Download The Greek Dark Ages

The Greek collapse 1200-750 BC
What happened?
Around 1200 BC:
Famine, drought, trade disruptions, invasions…
Famine probably caused everything
Sea Peoples
Troy fell
Egypt fell
Near East Fell
75% Population decreased
People moved away
Writing was lost
Some art was lost
Bards
Athens only survived
1200-750 BC
Agriculture and crafts continued
Geometric-like art
Basileus: chief
Homer and Hesiod
Demos: a territory,
with a major city, and
the people
Polis: main city of the
Demos
Oikos: household
Thetes: property-less
men
THE POWER TO THINK AND REASON GAVE
MAN HIS WORTH
NO AUTHORITY HIGHER THAN REASON
‘GOD” WAS AN ABSTRACT IDEA NOT A
PERSONAL PRESENCE
EXCELLENCE (ARETE) IN ALL THINGS
THE MATERIAL WORLD IS THE EXTENSION OF
THE HUMAN ABILITY
Blind poet who compiled lost epics into a our
two surviving books: The Iliad and the Odyssey
Lived towards the end of the Dark Ages (700 BC)
Combined present social life with past legend
Sought to elevate the Mycenaean period as
“Heroic”
Paris prince of Troy kidnaps the
wife of a Mycenaean King,
Menelaus of Sparta. Menelaus
defers to his brother, Agamemnon
the King of all Achaeans, and they
engage in war for 10 years at Troy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_w8wW0z7nNg
What was life really like during the Dark Ages
and what was a reflection back into the past?
Linear B:
Wanax (warlord)
Lawagetas (army general)
From archaeology:
Large Palaces with art and
architecture from the Minoans
Megarons
“Greek” religion
Inhumation
Bronze weapons
From Homer government
changes…
Basileus: chieftain
Boule: assembly of “elders”
Agora: assembly of community
Weapons change
Iron is used
Some large homes (no palaces)
Megaron
Xenia: guest friendship
Agathos: “goodness”
attained by bravery in
battle, loyalty, fairness,
hospitable
Aristos: desire to be the
best
Arete: Excellence
Kleos: glory
Aidos: sense of duty
Arête: Excellence
Value is determined by how effective you are at controlling your
environment
Examples of Homeric arête:
Glory in battle or athleticism
Sense of duty
Xenia
Two major works:
Works and Days
Hard work (ergon)
Guest friendship (xenia)
Theogony
the creation of the gods and the world
Humanism vs Fatalism
750-700 BC
Rapid population growth
City-States and Panhellenism
Rise of aristocracy and the lack of fertile land
Trade
Colonization
Writing
Art and architecture
Set foundation for the
Archaic Age