism in human optimism in human potentialpotential

B. Growth of the Athenian B. Growth of the Athenian Empire (478-431 BCE)Empire (478-431 BCE)

• Glorious war followed Glorious war followed by inglorious eraby inglorious era

• Establishment of the Establishment of the Delian LeagueDelian League

----triremestriremes

• Growing Athenian Growing Athenian abuse of the Delian abuse of the Delian LeagueLeague

• Spartan creation of the Spartan creation of the Peloponnesian LeaguePeloponnesian League

B. Growth of Athenian Empire B. Growth of Athenian Empire (cont)(cont)

• Rich Athenians Rich Athenians exploited the Delian exploited the Delian LeagueLeague

• Evolution of the Evolution of the Athenian Jury SystemAthenian Jury System

• The political The political leadership of Periclesleadership of Pericles

• Aggressive foreign Aggressive foreign policy against Spartapolicy against Sparta

C. The Peloponnesian War C. The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)(431-404 BCE)

• Origins of the WarOrigins of the War

• Athenian military Athenian military strategystrategy

• Problems with this Problems with this strategystrategy

• Faltering Athenian Faltering Athenian religious confidencereligious confidence

• Deteriorating political Deteriorating political leadership in Athensleadership in Athens

--Cleon’s capture of 120 --Cleon’s capture of 120 Spartan “Equals” (425)Spartan “Equals” (425)

C. Peloponnesian War C. Peloponnesian War (cont)(cont)

• Changing Spartan Changing Spartan Military StrategyMilitary Strategy--Athenian siege of --Athenian siege of Melos (416 BCE)Melos (416 BCE)--Betrayal of General --Betrayal of General AlcibiadesAlcibiades

• Athenian surrender Athenian surrender and aftermathand aftermath--Rule of the Thirty --Rule of the Thirty TyrantsTyrants

• Continuing strife Continuing strife between Greek city-between Greek city-statesstates

X. Women and Slaves in the X. Women and Slaves in the Daily Life of Ancient AthensDaily Life of Ancient Athens

• Discrimination against Discrimination against women: seclusionwomen: seclusion

• Special privileges for Special privileges for priestesses and priestesses and courtesanscourtesans--Aspasia--Aspasia

• Ancient Greek marriageAncient Greek marriage• Life expectancy and Life expectancy and

daily duties of womendaily duties of women• Property rights of Property rights of

Athenian womenAthenian women

X. Women and Slaves in X. Women and Slaves in Athens (cont)Athens (cont)

• Sexual bias against Sexual bias against womenwomen

• Legendary bias Legendary bias against womenagainst women--Pandora’s box--Pandora’s box

• The importance of The importance of bearing male childrenbearing male children

• The role of Athenian The role of Athenian slavery—small-scale slavery—small-scale but crucial to the but crucial to the development of development of Athenian cultureAthenian culture

XI. Early Greek PhilosophyXI. Early Greek Philosophy

Phileo Phileo = “To love” = “To love”

Sophia Sophia = “Wisdom”= “Wisdom”

A. Ionian Cosmologists (or Pre-A. Ionian Cosmologists (or Pre-Socratics)Socratics)

• Studied the workings Studied the workings of the physical of the physical universe apart from a universe apart from a religious contextreligious context--Thales--Thales

• Nature is not Nature is not governed by chance governed by chance or manipulated by the or manipulated by the gods—nature is gods—nature is orderlyorderly

• Importance of human Importance of human reasonreason

A. Ionian Cosmologists A. Ionian Cosmologists (cont)(cont)

• All things could be All things could be reduced to a reduced to a primary substanceprimary substance

--concept of --concept of “metaphysics”“metaphysics”

--Thales: water--Thales: water

--Democritus: --Democritus: primal matter primal matter (atoms)(atoms)

A. Ionian Cosmologists A. Ionian Cosmologists (cont)(cont)

• Used general concepts Used general concepts crucial to abstract crucial to abstract thoughtthought

--Anaximander: notion of --Anaximander: notion of “boundless” and “boundless” and evolutionevolution

--Pythagoras: numbers --Pythagoras: numbers explain natural worldexplain natural world

--Parmenides: reality --Parmenides: reality known solely through known solely through the mind, not the sensesthe mind, not the senses

B. The SophistsB. The Sophists

• Professional teachers Professional teachers offering worldly offering worldly wisdom and lessons wisdom and lessons in persuasionin persuasion

• The importance of The importance of oral culture in Athensoral culture in Athens

• The training of The training of Athenian youthAthenian youth----SymposiumSymposium

B. The Sophists (cont)B. The Sophists (cont)

• Humanistic and Humanistic and relativistic teaching of relativistic teaching of ProtagorasProtagoras-- “Man is the measure -- “Man is the measure of all things”of all things”--no absolute truths--no absolute truths

• Impact of such Impact of such teachingteaching

• Conservative criticism Conservative criticism of the Sophistsof the Sophists

• Fear that Sophist Fear that Sophist teaching would offend teaching would offend the godsthe gods

C. SocratesC. Socrates

• His life and backgroundHis life and background

• Human beings and Human beings and society were the society were the essential subjects of essential subjects of philosophical inquiryphilosophical inquiry

• Did believe in universal Did believe in universal values and absolute values and absolute goodgood

• His method of teaching His method of teaching was continuous was continuous questioningquestioning

C. Socrates (cont)C. Socrates (cont)

• New Direction in Greek New Direction in Greek philosophy: Ethicsphilosophy: Ethics

• An emphasis on critical An emphasis on critical self-examinationself-examination

• Charges brought Charges brought against Socrates by a against Socrates by a democratic factiondemocratic faction

• The trial of SocratesThe trial of Socrates

• The execution of The execution of SocratesSocrates

XII. Greek Religion in the XII. Greek Religion in the Classical PeriodClassical Period

• Concept of reciprocityConcept of reciprocity

• Divine punishment of Divine punishment of humanshumans

----miasmamiasma

• The nature of the godsThe nature of the gods

• No uniform Greek faith No uniform Greek faith or creedor creed

• Priests, priestesses Priests, priestesses and religious and religious observancesobservances

XII. Greek Religion in the XII. Greek Religion in the Classical Period (cont)Classical Period (cont)

• The nature of a The nature of a religious sacrificereligious sacrifice

• The role of hero The role of hero cultscults

--Hercules--Hercules

• The Cult of The Cult of Demeter and the Demeter and the “Mysteries” of “Mysteries” of EleusisEleusis

XIII. Greek HistoryXIII. Greek History

• ““historia” historia” = = humanistic inquiryhumanistic inquiry

• Herodotus—the Herodotus—the Father of HistoryFather of History

--Father of --Father of anthropology as anthropology as wellwell

--chronicled the --chronicled the Persian WarsPersian Wars

XIII. Greek History (cont)XIII. Greek History (cont)

• Thucydides and the Thucydides and the Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War--scrutinized the --scrutinized the reliability of sourcesreliability of sources--sought underlying --sought underlying principles of history; principles of history; moralistic writingmoralistic writing--Athenian --Athenian hubrishubris led led to Peloponnesian Warto Peloponnesian War--humanistic --humanistic explanation for explanation for historical eventshistorical events

XIV. Greek MedicineXIV. Greek Medicine

• Hippocrates = Father Hippocrates = Father of Scientific Medicineof Scientific Medicine

• Four “humors” (fluids) Four “humors” (fluids) in the human body: in the human body: blood, phlegm, black blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bilebile and yellow bile

• Physician should base Physician should base his knowledge on his knowledge on careful observation of careful observation of patients and their patients and their response to remediesresponse to remedies

XV. Greek Art and Architecture XV. Greek Art and Architecture During the Golden AgeDuring the Golden Age

• ““Black Figure” Vases Black Figure” Vases and jugsand jugs

• Athenian sculptors Athenian sculptors took human greatness took human greatness as their main themeas their main theme

• Well-proportioned, Well-proportioned, naturalistic human naturalistic human nudes appear early in nudes appear early in the 5the 5thth century BCE century BCE

• Sculptors and Sculptors and tragedians both tragedians both depicting “universal depicting “universal man”man”

XV. Greek Art and Architecture XV. Greek Art and Architecture During the Golden Age (cont)During the Golden Age (cont)

• Aristocrats commission Aristocrats commission public statuarypublic statuary

• Popularity of bronze as Popularity of bronze as a medium for sculptorsa medium for sculptors

--Myron’s Discus --Myron’s Discus ThrowerThrower

• Motion and energy in Motion and energy in Greek statuary reflected Greek statuary reflected the possibility of change the possibility of change and instability in and instability in classical Greek timesclassical Greek times

XV. Greek Art and Architecture XV. Greek Art and Architecture During the Golden Age (cont)During the Golden Age (cont)

• The Athenian Parthenon The Athenian Parthenon (447-438 BCE)(447-438 BCE)

• Difference from Difference from Egyptian and Near Egyptian and Near Eastern templesEastern temples

• A new depiction of A new depiction of AthenaAthena

• Not a gathering place Not a gathering place for worshippersfor worshippers

• Size and appearance of Size and appearance of the buildingthe building

• An Ionic Frieze is used An Ionic Frieze is used on a Doric-style Templeon a Doric-style Temple

XVI. Classical Greek DramaXVI. Classical Greek Drama

• Emergence of the Emergence of the Tragic Drama (500 Tragic Drama (500 BCE)BCE)

• Athenian dramatic Athenian dramatic competitionscompetitions----protagonistsprotagonists

• The role of the chorus The role of the chorus and special effectsand special effects

• Tragedies were very Tragedies were very humanistichumanistic

• The universal law of The universal law of fate and the role of fate and the role of rational reflectionrational reflection

XVI. Classical Greek Drama XVI. Classical Greek Drama (cont)(cont)

• The theatrical The theatrical productionproduction----ThespisThespis = first single = first single actoractor

• Ideal plot inspired pity Ideal plot inspired pity or fear leading to a or fear leading to a ““catharsis”catharsis” or cleansing or cleansing for the audiencefor the audience--Sophocles’ --Sophocles’ AntigoneAntigone

• Plays frequently Plays frequently featured women as featured women as central, active figurescentral, active figures

XVI. Classical Greek Drama XVI. Classical Greek Drama (cont)(cont)

• Aeschylus and Aeschylus and patriotic dramaspatriotic dramas

----The PersiansThe Persians

• Sophocles and the Sophocles and the problems of the problems of the human condition—human condition—moderation also a moderation also a keykey

----Oedipus RexOedipus Rex

XVI. Classical Greek Drama XVI. Classical Greek Drama (cont)(cont)

• The innovations of The innovations of EuripidesEuripides----MedeaMedea and and ElectraElectra--most psychological of --most psychological of classical Greek tragediansclassical Greek tragedians

• Aristophanes and classical Aristophanes and classical Greek comediesGreek comedies----The CloudsThe Clouds----LysistrataLysistrata----Birds Birds (414 BCE)(414 BCE)

• State sponsorship of Greek State sponsorship of Greek comedies with no comedies with no censorshipcensorship

XVII. The Significance of Greek XVII. The Significance of Greek AthleticsAthletics

• Origins of the Olympic Origins of the Olympic GamesGames

• Importance of Importance of sportsmanship at the sportsmanship at the gamesgames

• Individual, not national Individual, not national competition and the competition and the nature of trainingnature of training

• Classical Greek Classical Greek Olympic EventsOlympic Events

XVII. Greek Athletics (cont)XVII. Greek Athletics (cont)

• Determining a winnerDetermining a winner• Prizes for victors and Prizes for victors and

the keeping of the keeping of Olympic recordsOlympic records--The significance of --The significance of the the pentathlonpentathlon

• No women allowed; No women allowed; athletes performed in athletes performed in the nudethe nude

• Later history of the Later history of the Olympics before the Olympics before the modern eramodern era

XVIII. The Legacy of Ancient XVIII. The Legacy of Ancient GreeceGreece• See the Greeks realisticallySee the Greeks realistically• The primacy of freedomThe primacy of freedom

----eleutheriaeleutheria• Glorification of the mind and bodyGlorification of the mind and body• Dignity of the individualDignity of the individual• Key words traced back to Greek civilizationKey words traced back to Greek civilization• Notion of democracyNotion of democracy• Rich philosophical foundationRich philosophical foundation• Fullest development of the human potentialFullest development of the human potential

----paidea paidea = everyone must sculpt their own statue= everyone must sculpt their own statue