Download 2 Ancient Greece Overview

IST Grade 7 Humanities
An ABC-CLIO Resource
Ancient
Greece
Classical Greek civilization traced itself back to a dimly remembered older culture that existed on
the mainland of Greece roughly from 1600 to 1100 BCE. This civilization is known as the Myceneans
after one of the larger cities. The later epic poems of Homer are set in Mycenean times and tell the
story of a united expedition against the city of Troy on the coast of Asia Minor. Mycenean civilization
collapsed about 1100 BCE for reasons that remain ambiguous, and Greece entered a period called the
Dark Ages, during which populations declined, trade diminished, cities were abandoned, and even
writing was forgotten. After several hundred years, these trends reversed dramatically, and by the end of
the eighth century BCE, populations were rapidly increasing, writing was rediscovered, the Homeric
poems were written down, and even the Olympic games had been established.
CITY-STATES
The geography of Greece is extremely mountainous, which encouraged the development of
numerous small independent city-states rather than a single monolithic government. Although
politically separate, the Greek city-states shared similar culture. In the next centuries, these states
began minting coins, established pan-Greek religious sanctuaries such as the Delphic Oracle, and
developed a new and brutally effective style of warfare based on the heavy infantryman, the hoplite.
The growing population strained available resources, and the Greek city-states solved this problem by
sending out groups of citizens to found new overseas colonies. The Era of Colonization (ca. 700–600
BCE) saw the Greeks establish colonies all around the Mediterranean basin, from the Black Sea region
to the southern coast of modern France. The notable exception to this policy was the city of Sparta,
which solved its land problem by conquering and enslaving the neighboring Messenians. This event
IST Grade 7 Humanities
An ABC-CLIO Resource
Athens, which had played a leading role in
resisting Persia, became the dominant city-state
and gradually asserted political hegemony over
many of the other Greeks, establishing an Athenian
Empire. During this period, Athenian democracy
achieved its most radical form, and with heavy
Athenian patronage of the arts, many of the finest
achievements in Greek architecture, sculpture, and
theater were produced.
A seal depicting a Greek trireme similar to that which defeated
the Persian navy at Salamis in 480 BCE. Werner Forman/Art
Resource.
ended up warping Spartan society as it refashioned
its entire social system with the obsessive goal of
producing the best and toughest hoplites to keep
the Messenians dominated.
Resentment at Athenian dominance led to the
creation of an opposing coalition of states
centered around Sparta. After several decades of a
kind of cold war atmosphere of hostility, war broke
out in 431 BCE between the Athenian Empire and
the Spartan-led Peloponnesian league. The
resultant Peloponnesian War was destructive to
both sides and ended with Athens's defeat in 404
BCE.
During the period from approximately 600
BCE to 490 BCE, known as the Archaic period,
the Greek cities (except Sparta) continued to
develop and often went through a stage when they
were ruled by tyrants. The largest city-state was
Athens, and after expelling its tyrants, the
Athenians began to experiment with democratic
forms of government. Two reformers, Solon in 594
BCE and Cleisthenes in 507 BCE, helped shape the
emerging form of Athenian democracy.
WAR WITH PERSIA
The Classical period (490–323 BCE) began with
a pivotal event in 490 BCE when Persia, the
unchallenged superpower of the time, invaded
Greece. Against all expectations, the heavily
outnumbered Greeks stopped the Persian advance
at the battle of Marathon. In 480 BCE, an even
larger Persian invasion was again defeated with
equally stunning victories at Salamis and Platea.
The Greeks emerged from these experiences with
a new sense of their own potential.
"Alexander the Great." Library of Congress.
IST Grade 7 Humanities
ENTER ALEXANDER THE GREAT
For the next half century, various Greek city-states vied
without great success to dominate the Greek world.
Meanwhile, to the north of Greece in the kingdom of
Macedonia, the energetic king, Philip II, was forging a
powerful new military force. In 338 BCE, he swept into
Greece, and although the Greek city-states banded together
to oppose him, they were decisively defeated at the battle of
Chaeronea. Shortly afterward, Philip was assassinated, but his
teenage son, Alexander, took his place. Alexander was both a
military commander of genius and a fervent admirer of Greek
culture, and he determined to lead an expedition against
Persia, ostensibly as revenge for the Persian invasions of
Greece. In 15 years of brilliant campaigning, Alexander
conquered the entire Persian Empire and even penetrated
into northern India.
With Alexander's premature death in 323 BCE, the
Hellenistic era (323–30 BCE) began., during which
Alexander's generals and their successors fought a seemingly
endless series of wars over the pieces of Alexander's nowfragmented empire. This period came to an end with the
arrival on the scene of a new dominant military force, the
Romans, who by 30 BCE had brought the Greek world firmly
under their control.
Aldrete, Gregory S. "Ancient Greece: Overview." Daily Life through
History. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.
An ABC-CLIO Resource
Glossary
antiquity the ancient past, especially
the period before the Middle Ages
Asia Minor western peninsula of Asia,
now most of modern Turkey
classical of or relating to ancient
Greek or Latin literature, art, or
culture
coalition an alliance for combined
action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties or states
democracy a system of government
by the whole population or all the
eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives
hegemony leadership or dominance,
especially by one country or social
group over others
Homer a Greek epic poet, known for
The Iliad and The Odyssey, two key
works in the development of
western literature
hoplite a heavily armed foot soldier
of ancient Greece.
Exercises:
1.
Read and take notes on the entire article.
2.
Why is the period before the rise of classical Greek Civilization referred to as the
Dark Ages?
3.
Name two geographic features of Greece, and explain how they affected the
political and economic development of ancient Greece.
4.
The earliest form of democracy was developed in Athens, following a period of
rule by tyrants. How do you think rule by tyrants could contribute to the
development of democracy?
5.
The article refers to fine “achievements in Greek architecture, sculpture, and
theater” during the classical period. Do some basic searching and find one
example of each which is still well known today.
6.
Write two questions you have about Ancient Greece after reading this article.