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History of science in classical antiquity wikipedia , lookup
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The Greeks Minoan civilization • On Crete-an island • • surrounded by the Aegean Sea. Do not know the real name of these people. Named after Minos the legendary king of Crete. Minoan civilization • Success was based on trade not conquest. • Rulers lived in the palace at Knossos • There were religious shrines-areas dedicated to • honor gods and goddesses. Walls were decorated with frescos-watercolor paintings done on plaster. – Showed that women may have had some freedom. • The civilization disappeared. – Possible volcano, earthquake, or tidal wave. Mycenae • Indo-European people who conquered the Greek • mainland and then overran Crete. They were sea traders – Went as far as Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia • Lived in separate city-states on the Mainland – Warrior-kings built a thick walled fortress from which he ruled the surrounding areas. – They had lots of treasure Trojan war • Thought to be a myth until Heinrich Schliemann • • set out to prove it was true. He found evidence of war and fire when he excavated Troy. Trojan war was between Mycenae and Troy. – Probably for economic reasons – Troy controlled the vital straits or narrow water passages that connected the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Legend of Troy • Legend says that the War resulted from when the Trojan prince Paris kidnapped Helen who was the wife of a Greek king. • Mycenaeans sailed to Troy to rescue her. • The war lasted 10 years-the Greeks won and burned the city to the ground. Trojan Horse in Turkey The Age of Homer • Mycenaean civilization crumbled not long after the fall of Troy – Because of sea raiders – People abandoned the cities • Civilization took a step backwards – People forgot many skills including writing. Homer • We get hints about this life from two poems written during this time by Homer. – The Iliad – The Odyssey • The Iliad is about the • Trojan War and Achilles The Odyssey is about Odysseus returning home to Penelope after the Trojan war Geography of Greece • Greece is part of the Balkan peninsula • Mountains divide the peninsula and isolate it. • They didn’t create a large empire but small isolated city-states. • This caused many wars. The Seas • The sea was the link to the outside world – Had 100’s of bays that provided safe harbors for ships. – Became skilled sailors • Adapted ideas too – Changed the Phoenician alphabet – This became the basis for our alphabet • Population growth caused them to expand outward City-States • Greeks had a city-state called a Polis • It was built on two levels – The acropolis (high city) was built on a hilltop and had great marble temples dedicated to the different gods and goddesses. – On flatter ground below lay the walled main city • Marketplace, theater, public buildings, and homes Early Government • Early government-ruler of the polis was like a king. – Monarchy is a government in which a king or queen exercises central power • Power shifted to a class of noble landowners – They got power for themselves and ruled according to aristocracy-rule by landholding elite • Trade expanded and a new middle class emerged – This caused and oligarchy-power in the hands of small, powerful elite Two different city-states • Sparta • Athens Sparta • Sparta is in Peloponnesus • They were Dorians who conquered Laconia • They turned the conquered people into state owned slaves known as helots – Helots were supposed to work the land – The helots outnumbered them so they had to have strict control. Spartan culture • They had two kings and a council of elders and an assembly made up of all citizens to approve major decisions – Citizens were male, native-born Spartans over 30. Being a citizen • From childhood Spartans prepared to be part of • • a military state. All newborns were examined and the sickly ones were left to die. At 7 boys began training for a lifetime in the military. – They moved into barracks – They slept on hard palates, ate bad food, had hard exercise, and strict discipline – They were encouraged to steal food but were punished if caught. A soldier’s life • Spartan youth became excellent soldiers • At 20 they could marry, but they lived in the barracks for another 10 years and ate there for another 40 years. Women in Sparta • Girls were to produce healthy soldiers and sons • • for the army. They were to exercise and strengthen their bodies. They had to obey their fathers or husbands – They could inherit property – Because of wars they took on more responsibilities. Spartans • Isolated themselves from their neighbors • Looked down on trade and wealth • Travel was forbidden • “Spartans are willing to die because they have no reason to live” Athens Athens • Athens is in Attica • Government went from • monarchy to aristocracy Under the aristocracy wealth and power grew but people were not happy – They demanded change and didn’t want the nobles to have all of the power. – In hard times, farmers had to sell their land and even themselves sometimes to pay debts. Call for change • Athens moved slowly towards a democracy-government by the people. • Solon was appointed chief official and was told to make reforms. – He outlawed debt slavery and freed those in debt slavery – Opened high offices to more citizens – Gave citizenship to some foreigners – Gave the assembly more say in important decisions Not really that reformed • Solon’s reforms helped but only for some • Citizenship was still limited • This led to the rise of tyrants-people who gain power by force. More reforms • And the assembly was made - this was a legislature-a law making body. – They debated laws – All male citizens over 30 were members Government still limited • Democracy still limited • Only male citizens could participate Slaves and women had no voice • BUT Athens gave people more of a say than anybody else. Women in Athens • Women had no part in • public life In wealthy homes, Athenian women were secluded – They managed the household, spun and wove, took care of the children, and prepared food. • Poor women worked outside of the home Education in Athens • Only boys attended school if their families could afford it. – They learned to read and write, studied music, poetry, and public speaking – They received military training – But they were encouraged to explore and learn new things. Unity in Greece • Despite the rivalries between city-states there were forces for unity. – Religion Religion in Greece • The Greeks were polytheistic • They believed that their gods lived on Mt. Olympus in Northern Greece. • Zeus was King of the gods and presided over the affairs of humans and gods. – His wife was Hera and his children included: • Aphrodite-goddess of love, Ares-god of war, and Athenagoddess of wisdom The Persian Wars Persian Rule • Persians controlled most of Asia – This included Ionia • Ionian Revolt – Athens sent ships to help Battle of Marathon • Darius tries to punish Athens • Athens requests help • Hand-to-Hand Combat results in Victory – Themistocles builds and Athenian Navy Spartans on the Defensive • Leonidas leads Spartans against Xerxes and the Persians – Persians are eventually defeated • Persians march down and burn Athens Battle of Salamis Salamis • The Persians were lured into the strait of Salamis • Athenian Navy sinks the Persian ships – Faster, more maneuverable ships Delian League • Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful city-state – Organized an alliance – Created and Athenian empire Direct Democracy • Direct Democracy – – Citizens are directly involved in the government daily – Council of 500 and the Assembly – Began to pay a stipend – Jury enacted • Could include several thousand • Citizens over the age of 30 serve for one year – Ostracism practiced Pericles • Pericles – leader – Promoted democracy, helped the economy – Rebuilt the acropolis – Turned Athens into the cultural center of Greece Peloponnesian War • Delian League vs. Peloponnesian League – Athens – Navy vs. vs. Sparta Army • Warfare lasts 27 years • Pericles brings a Plague to Athens and kills many including himself – overcrowding • Sparta allied with Persian, but does not destroy Athens Glory of Greece • Philosophers “lovers of wisdom” – Used thought to facilitate cause and effect – Math, music, logic • Rational thinking • Wanted to find the natural laws of the universe – Rhetoric – art of skillful speaking Socrates • Stonemason and philosopher • Teacher of Plato • Wrote nothing down, stayed in the town square talking to people – Socratic method • Put on trial at 70 – Accused of corrupting the youth and failing to honor the gods – Condemned to Death and willingly drank hemlock Plato • Left Athens for 10 years • Did NOT trust Democracy ?? • Set up the Academy upon return • The Republic – ideal state – 3 groups with philosophers as the rulers – The smartest women could serve the state – Children would be raised in community centers Aristotle • A student of Plato • Studied the varied governments • Favored monarchy or dictatorship • Set up the Lyceum, a school – Politics, ethics, logic, biology, and literature Architecture and Art • Artists tried to establish a balance of order and beauty • Parthenon – a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena • Greek artist try to imitate natural poses Greek Literature • Tragedies – plays that told stories of human suffering that usually ended in disaster • Theatre ?? • Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides • Comedies – humorous plays that mocked people or customs • Aristophanes History • Herodotus “the father of history” – The Persian Wars – Researched before he wrote – Noted bias and conflicting accounts – Still reflected his own bias • Thucydides – Wrote about the Peloponnesian War – Tried to avoid bias The Hellenistic Age • Philip II – – – – – – Ruler of Macedonia Had lived in Thebes and was technically Greek Hired Aristotle to tutor son Alexander Built a powerful army Made alliances by “any means necessary” Defeated Thebes and Athens at the battle of Chaeronea, and had rule of all of Greece – Had a dream of conquering the Persian Empire Alexander Comes to Power • Philip II was assassinated at his daughter’s wedding • Alexander became ruler at age 20 Age of Alexander the Great • Alexander won his first victory against the • • Persians at the Granicus River. He then conquered Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt, and Babylon. Alexander crossed the Hindu Kush into northern India. There his troops faced soldiers mounted on war elephants. They were forced to retreat. While planning his next battle campaign, Alexander died of a sudden fever. Three generals divided up the empire. Empire of Alexander the Great Alexander’s Legacy • Alexander’s most lasting achievement was the spread of Greek culture. • Gradually, a blending of eastern and western cultures occurred. Accomplishments of the Hellenistic Age • Pythagoras developed Pythagorean theorem – a2 + b2=c2 • Discovered Heliocentric or suncentered solar system. • Advances in medicine under Hippocrates, the “father of medicine.”