Classical GreeceClassical Greece

2000 BC-300 BC2000 BC-300 BC

Geography Shapes Greek Geography Shapes Greek LifeLife Greece consists of a mountainous Greece consists of a mountainous peninsulapeninsula jutting out into jutting out into

the the MediterraneanMediterranean, as well as 2000 islands in the , as well as 2000 islands in the AegeanAegean and and IonianIonian seas. Lands on the eastern edge of the Aegean seas. Lands on the eastern edge of the Aegean were also considered part of ancient Greece.were also considered part of ancient Greece.

The Greeks basically lived around a The Greeks basically lived around a seasea – the farthest they – the farthest they had to travel was 85 miles to see the ocean – a little over an had to travel was 85 miles to see the ocean – a little over an hour’s drive by today’s standards.hour’s drive by today’s standards.

The The AegeanAegean, , IonianIonian, and , and BlackBlack Seas were important Seas were important transportationtransportation and and tradetrade routesroutes that linked Greece with that linked Greece with neighboring kingdoms.neighboring kingdoms.

Trade was very important because Greece was lacking in Trade was very important because Greece was lacking in naturalnatural resourcesresources such as such as timbertimber, , metalsmetals, and , and usableusable farmlandfarmland

Geography Cont.Geography Cont. Mountains covered Mountains covered ¾¾ of Greece – these of Greece – these

mountain ranges divided Greece into many mountain ranges divided Greece into many different regions, which impacted political different regions, which impacted political life. Instead of a unified government, the life. Instead of a unified government, the Greeks gave their loyalty to their Greeks gave their loyalty to their smallsmall locallocal communitycommunity..

Tiny areas of farmland made it next to Tiny areas of farmland made it next to impossible for Greece to support a large impossible for Greece to support a large population – no more than a population – no more than a millionmillion people people at any one time.at any one time.

The moderate climate supported an outdoor The moderate climate supported an outdoor life for the Greeks. life for the Greeks.

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

The Greeks began The Greeks began developing myths developing myths around this time. around this time. HomerHomer and the and the works of another works of another author, author, HesiodHesiod, , are the source of are the source of much mythology.much mythology.

The Greeks The Greeks attributed human attributed human nature to the nature to the godsgods, such as love, , such as love, hate, jealousy, and hate, jealousy, and all the other things all the other things that make soap that make soap operas fun.operas fun.

Mycenaean Civilization Mycenaean Civilization DevelopsDevelops

Some of the Some of the Indo-Indo-EuropeansEuropeans settled in settled in Greece. They were known Greece. They were known as as MycenaeansMycenaeans, from , from their capital city their capital city MycenaeMycenae..– This was located in This was located in

southern Greece on a southern Greece on a steep, rocky ridge and steep, rocky ridge and was surrounded by a was surrounded by a protective wall around protective wall around 20 ft. thick. This city’s 20 ft. thick. This city’s warrior-kings warrior-kings dominated Greece from dominated Greece from 1600-1100 BC.1600-1100 BC.

Contact with MinoansContact with Minoans

Around 1500 BC, the Mycenaeans came into contact Around 1500 BC, the Mycenaeans came into contact with the with the MinoansMinoans, from whom they learned the value , from whom they learned the value of of seaborneseaborne tradetrade..

The Mycenaeans also adopted the Minoan The Mycenaeans also adopted the Minoan writingwriting systemsystem to the Greek language, as well as aspects of to the Greek language, as well as aspects of religionreligion, , artart, , politicspolitics, and , and literatureliterature..

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War During the 1200s BC, the During the 1200s BC, the

MycenaeansMycenaeans fought a fought a ten-year war against ten-year war against TroyTroy..

According to Greek legend, According to Greek legend, an army besieged and an army besieged and destroyed Troy because a destroyed Troy because a Trojan prince kidnapped Trojan prince kidnapped HelenHelen, the beautiful wife , the beautiful wife of a Greek king.of a Greek king.

It made matters worse that It made matters worse that ParisParis, the young prince , the young prince that captured her, was that captured her, was more attractive than her more attractive than her husband, who was husband, who was probably 20 years older…probably 20 years older…

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

For many years, historians thought For many years, historians thought that the Trojan War was a that the Trojan War was a mythmyth..

During the 1870s, however, During the 1870s, however, excavations discovered that the excavations discovered that the cities existed, and that the actual cities existed, and that the actual events probably did happen, events probably did happen, although the story of Helen and Paris although the story of Helen and Paris cannot be supported by fact.cannot be supported by fact.

Greek Culture Declines Under Greek Culture Declines Under the Doriansthe Dorians

After the fall of the After the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, the Mycenaean civilization, the DoriansDorians moved into the moved into the region. They were actually region. They were actually less advanced than the less advanced than the Mycenaeans – the Mycenaeans – the economyeconomy collapsed and collapsed and tradetrade stopped. No stopped. No writtenwritten recordsrecords exist from their exist from their time period.time period.

This lack of writing made This lack of writing made oraloral storytellingstorytelling very very important. important. HomerHomer, a blind , a blind storyteller, is noted for the storyteller, is noted for the IliadIliad and and OdysseyOdyssey, , both both composed between 750 and composed between 750 and 700 BC.700 BC.

D’oh!

The Development of The Development of Classical GreeceClassical Greece

Rule & Order in Greek City Rule & Order in Greek City StatesStates

By 750 BC, the By 750 BC, the city-statecity-state (or (or polispolis) was the main political ) was the main political unit in ancient Greece. Most contained 50-500 square miles unit in ancient Greece. Most contained 50-500 square miles of territory.of territory.

Citizens met at the Citizens met at the acropolisacropolis to discuss government. The to discuss government. The type of government depended on the type of city-state. type of government depended on the type of city-state. Some were Some were monarchiesmonarchies, others , others aristocraciesaristocracies. Occasionally . Occasionally an an oligarchyoligarchy, or rule by a few powerful people, arose., or rule by a few powerful people, arose.

Tyrants Seize PowerTyrants Seize Power

Clashes between rulers and Clashes between rulers and commoners happened in many city-commoners happened in many city-states. Occasionally states. Occasionally tyrantstyrants, or , or wealthy citizens who gained control wealthy citizens who gained control through the support of commoners, through the support of commoners, arose. They were not necessarily arose. They were not necessarily cruel and harsh – they were cruel and harsh – they were considered leaders who would work considered leaders who would work for the people’s best interests.for the people’s best interests.

The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars The shift to iron weapons from more expensive yet inferior The shift to iron weapons from more expensive yet inferior

bronze led to the creation of a bronze led to the creation of a largerlarger armyarmy..– The foot soldiers stood side by side, each holding a The foot soldiers stood side by side, each holding a

spear in one hand and a shield in the other. This square spear in one hand and a shield in the other. This square self-protecting fighting force was known as the self-protecting fighting force was known as the phalanxphalanx..

The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars

The Persian Wars began in The Persian Wars began in IoniaIonia on the on the Anatolian coast. Greeks had settled there, Anatolian coast. Greeks had settled there, but around 546 BC the Persians but around 546 BC the Persians invadedinvaded. . – When Ionian Greeks revolted, When Ionian Greeks revolted, AthensAthens sent troops sent troops

to their aid. The rebels were defeated, but the to their aid. The rebels were defeated, but the Persian king vowed to defeat the rebels in revenge.Persian king vowed to defeat the rebels in revenge.

– In 490 the Persians sailed to Greece and landed on In 490 the Persians sailed to Greece and landed on the the MarathonMarathon plainplain. 10,000 . 10,000 AtheniansAthenians, in , in phalanxes, awaited them and phalanxes, awaited them and defeateddefeated them them easily.easily. Persian Losses: 6000Persian Losses: 6000 Greek: 200Greek: 200

Battle at MarathonBattle at Marathon

Battle at MarathonBattle at Marathon

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire Largest Largest empireempire up to this point in historyup to this point in history Stretches from Stretches from TurkeyTurkey to to IndiaIndia DariusDarius thethe GreatGreat wants to add Greek wants to add Greek

trade to his tax basetrade to his tax base

The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars Ten years later, Darius the Great’s son Ten years later, Darius the Great’s son XerxesXerxes, assembled a huge fighting force to , assembled a huge fighting force to

invade invade AthensAthens. Thanks to a disagreement among the other city states as to what to . Thanks to a disagreement among the other city states as to what to do about the Persian problem, Xerxes had no resistance on his way to Athens.do about the Persian problem, Xerxes had no resistance on his way to Athens.

When he came to a narrow mountain pass at When he came to a narrow mountain pass at ThermopylaeThermopylae, 7000 Greeks (300 , 7000 Greeks (300 Spartans) blocked their way – the only reason the Athenians lost was thanks to a Spartans) blocked their way – the only reason the Athenians lost was thanks to a traitor who tipped off the Persianstraitor who tipped off the Persians– The 300 Spartans held off the Persians to buy time with the other forces The 300 Spartans held off the Persians to buy time with the other forces

retreated to help evacuate Athensretreated to help evacuate Athens– Xerxes was disappointed to find the city deserted, but he burnt it anyway.Xerxes was disappointed to find the city deserted, but he burnt it anyway.– Xerxes’ forces were defeated by smaller, faster Greek ships at the Battle of Xerxes’ forces were defeated by smaller, faster Greek ships at the Battle of

Platea. Soon after, the Greeks put the Persians on the defensive.Platea. Soon after, the Greeks put the Persians on the defensive.

Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae

Darius’ son Xerxes inherits the Persian Darius’ son Xerxes inherits the Persian empire and the need to punish the empire and the need to punish the GreeksGreeks

Digs a channel, builds up provisions, Digs a channel, builds up provisions, and builds two bridges (and builds two bridges (HellespontHellespont) ) to march 300,000 men from 46 nations to march 300,000 men from 46 nations to Greece escorted by 1200 shipsto Greece escorted by 1200 ships

ThraceThrace and several other Greek and several other Greek poleispoleis ally with Persiaally with Persia

Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae

300 Spartans300 Spartans and 700 Thespians and 700 Thespians defend the narrow pass at Thermopylaedefend the narrow pass at Thermopylae

Mountains and sea create a natural Mountains and sea create a natural bottleneckbottleneck to force Persians to attack to force Persians to attack head-on without support of light cavalryhead-on without support of light cavalry

Persians are Persians are victoriousvictorious, but take heavy , but take heavy losseslosses

Greeks fight to the Greeks fight to the lastlast manman

Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae

Fantasy vs. RealityFantasy vs. Reality

Fantasy vs. RealityFantasy vs. Reality

After After ThermopylaeThermopylae The Persians The Persians

captured and captured and burned burned AthensAthens but were but were defeated by the defeated by the Athenian navy at Athenian navy at SalamisSalamis

In 479 the In 479 the Persians were Persians were defeated at defeated at Plataea and Plataea and forced back to forced back to AnatoliaAnatolia

Democracy and Democracy and Greece’s Golden AgeGreece’s Golden Age

Athens Builds a Limited Athens Builds a Limited DemocracyDemocracy

In Athens, the idea of a In Athens, the idea of a representativerepresentative democracydemocracy arose.arose.

In 954, a ruler by the name of In 954, a ruler by the name of DracoDraco decreed decreed that all Athenians were that all Athenians were equalequal underunder thethe lawlaw. . His code dealt very harshly with criminals, His code dealt very harshly with criminals, making making deathdeath the punishment for every crime. It the punishment for every crime. It also upheld practices as debt-slavery, where also upheld practices as debt-slavery, where debtors worked as slaves (literally) to pay off debtors worked as slaves (literally) to pay off their debts.their debts.

In 621, In 621, SolonSolon came to power, outlawing the debt came to power, outlawing the debt slavery concept, and organized all into 4 slavery concept, and organized all into 4 socialsocial classesclasses according to according to wealthwealth. Those in the top 3 . Those in the top 3 classes were allowed to hold office.classes were allowed to hold office.

Athens Builds a Limited Athens Builds a Limited DemocracyDemocracy

Around 500 BC, Around 500 BC, CleisthenesCleisthenes introduced introduced more reforms – like reducing the power of more reforms – like reducing the power of the nobility by getting rid of the wealth the nobility by getting rid of the wealth classes and replacing these with a system classes and replacing these with a system based on where they lived.based on where they lived.

There was a There was a CounselCounsel ofof 500500, who could , who could propose laws; these delegates were propose laws; these delegates were selected at random.selected at random.

Citizenship was restricted to only Citizenship was restricted to only freefree adultadult malemale propertyproperty ownersowners bornborn inin AthensAthens. Everyone else had few rights.. Everyone else had few rights.

Pericles’ Plan for AthensPericles’ Plan for Athens PericlesPericles ruled Athens ruled Athens

for 32 years, from 461-for 32 years, from 461-429 BC. 429 BC. – StrongerStronger democracydemocracy

through paid officials through paid officials and and directdirect democracydemocracy (citizens rule directly)(citizens rule directly)

– Athenian Empire – Athenian Empire – Athens was seen as the Athens was seen as the centercenter ofof thethe GreekGreek worldworld thanks to military thanks to military and naval mightand naval might

– Glorification of Athens Glorification of Athens through art and through art and architecture architecture

What’s so Special about What’s so Special about Athens?Athens?

Athenians culture laid foundation for Athenians culture laid foundation for WesternWestern CivilizationCivilization

Western Civilization – Western Civilization – MedicineMedicine, , architecture anatomy, architecture anatomy, sciencescience, , mathmath, , alphabetalphabet, , philosophyphilosophy all came from the all came from the Greeks and primarily from AthensGreeks and primarily from Athens

SocratesSocrates Founded Founded

westernwestern philosophyphilosophy

SocraticSocratic MethodMethod, which , which led to led to ScientificScientific MethodMethod (questioning)(questioning)

Found guilty of Found guilty of corruptingcorrupting thethe youthyouth, and , and executed by executed by poisoningpoisoning

Socrates’ LegacySocrates’ Legacy

Student, Student, PlatoPlato, writes of Socrates’ , writes of Socrates’ life, spreads and furthers life, spreads and furthers philosophical thinkingphilosophical thinking– Founds the Founds the AcademyAcademy in Athensin Athens

Plato’s student, Plato’s student, AristotleAristotle, would be , would be the personal tutor of the personal tutor of AlexanderAlexander thethe GreatGreat– Aristotle furthered Aristotle furthered sciencescience significantlysignificantly

Sparta Builds a Military Sparta Builds a Military StateState

Sparta was cut off from the Sparta was cut off from the rest of Greece by the rest of Greece by the GulfGulf ofof CorinthCorinth. It contrasted sharply . It contrasted sharply with the other city-states, with the other city-states, especially in the fact that it especially in the fact that it chose to create a chose to create a militarymilitary formform ofof governmentgovernment..

Around 725 BC, the Spartans Around 725 BC, the Spartans conquered the conquered the MesseniansMessenians, , turning them into turning them into helotshelots, , which were which were forcedforced laborerslaborers. . Each year, the Spartans Each year, the Spartans demanded half of their demanded half of their cropscrops. . In 650 they revolted, but the In 650 they revolted, but the outnumbered Spartans outnumbered Spartans managed to crush the managed to crush the rebellion. This was the wake-rebellion. This was the wake-up call that led to the up call that led to the strengthening of their military.strengthening of their military.

Sparta’s Government and Sparta’s Government and SocietySociety

There was an There was an assemblyassembly which was which was composed of all Spartan citizens, which composed of all Spartan citizens, which voted on major issues. The voted on major issues. The CounselCounsel ofof EldersElders were made up of 30 older citizens, were made up of 30 older citizens, proposed these laws. Five elected officials proposed these laws. Five elected officials carried out these laws, and two kings ruled carried out these laws, and two kings ruled over the military.over the military.

There was a three-tiered social class: There was a three-tiered social class: citizens descended from the original citizens descended from the original inhabitants of the region, free non-citizens inhabitants of the region, free non-citizens who worked in agriculture and industry, and who worked in agriculture and industry, and the helots, who basically had no rights.the helots, who basically had no rights.

Warring City-StatesWarring City-States

Athenians and Spartans Go To Athenians and Spartans Go To WarWar

Leaders in both cities Leaders in both cities wanted war, b/c they felt wanted war, b/c they felt their cities had the their cities had the advantage.advantage.

When the When the PeloponnesianPeloponnesian WarWar began, Athens had the began, Athens had the stronger stronger navynavy, while Sparta , while Sparta had the stronger had the stronger armyarmy. It’s . It’s inland position also made inland position also made attack by sea difficult.attack by sea difficult.

The Spartans marched into The Spartans marched into Athens, burning Athens, burning foodfood suppliessupplies; a ; a plagueplague that that killed a third of the people killed a third of the people in Athens helped the in Athens helped the Spartans win.Spartans win.

Sparta Gains VictorySparta Gains Victory

In 421 BC, the two sides signed a In 421 BC, the two sides signed a trucetruce because they were exhausted. That because they were exhausted. That truce was broken in 415, when the truce was broken in 415, when the AtheniansAthenians sent a huge fleet sailing to sent a huge fleet sailing to Sicily to destroy Sicily to destroy SyracuseSyracuse, one of , one of Sparta’s allies. The idea backfired badly Sparta’s allies. The idea backfired badly – their whole fleet and army were – their whole fleet and army were demolished.demolished.– The The surrenderedsurrendered in 404 BC, losing their in 404 BC, losing their

power and wealth.power and wealth.

Enter the MacedoniansEnter the Macedonians

Enter the MacedoniansEnter the Macedonians

PhilipPhilip IIII was raised in was raised in ThebesThebes (as a (as a hostage) educated to be Greekhostage) educated to be Greek

When returned to When returned to MacedoniaMacedonia, wanted , wanted to unify the warring Greek citiesto unify the warring Greek cities

Uses Uses divide-and-conquerdivide-and-conquer tactics to tactics to take over one city at a timetake over one city at a time

AssassinatedAssassinated, leaving empire to his , leaving empire to his son son AlexanderAlexander

Warfare in the Age of Warfare in the Age of AlexanderAlexander

PhalanxPhalanx: A formation of infantry carrying : A formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears, overlapping shields and long spears, developed by Philip II and used by developed by Philip II and used by Alexander the Great Alexander the Great

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

Alexander, Alexander, KingKing ofof MacedoniaMacedonia, 20 , 20 years oldyears old

Invades Invades PersiaPersia, and defeats , and defeats DariusDarius IIIIII, conquers all of the Persian empire , conquers all of the Persian empire and expands it furtherand expands it further

Spreads Greek Spreads Greek languagelanguage, , philosophyphilosophy, , civilizationcivilization

Ushers in the Ushers in the HellenisticHellenistic PeriodPeriod

Conquests of AlexanderConquests of Alexander

Ionia and AnatoliaIonia and Anatolia 333333 Syria, Palestine, EgyptSyria, Palestine, Egypt 332332 MesopotamiaMesopotamia 331331 PersepolisPersepolis 331331 King of PersiaKing of Persia 330330 IndiaIndia 327327 Returns to SusaReturns to Susa 324324 Dies (age 33)Dies (age 33) 323323

After Gaugamela After Gaugamela

Darius’ escape frustrated Alexander Darius’ escape frustrated Alexander because it prevented him from full because it prevented him from full claim to being king of Persiaclaim to being king of Persia

Eventually Darius’ followers Eventually Darius’ followers assassinated himassassinated him

As As AlexanderAlexander became king of became king of PersiaPersia and continued to advance and continued to advance easteast, he , he took on an increasingly took on an increasingly OrientalOriental attitudeattitude

Alexander’s ConquestsAlexander’s Conquests

Alexander’s LegacyAlexander’s Legacy

Alexander dies at Alexander dies at ageage 3333 (records say (records say from a high fever, but he was probably from a high fever, but he was probably poisoned)poisoned)

His empire is split between his His empire is split between his generalsgenerals Succeeding empires:Succeeding empires:

– AntigonidAntigonid EmpireEmpire: Macedonia, Greece, and : Macedonia, Greece, and Asia MinorAsia Minor

– SeleucidSeleucid EmpireEmpire: Persia, Mesopotamia, : Persia, Mesopotamia, and Turkeyand Turkey

– PtolemaicPtolemaic EmpireEmpire: Egypt: Egypt

Division of Alexander’s Division of Alexander’s EmpireEmpire

After AlexanderAfter Alexander After Alexander died, After Alexander died,

his generals jockeyed his generals jockeyed for power and by 275 for power and by 275 they had divided up they had divided up his kingdom into three his kingdom into three large stateslarge states– Antigonus took Antigonus took

Greece and Greece and MacedonMacedon

– Ptolemy took EgyptPtolemy took Egypt– Seleuces took the Seleuces took the

former former Achaemenid Achaemenid empireempire

The period of The period of Alexander and his Alexander and his successors is called successors is called the Hellenistic period the Hellenistic period to reflect the broad to reflect the broad influence of Greek influence of Greek culture beyond culture beyond Greece’s bordersGreece’s borders