Classical Mediterranean
Chapter 4Pg. 76-95
Persian Tradition• Key civilizations rose neighboring
& influencing the Mediterranean:– Persian Empire during Greek Era– Sassanid Empire during Roman Era
• Cultural contributions include:– Zoroastrianism
Patterns in Classical Greece
• 800BCE-500BCE: early Greek diversity, common language from Phoenicians
• 500BCE-431BCE: Greek city-states flourish & expand
• 431BCE-338BCE: decline due to Peloponnesian Wars
• 338BCE-100BCE: Alexander the Great & Hellenistic period
Patterns in Classical Rome
• 509BCE-45BCE: Roman Republic expands vigorously
• 27BCE-180CE: Roman Empire’s peace & prosperity
• 180CE-476CE: Roman Empire declines as society loses effectiveness
Political Institutions
• Political theory & citizenship create cultural preoccupation with gov
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Political Institutions - Greece
• Characteristic Greek city-states innovate two forms:– Direct democracy = decisions
made by voting citizens attending assemblies
– Aristocratic assembly = aristocrats gather to check executive power
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Political Institutions - Rome
• Common threads of Roman politics:– Local autonomy & religious freedom
– Codified objective law: held territory together & limited aristocratic privilege
– Function based on military, infrastructure, entertainment
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Religion & Culture
• Religion: polytheism classical mythology regulating human powers & nature– Christianity: only historically
significant during Rome’s decline– Had clear limitations
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Religion & Culture• Philosophies fulfilled some
religious shortfalls through– Ethical codes of moderation– Abstract theories about human nature
• Science & math weak empirically– Yet contributed geometry, anatomy,
engineering• Art & literature
– Sculpture, Plays, Poems
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Religion & Culture• Architecture &
engineering– Roman aqueducts– Greek Parthenon– Column styles
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Economy & Society
• Commercial agriculture dominated– Free farmers indebted to landlords– Olive & grape agriculture required
trade & expansion
• Slavery was a key ingredient– Hindered production technology
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Economy & Society
• Families patriarchal, but women had some rights
• Rural culture differed significantly than urban cultural legacy
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Toward the Fall of Rome• Decline after 180 CE & fall in
476:– More definitive than other civs
– Result of •Loss of territory & population•Political & Economic
ineffectiveness•Nomadic invasions
Global Connections
• Greek connections framed by belief in own superiority
• Roman connections complex due to size, diversity of population, economic clout, yet confidence in own style
Question
• What are the short-term & long-term effects of the Mediterranean civilizations’ lack of a dominant unifying religion?