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Chapter 4: Ancient Greece (1750 B.C.-133 B.C.)
Geography of Greece
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Greece is part of the Balkan peninsula
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Mountains divide Greece into isolated valleys
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There are hundreds of small islands
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Geography prevented the creation of a large, united empire
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Many small city-states developed, cut off from one another by mountains or water
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Seas linked the Greeks to the outside world- skilled sailors, traveling and trading all over the
Mediterranean
Minoan Civilization
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The Minoans established a brilliant early civilization on the island of Crete
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Traded with Egypt and Mesopotamia
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Helped to shape the first Greek civilization
The Palace at Knossos
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The rulers of the Minoan trading empire lived in a large palace at Knossos
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Filled with religious shrines
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Walls of the palace were covered with frescoes which depicted Minoan society
A Civilization Disappears
By 1400 B.C. Minoan civilization had vanished
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Archaeologists are not sure why they disappeared, possible theories:
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Volcanic eruption
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Earthquake
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Tidal wave
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Mycenaean invaders
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Mycenaean Civilization
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First Greek-speaking people who left a written record
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Conquered the Greek mainland & Crete
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Successful sea traders, traded with Egypt, Mesopotamia, Italy
Writings of Homer
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A Greek poet, Homer, leaves hints about these civilizations in his writings:
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– The Iliad
– The Odyssey
Homer’s epic poems reveal much about the values of ancient Greeks.
The Trojan War
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Mycenaean's are best remembered for their part in this war
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Conflict was over control of trade and straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black Seas
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Legend is a romantic cause, the wife of a Greek king was kidnapped and the Mycenaean's sail to rescue
her.
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The Greeks seize Troy and burn the city down after a ten year battle.
Mycenaean Decline
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Frequent attacks by other sea traders, trade declines and cities are abandoned.
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Greek civilization takes a step back, the art of writing was nearly lost.
The Rise of Greek City-States
Early Greek Governments
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At first, the ruler was a king. A government in which a king or queen exercises central power is called a
monarchy.
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In some city-states, power shifted noble landowners who no longer defended the king.
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A government ruled by a landholding elite is called an aristocracy.
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Trade led to a new class of wealthy merchants.
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A government power in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class, is called an
oligarchy.
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Tyranny – Sometimes there was a brutal ruler who has gained power by force.
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Some societies grew into a limited democracy, or government by the people.
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Greek City-States
ATHENS
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Great agricultural area
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Developed limited democracy
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Male citizens were members of the assembly
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Most important trade center
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Women were considered inferior
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Valued education above all
SPARTA
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Strict military society
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Rulers discouraged trade and travel
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All boys received military training
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Girls were raised to produce healthy sons for the army
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Women had the right to inherit property
Athens and Sparta united
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The Greeks shared a common culture:
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honored the same ancient heroes & gods
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participated in common festivals
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Greek language
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felt superior to non-Greeks
The Persian Wars
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Persia wants to gain control of the Greek city-states
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Athens and Sparta- stand up against Persia
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Sparta loses to Persia, Athens wins
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Athens becomes the most powerful city-state, forms the Delian League
The Age of Pericles
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After the Persian Wars, there was a golden age in Athens.
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Athens became a direct democracy under the rule of Pericles.
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All men were expected to take part in government, serve on juries, and were paid a stipend if they held
public office
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Voted to banish anyone who threated democracy - known as ostracism.
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Pericles hired architects and sculptors to improve Athens
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Athens became the cultural center of Greece
The Peloponnesian War
CAUSES
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Greeks outside of Athens resented their domination.
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Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League to rival the Delian League.
EFFECTS
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Sparta wins and Athenian domination of the Greek world ended.
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Athens recovered economically and remained the cultural center of Greece.
Golden age of Greece
Greek Philosophers
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Socrates, Plato and Aristotle explored many subjects, from mathematics to logic.
ARCHITECTURE
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Perfect balance - to reflect the harmony of the universe.
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Example: The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.
ART
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Sculptors emphasized natural poses that were life like but also idealistic.
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Paintings offer views of Greek life.
Greek Drama
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Plays were performed in large outdoor theatres with little or no scenery.
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Based on popular myths and legends which taught moral and social lessons.
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Tragedies- plays that told stories of human suffering that usually ended in disaster.
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Comedies- humorous plays that mocked people or customs.
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The Writing of History
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The Greeks applied reason, observation, and logic to the study of history.
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Herodotus is called the “Father of History”- stressed the importance of research.
Alexander The Great and the Hellenistic Age
Macedonia
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Philip of Macedonia was the first to conquer part of the Greek mainland.
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His son, Alexander, succeeded him to the throne and began winning more land.
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His first victory was against the Persians, went on to conquer all of Asia Minor, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
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In India, the army faced soldiers mounted on war elephants and monsoons. They were forced to retreat.
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Alexander died and his empire did not last.
The Legacy of Alexander
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Alexander’s most lasting achievement was the spread of Greek culture.
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Across the empire, local people adopted Greek ideas. In turn, Greek settlers adopted local customs.
Hellenistic Civilization
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A time of decline between the Greek Classical Era and the start of the Roman Empire
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A blending of eastern (Persian & Indian) and western (Greek & Egyptian) cultures occurred- referred to
as Hellenistic Civilization
Hellenistic Golden Age
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Pythagoras derived a formula to calculate the relationship between the sides of a triangle
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Theorized about a heliocentric, or sun-centered, solar system
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Showed that the Earth was round and accurately calculated the circumference
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Physics was used to make inventions, such as the lever and the pulley
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Hippocrates studied illnesses and cures and set ethical standards for medical care.
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