CHAPTER 4

The Ancient Greeks

Greece

What they did…

Fished SailedTraded Farmed- rocky soil made it difficult

Wheat, barley, olives, grapes Sheep, goats

Minoans

First to arise in regionMade wealth from tradeSailed as far as Egypt and SyriaHistorians debate if they were washed away

by undersea earthquakes or if their civilization was destroyed by the Mycnaeans

Mycenaens

Became 1st Greek Kings around 1900 bceFrom central AsiaOrganized around a fortified palace on a hillPowerful tradersExcellent in battleLater declined into dark age from declining

trade and poverty…between 1100 and 750 bce

Greek Citizenship

Shift from subjects to citizens is new concept developed

Applied to free, native-born, land holding men

Could vote and pass lawsOwn propertyHold officeDefend themselves on courtIn return had to serve in government and be

soldiers

Hoplites

700 bce Armies increasingly composed of Hoplites,

citizen soldiersHeavily armed foot soldiers that carried

sword, shield and long spearFought shoulder to shoulder and formed wallTook pride in fighting for their city-state

Hoplite Army

Sparta

Oligarchy- power is held by small group 2 kings and council of elders

Military is central institution Boys joined at 7 and returned home at 30 Harsh training and strict discipline… 126 Lagged in trade, science, and arts

Athens

A budding DemocracyMoves towards citizen council and away from

rule by wealthy land ownersInfluence many future western civilizationsLess militaristic than SpartansFocused on all aspects of education

Math Science Art Literature….

Persian Empire

Growth of Persia

Cyrus the Great united Persians into powerful Kingdom and ruled 559 bce to 530 bce

Powerful army but a just ruler helped keep empire together

Miles of road connected empire

Darius

Came to power in 521 bceVery large armyPersonal guard of 10,000 called immortalsReorganized empire into 20 provinces called

Satripes, ruled by satraps

Persians and Greeks Clash

Battle of Marathon in 490 bceBattle of Themopylae in 480 bce was

beginning of Persian intrusion by Xerses Battle of Plataea- drove Persians outPersia is ultimately its own worst enemy-

becomes to large, rulers too extravagant, taxes to high, and eternal fighting weaken empire from within

Delian League

Alliance of Greek city states that help drive out Persians

Unites Greeks

Direct Democracy

People voted on matters concerning daily and civic life

Innovative form of gov’t Better for smaller populationsWOULD NOT WORK IN U.S.

Pericles- Golden Age

Led Athens from 461 bce- 429 bce

Made Athens very powerful in Delian League

Allowed less wealthy to participate

Age of creativity and learning

Started major rebuilding program

Supported arts

Life in Athens

Most populous city state- close to 300,000Slavery was commonMany farmed and raised sheep and goatsTrade flourished in AthensAthenian men lived social lives Women usually confined to home where life

revolved around family

Peloponnesian War

Sparta and other city states grow suspicious and resent the wealth and power of Athens

Lasted from 431 BCE to 404 BCEAthens stayed in city and fought off Sparta

and other aggressorsSparta is helped by Persia and assembles a

navy that destroyed Athenian fleet and also won other land battles-405 BCE

Weakened all involved and made it impossible for Greek city states to unite