ancient greece philosophers, athenians, spartans conquerors and conquest
TRANSCRIPT
Ancient Greece
Philosophers, Athenians, Spartans Conquerors and
Conquest
Greek Philosophers
Greek Philosophers
Philosophers – “lovers of wisdom”Sophists – “workers of wisdom” – Teachersphileo = lovesophia = wisdomIf sophia = wisdom and moron = fool, then a sophomore
is a “wise fool.”
Pythagoras582-500 B.C.
The universe could only be understood thru numbers.
Sun, moon, and earth revolved around a central fire.
Each planet produces a tone!
Famous for the Pythagorean Theorem: a2
+ b2 = c2
Pythagoras582-500 B.C.
Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2
a2
c2
b2
Protagoras485 - 410 B.C.
Most famous of the Sophists Believed that reason and
knowledge should be used to achieve a comfortable, safe, and happy life.
Teachings to equip citizens for life in the polis:
1. Public speaking – oratory and rhetoric2. Politics3. Grammar – language4. The art of being respectable
Plato named one of his dialogues after him.
Hippocrates460-377 B.C.
Founded a school of medicine
Rejected that sickness comes from the gods
Careful observations of symptoms
Acute Chronic
“Holistic” healing Hygiene Diet Curative powers of nature
The Hippocratic Oath
Euclidc.300 B.C.
One of the most prominent mathematicians
Wrote The Elements Widely used till about 1903. 2nd only to the Bible in
numbers of translations, publications, and study
Greek – Arabic – Latin Said to Ptolemy: “There
is No Royal Road to geometry!”
Archimedes287 - 212 B.C.
Greek mathematician – Geometry
War machines and other devices
Theory of buoyancy - “Eureka!”
Law of the lever Archimedean screw
Archimedean Screw
Modern application of the Archimedean Screw
The Three Most Famous Philosophers
Socrates Plato Aristotle
Socrates469 - 399 B.C.
Critic of the Sophists Encouraged students to think Left no writings – skeptical Dialectic method
Conversational Based upon reason and logic
Popular among the youth a “gadfly” in Athens Placed on trial for impiety and
corrupting the youth Was executed in 399 – drank poison
hemlock
Socrates469 - 399 B.C.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -
Socrates -
Socrates469 - 399 B.C.
Socratic Method:I. Admit ignorance.II. Never rely on tradition.III. Continuously question.IV. Formulate your own
opinions.V. Test your opinions with
others.
Socrates469 - 399 B.C.
Socrates’ dialectic method was a departure from earlier philosophers.
Earlier philosophers were interested in the nature of the universe and basic elements.
Socrates’ approach was more rigorous and was the forerunner of logic.
Most famous student: Plato
Socrates469 - 399 B.C.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Plato427 - 347 B.C.
Preserved and perpetuated the work of Socrates
Most important source of info on Socrates
Founded the Academy Wrote dialogues
Universal Forms was a recurring theme
The Republic – most important dialogue“Those things which are beautiful are also
difficult.”
Aristotle384 - 322 B.C.
Most famous student of Plato
Most famous teacher of Alexander the Great
Developed Logic as a field of study
Devised a complex system of classification
Used in biology
Views on Government
Aristotle384 - 322 B.C.
Views on Government
3 Good Governments: Monarchy Aristocracy Democracy
3 Bad Governments: Tyranny Oligarchy Mob Rule
Aristotle384 - 322 B.C.
“All things in moderation”
“Man is by nature a political animal.”
Greek and Roman
MythologyA Reviewof
The Principal Gods and Goddesses
What is a myth? A traditional story rooted in
primitive folk beliefs of cultures Uses the supernatural to interpret
natural events Explains the culture’s view of the
universe and the nature of humanity
In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children:
Night (darkness) Erebus (death)
“All was black, empty, silent, endless.”
Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.
And then... When Love was born, order and
beauty began to flourish. Love created Light and Day. Earth was created.
She was the solid ground, but also a personality.
The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.
The First Parents Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) They had three kinds of children:
Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads
Three cyclopes The titans
These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.
The Titans (The Elder Gods)
There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strength Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Rhea: Wife of Cronos Ocean: River that encircled the
world Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,
Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)
The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of
Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres)
Other Olympians include Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone
The Olympians
Zeus
Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove)
Supreme god of the Olympians.
Fathered many characters in mythology
Zeus
Hera Roman Name:
Juno Zeus’s sister
and wife Jealous
protector of marriage
Punished the women Zeus fell in love with
Poseidon
Roman Name: Neptune
God of the Seas and Waters
“The Earthshaker”
Hades
Roman Name: Pluto
God of the Underworld/ Dead
Kidnapped Persephone
Hestia
Roman Name: Vesta
Goddess of Home
Powerful Protector
Demeter
Roman Name: Ceres
Goddess of the Harvest
A Goddess of the Earth
Athena
Roman Name: Minerva
Goddess of Wisdom and War
Sprang from Zeus’s head
Ares
Roman Name: Mars
God of War Son of Zeus
and Hera Bloodthirsty
and merciless
Hephaestus Roman Name:
Vulcan (Mulciber)
God of Fire/Forge
Son of Zeus and Hera
Kind, unlike his brother
Apollo
Roman Name: Apollo
God of Light/Sun and Music
Brother of Artemis
Artemis
Roman Name: Diana
Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt
Sister to Apollo
Hermes
Roman Name: Mercury
Messenger of the Gods
Appears in more myths than any other character
Aphrodite
Roman Name: Venus
Goddess of Love and Beauty
Sprang from the ocean foam
Dionysus
Roman Name: Bacchus
God of Wine Patron god of
the Greek stage
A God of the Earth
Persephone
Roman Name: Proserpina
Goddess of the Underworld
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
Abducted by Hades
Hebe
Roman Name: Juventas
Goddess of Youth
Cupbearer to the Gods
Restored youth to the aged
Eros
Roman Name: Cupid
Young God of Love
Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus
Iris
Goddess of the Rainbow
Messenger for Zeus and Hera
Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra
The Muses Nine daughters
of Zeus and Mnemosyne
Inspired artists of all kinds
Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences
“He is happy whom the muses love.”
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The Graces
Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty
“They give life its bloom.”
Aglaia (Splendor)
Euphrosyne (Mirth)
Thalia (Good Cheer)
The Erinnyes (The Furies)
Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies)
Three Goddesses of Vengeance Tisiphone Alecto Megaera
They punish evildoers.
The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters
Clotho (“The Spinner”) Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) Atropos (“The cutter”)
They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
The Satyrs
Gods of the woods and mountains
“Shepherd gods” Goat men (like Pan) Companions of
Dionysus They like to drink,
dance, and chase nymphs.
The Gorgons
Three snake-haired monsters
Medusa is most well-known
Their look turns men to stone.
The Centaurs Half man,
half horse Savage
creatures (except Chiron)
Followers of Dionysus
THE GREEK CITY-STATES
AND THE WAR WITH PERSIA
THE POLIS The Polis is the Greek word for city-state
which is essentially a town, city or village.
In each city, usually at the top of a hill was the Acropolis. It was a fortified meeting area that was used for religious center or refuge against attack.
The Agora was an open area below the acropolis that served as a market and assembly area.
GREEK COLONIES Between 750 and 550BC the Greek settled other
land besides Greece and became as independent as the Mother cities they came from. Main Setting Areas: Aegean Sea & Black Sea
Hellespont Bosporus
Byzantium (Constantinople-Istanbul) Main Settling Areas: Mediterranean Sea
Italian Coasts Spanish Coasts Sicily Coast Egyptian Coast
THE WAR WITH PERSIA The 300
SPARTA – VIDEO VIDEO 2 Located on the Peloponnesus Captured the Messenians and
Laconians who become Helots – captured.
Sparta is a Military State- created to control the helots.
The lives of the Spartans were very rigid and organized (Spartan means highly self-disciplined).
SPARTAN MEN & WOMEN Agoge - Spartan boys were taken to military training
camps at age 7 and officially joined the army at age 20.
Spartan men were allowed to marry at 20 but were often away either living in the barracks until age 30, after joining the military at age 20, or being away at war. Men served in the army until age 60.
Since their husband were gone so much, Spartan women had greater freedoms than most women in Greece at the time.
They were also expected to stay fit to bear and raise healthy children. The girls were trained in javelin throwing, wrestling and running.
SPARTAN GOVERNMENT Oligarchy – Two Kings Ephors – A group of 5 men who were elected every
year. Responsible for the education of the youth and the
conduct of all citizens. Council of Elders – 2 Kings and 28 Citizen over age
60. They decided and voted on issued. They did not debate.
The Spartan government discouraged visitors and traveling abroad for the fear that new ideas might be introduced into the Spartan culture.
Spartan were all about war.
ATHENS Located on the Peninsula of Attica. Early on it was ruled by a king but later
became an Oligarchy under the control of its aristocrats. They owned the best land.
Problems arose in the late 7th century BC when many farmer were sold into slavery to pay debts.
The poor demanded they all debts be cancelled and land be given to the poor.
ATHENIAN REFORMS Solons Reforms
Cancelled all debts but didn’t give land to the poor. Aristocrats still powerful and poor could not get land. This
conflict eventually led to Tyranny. Pisistratus
Aided trade as a way of pleasing merchants and gave land to the poor and a way to gain their favor.
The people didn’t like his son when he took over so they rebelled and threw him out ending the tyranny.
Cleisthenes Created an assembly of 500 to oversee the Athenian
government. They passed laws after open debate. Created the basis for Athenian democracy.
The Persian Wars
Greece’s Finest Hours
The Rise of Sparta
• Ever since Messenian Wars Sparta followed an aggressive policy of expansion, partly through war and partly through diplomacy.
• By the beginning of the 5th century Sparta owned the whole of southern Peloponnese, and dominated the rest as the leading power.
• The armies of Sparta already had a reputation of invincibility• Successful reforms in the 7th century had spared Sparta of the worst
social/economic/political problems that other Greek cities faced in the 7th and 6th c.
• While the rest of the Greek world was facing tyranny, poverty and upheaval, Sparta was enjoying prosperity, stability, and political/military success.
Where is Persia?
The Rise of Achaemenid Persia
Cyrus II and the Foundation
• Between 550 and 530 BC Cyrus II, establishes a vast empire
• First he incorporates Media and Persia, then the Assyrian Empire, and then many lands on the east of Iran
• He establishes a rule based on local diversity, respects local religions and customs
• His son and heir Cambyses II conquered Egypt.
Darius I (the housekeeper)
• Darius was a pretender, who prevailed after a bloody succession war.
• He expanded the empire to the East, and tried to incorporate Europe, including Greece
• His European campaigns were mostly a failure
• He organized the Empire, cut new coins (darics), and introduced new laws.
• His generals were defeated by the Athenians at Marathon.
Why Fight?
• Greeks had been settling on the west coast of Asia Minor (Persia)
• Persia conquered these colonies• In 499 B.C. Greeks in these colonies
revolted against Persian rule (they were used to ruling themselves—democracy)
• Athens sent troops to support the revolt
Crushing the Revolt
• Emperor Darius of Persia crushed the revolt rather quickly
• He decided to punish Athens for helping the colonies
• After training for a few years Darius sent troops to invade Greece
• Sailed on to the Bay of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon
• Athens asked Sparta to help, but Spartan troops would not arrive for 9 days (they were in the middle of religious festivals)
• Other jealous city-states decided not to help Athens against the Persian Empire
• So Athens took on the mighty Persian Empire by themselves
A Serious Mismatch
• Persian troops—100,000• Athenian troops—20,000
• Did Athens really have any hope against these odds?
Victory
• The Athenian army was well-trained and did not break formation as they charged the Persian lines
• The organized charge surprised the large but scattered (and poorly organized) Persian army
• The Persian soldiers turned and ran from the oncoming Athenians
A Slaughter
• The Athenian army almost drove the Persians back to the sea
• Final tally– Persians—6, 400 dead– Athens—192 dead– Darius returned to Persia never to return
Connection to the Past• The modern marathon has its roots in the Battle of
Marathon• A Greek soldier, Phidippides, ran from Marathon
to Athens (26 miles) to tell the Athenians of the Greek victory and to warn them that the Persians may try to attack
• Phidippides died from exhaustion after delivering his message
• Today’s 26 mile marathon races remember his heroic act of martyrdom
Back for Revenge
• The Persian Emperor Darius never returned, but his son Emperor Xerxes did
• In 480 B.C. the Persians returned to Greece• They brought even more men this time
around
Xerxes
• 486: Darius dies: Xerxes becomes king
• 484: Egypt revolts• After the suppression of the
revolt Xerxes prepares for a campaign against Greece.
• 480: Xerxes personally leads an invasion of Greece
The Fictional Xerxes
The real Xerxes
• A sophisticated, fun-loving womanizer, better suited for the luxuries of the court than the battlefield.
• Xerxes inherited the Greek campaign from his father.
• During his reign, a new imperial capital was built, intended to glorify Persian might
Persepolis: The Great Palace of Xerxes
The Invasion of Xerxes
The Battlefield of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae
• Persians met a force of Greeks at Thermopylae
• This was a small mountain pass that controlled access to all of Greece
• For two days 7,000 Greeks held the Persians back, but…
The Battle of Thermopylae
• 480: Although strategically it was a hopeless undertaking, the stand of king Leonidas and his personal guard at Thermopylae, encourages the fighting Greeks.
• The Athenians, with an equal spirit of bravery, retreat and allow the city to be burnt to the ground.
• This is the limit of Xerxes’ successes in Greece
The Downfall
• A Greek traitor showed the Persians a secret passageway
• This allowed the Persians to sneak up from behind and attack the Greeks
• Most of the Greek defenders ran away
A Heroic Act
• About 300 Spartans stayed behind and fought to their deaths
• This allowed the other Greeks to escape capture or certain death
Here come the Persians
• The Persians poured into Greece• They got their revenge by wreaking havoc• They even burned Athens to the ground
• What were the Greeks to do?
The Battle of Salamis
• As their city-state burned the Athenian people and the army escaped to the island of Salamis
• The Persians were quick to follow the retreating Greeks to Salamis
Those Clever Athenians
• The Greeks ships first sailed from shore like they were fleeing the island
• They then turned quickly around and began ramming the Persian ships
• Before the Persians knew what had happened half of their fleet was on the ocean floor
• The Persians once again retreated back to Persia
Battle of Salamis (480)
• In the narrow waters of Salamis the Athenian-led Greek fleet destroys the Persian navy.
• Xerxes, for fear of being cut off, leaves for Asia
• His general Mardonius is left behind with much of the land army
The Final Battle
• The Battle of Plataea• The Greeks and Persians at equal strength• Athens and Sparta fought side by side• Greek military superiority won out and
Persia retreated for good
The battle of Plataia (479 BC)
• In the battlefield of Plataia the Spartan army, led by Pausanias, regent for the son of Leonidas, wiped out the Persian land forces.
• Spartan victory was so swift and decisive that the more populous Athenian army did not even get the chance to get to the
battlefield on time. • This ended Persian threat against Greece.
In future, the Greeks would be the
aggressors against Persia.
How did the Greeks do it?
• Three reasons– Inherent advantage of the defender– They were better soldiers – They used the element of surprise
THE DELIAN LEAGUE Athenians formed a defensive alliance with
other Greek city-states. Headquarters was on the island of Delos. Led by Athenian commanders and treasurers. The Delian armies chased the Persians and
liberated nearly all Greek states from the Persians.
The Athenians then moved the treasury to Athens and proceeded to control the League, thus making an Empire.
AGE OF PERICLES Pericles was the dominant figure in
Athenian politics from 461-429BC. Direct Democracy – the people participate
directly in the government decision making process through mass meetings.
All male citizens participated in government by voting.
Not all males over 18 participated in the mass meetings where laws were made and officials were elected.
AGE OF PERICLES Ostracism – People would write a name f
a person on a piece of pottery and that person was banned for 10 years if they were named by 6000 members.
Pericles created rebuilding programs that built new temples and statues that had been destroyed by the Persians.
The city them flourished and became the “school of Greece.”
ATHENIAN ECONOMY Based on farming and trade.
Grew grains, fruit and vegetables for local usGrew olives and grapes for local use and
trade.Raised sheep and goats for wool and milk
products. Because of the high-level of trade,
Athens built a port near Piraievs making them the largest trade center in the Greek world.
ATHENIAN FAMILY Family was very important: husband, wife
and children. Also included were other relatives and slaves. The families job was to produce new citizens.
Women had few rights outside the home. Participate in religious festivals. Could not own property. Always had a male guardian:
Unmarried – Father Married – Husband Widowed – Son or male relative
ATHENIAN WOMEN Primary roles as a wife was to be a good
wife and bear children (esp. males).All housework was either done by her or the
slaves. Women married young and had to learn
responsibilities fast. Most didn’t get a formal education
The Arrival Of Macedonia: Phillip II And Alexander The
Great
The Northern Greeks: The Macedonians
Kingdom of Macedonia was north of Greece
Macedonians were considered barbaric and not worthy of Greek attention
Macedonians had their own problems dealing with invasions from Europe and constant fighting amongst themselves
Phillip II 359 B.C. Phillip Of
Macedonia assumes power
Skilled politician and master of Greek warfare who seeks to exploit weaknesses of many Greek poleis
He is skilled and daring enough to seize the entire Greek Peloponnese
Phillip II Army of Macedonia
had many strengths Army was based on
heavy and light cavalry supported by hoplite phalanxes
Macedonian Phalanx consisted of Greek soldiers in a tight formation of shields and long lances (Sarissa)
Macedonians breed for war
Phillip II Phillip of Macedonia
controls Greece by 339 B.C. through conquest and by promising to remove Persian presence from Greece
He assassinated before daughters wedding in 338 B.C. (alleged that Alexander had role in his death)
Alexander assumes throne at 20 years of age
Alexander The Great Alexander is an
experienced commander and determined to prove himself
Calls for Greek troops but is ignored by Greek poleis
Massacres the polis Thebes in 335 B.C.to send a message
His army swells with Greek troops who fear him
Alexander The Great Alexander invades
Persia and at Battle of The Granicus 334B.C. defeats an army of 110,000
He moves into Egypt and is proclaimed pharaoh
Builds the famous lighthouse of Alexandria
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World
Alexander The Great: The Persian Conquest
Alexander seeks to conqueror Babylon in 334 B.C.
Persian Emperor Darius fails to stop the Greeks from moving into the heart of his kingdom
331 B.C. Battle of Issus Alexander crushes the Persian army led by Darius who flees the field of battle
Darius is eventually killed by own troops to appease Alexander
Alexander The Great: The Persian Conquest
Alexander conquerors the Persian empire and becomes infatuated with Persian life
Convinced he is destined to conqueror the world
He conquerors Afghanistan and Pakistan until he ventures into India past the Indus River Valley
India proves to be more than a challenge
Alexander the Greats Victory at Hydaspes
River, 326 B.C.
Alexander The Great: The Persian Conquest
Alexander’s army refuses to go any further
He seeks to punish his men by returning through the deserts of Pakistan and loses 50% of his men
Returns to Babylon by 324 B.C. and seeks to merge the Greek and Persian empires into one
Alexander The Great: The Persian Conquest
323 B.C. Alexander seeks to cross into Arabia and beyond
The Greek army is exhausted and on the brink of mutiny
Alexander mysteriously dies before his plans are complete
Death is a mystery
The Significance Of Alexander
A magnificent general and leader whose accomplishments of war are still studied
He helped spread Greek culture throughout the Middle East
He built over 70 cities along trade routes using Greek style including bathes and gymnasiums which contribute to cultural exchange
The Significance Of Alexander
Introduced the Hellenistic Age it was the mixture of Greek and Persian culture that produced new ideas on civilization
This lead to the birth of cosmopolitan cities
Shortcoming was that he was not concerned with ruling an empire
Alexander the Great356 -323 B.C.
Alexander the Great356 -323 B.C.