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Chapter Three: Greece Notes
7000 BCE – 479 BCE
Minoans—The people of ancient Crete.
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Navigators, writers, centralized government/society, artists and metal workers.
The development of using metals to make better tools—bronze in particular. Bronze
was valuable and had to be traded for.
Small Market economics; surplus product and trade of linens, food, clothing.
Farming took off (olive oil in particular)
Somewhere between 2300-2100 BCE this area began to decline and be abandoned.
During the recovery period immigration spurred population growth & new customs.
Buildings, artisanship and writing all advanced substantially.
Temples/sanctuaries were build (hilltops generally)
Seals were developed to indicate ownership and wealth,
Linear script was developed and improvement on hieroglyphics.
Political life was centred around Knossos, political power was based on the control of
trade.
Much of this was destroyed in 1750 BCE (earthquake?) but quickly rebuilt.
These palaces were again destroyed (Mycenaean warriors? ) in 1490 except Knossos
which was used by the Mycenaeans after their take over (also the language linear B
arose—indicating a shift in control)
Mycenaeans—Earliest Greeks
Parallel development with the Minoans until about 2000 BCE (bronze, farming, etc.)
o Also experienced the decline and depopulation which resulted in the destruction of
signs of material wealth from the earlier period
o Replaced with farming/herding culture
o From 1700-1500 powerful and wealthy chiefdoms sprung up and served as the rise
of the Mycenaeans centred around the political capital of Mycenae; these would
transform into city-states (centered on palaces) with writing and state-religion
o The Mycenaeans were culturally influenced by the Minoans (until they took them
over)
o Style of dress
o Vases
o Seal carvings
o Figurines
o Similar names for gods
o The decline of Mycenae (earthquake/natural disaster) led into the dark ages for
the region with palaces falling into disrepair
Dark Ages
About 350 years which saw Greeks resettle into Peloponnese and began to rebuild
both culturally and socially (small protected towns) the lack of writing and records of
this period are the cause for the name of this period.
The Mycenaean past was remembered as an age of heroes (the stories Herakles,
Hector, Jason and Achilles all stem from this period) told through song and verse. These
would lead Homer to write the Iliad and the Odyssey
The Archaic Period
The rise from the dark ages saw the Greeks resettle and expand Polis (independent
city-states) though they were hindered from travelling by late because of the
mountains, the sea was a different story.
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Literature develops and becomes far more sophisticated—writing moves from
record keeping to a more narrative structure
Writing provided Greeks with links to their past, building a national identity
Our alphabet stems from this time period originally developed by the
Phoenicians
Trade spread out across the Mediterranean as did Greek settlement
The first Olympics was held during this period in 776 BCE
Government (Athens)
Democracy was first developed by the Greeks, putting political power in the hands of
people.
o Previous to democracy’s development each polis had a king/priest/judge and a
council of aristocrats (the wealth/powerful/militarily capable)
o Some aristocrats were more powerful than others and this led to a
dissatisfaction (not to mention the displeasure felt by the poor) which sowed
the seeds of change.
o Hoplites—groups of similarly outfitted warriors who fought together came to
be the standard for the army. Thus anyone who could afford the armour
became equal with the aristocrats.
o One displeased solider (Cypselus) raised an army around him and seized power
from the other aristocrats on behalf of the middle class; he was dubbed a
tyrant for seizing power unconstitutionally
o Athens avoided conflict such as this through an Archon, an individual designed
to mediate disputes between upper and middle classes.
o Solon, an archon, made many significant changes to the structure of
government to encourage fairness and balance; in addition he created the
council of 400—a combination of the 4 tribes of Athens to vote on legislation
o Majority of adults and immigrants did not have any say in government
o Cleisthenes (508-07 BCE) reorganized the tribe and council structure making it
increasingly democratic. Many governmental positions were filled by drawing
lots.
o Note chart on p116.
o Slaves held no power
Government and Society of Sparta
Sparta was a warrior based culture where political might was created through military
strength
o Took land form other groups and controlled them as Helots, slaves that would work
the land
o All adult males were politically equal
o Education/military training began for boys at 7 and took until age 30 to become full
citizens
o Two equal kings in this system of governance with a council of elders and the assembly
who would vote on issues put before it.
o The Ephorate was developed as a voice for common citizens in the assembly
o Unhealthy babies were abandoned at birth
o Women and girls enjoyed more freedom in Sparta than in most places in the ancient
world
Persian Wars
In the sixth century BCE Persia threatened Greece with its superior size. At the battle of
Marathon the Greek managed an unlikely victory over the Persians. Later, the Persians under
Xerxes lead a huge force (200 000) towards Greece. Athenians were willing to accept Persian
rule because of their ill-preparedness but King Leonidas with his Spartan soldiers (4300)
attempted ambush the Persians at the pass of Thermopylae. They failed due to a betrayal and
the Persians moved on to Athens. A sea battle took place at Salamis, turning the tide against
Xerxes and causing him to abandon his army in Greece, it was eventually defeated.
Art & Cross-Cultural Influences
Greek art in this period was concerned with realism and combined their art with their interest
in art and culture from the East (Asia). Much of this was accomplished because of trade across
the Mediterranean and beyond. The results of this were lavish temples and statues emulating
Egypt and the ability to skilfully manipulate marble. Poetry was on the rise as was literature.
Chapter Four: Classical Greece
467-31 BCE
Athens: Empire Building
After the victory over Persia, Athens took a more active approach to organizing all of the
Greek city-states into a formidable force.
o The Delian League worked together to defend Greece under the control of
Athens, however each state retained its autonomy; eventually this became a
forced alliance.
o Once Pericles moved the league’s treasury to Athens for protection it became
clear that Athens was in charge of everything.
o Under Pericles (he himself an elected general) Athens was very democratic
with every citizen (read: male) has a chance to have a say in government’s
decisions
o Paid civil service allowed all to participate
o Athens and Sparta didn’t like each other.
o Sparta was very narrow-view, conservative state and didn’t enjoy
advancements in rhetoric, philosophy and literature as Athens did.
o Athens was far more concerned with all of Greece.
Peloponnesian War
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27 year war (431-404 BCE)
Athens and Sparta fought over dominance, sparked by Corinth being
interfered with by Athens.
Essentially a Greek civil war.
Sparta won, installing a Tyrannical government in Athens
With a substantial loss of life, these tyrants were over-thrown but Athens
never again became the militarily dominant state it once was.
The Classical Period
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Rise of literature and plays (Antigone for example)
Some art forms were used to discuss and decry social and political issues of the time.
Parthenon was build, oft seen as the showcase of Athenian wealth and opulence (using
Egyptian construction techniques)
Persia (Again)
During a time of political upheaval (Athens, Sparta and Thebes) all vying for control of Greece
a new threat arose:
In Macedonia Philip the Great rose up. After being held prisoner in Thebes for three
years, watching and learning (including learning about the phalanx) he created a
strong permanent army for Macedonia.
o At Chaeronaea he defeated the armies of Southern Greece and took control of the
country.
o After this, he was assassinated at his own wedding by one of his own officers, Hank the
mighty (just checking to see if you’re paying attention)
o Philip’s son, Alexander (also, the Great) took over and became one of the greatest
military leaders ever.
o He set out to conquer Persia and took territory as far away as India over a ten year
span.
o After conquering he ruled a variety of different peoples but wisely he allowed them to
keep their own traditions and laws so as to prevent revolt. He did however attempt to
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speak Greek language and culture across his territory.
The Hellenistic Age
o Began after the death of Alexander (323 BCE) and continued until 31 BCE
o Greek culture was adopted in many areas and left a lasting influence in place
names, art, literature, language and architecture
o Alex’s empire was divided (Asia, Africa (Egypt and Libya—this was Cleopatra’s
time) and Europe)
o Interest in democracy started to decline within Greece-proper, due to the high
standard of living.
o Slaves were still a substantial portion of the society
o Philosophy rose to prominence under Socrates; exploring the nature of existence
and thought. His student Plato passed on many of his ideas in writing
o Many philosophers (sophists) became teachers
o One of Plato’s students Aristotle became an influential scientist and refuted
some of Socrates’ ideas.
o Art developed and became able to represent 3D images on a 2D surface.
o Refinement occurred in architecture
o Medicine became more advanced and clearly thought out but still relied
heavily on deity worship; Hippocrates developed his medical oath that is still
used today to remind doctors of their primary duty.
o Both opposite sex and same-sex couples were the norm in Greek society
o Science and technology grew and developed; Phythagoras and Euclid
advanced geometry.
o Gears, levels, and pulleys became staples of Greek technology designed to make
work easier.
o Religion was a big part of daily life, women and men served as priests. Small
and large offerings to the gods were seen as ways of ensuring good fortune;
Greeks were fairly tolerant of other religions in areas that they controlled.
o Religion led to the development of myths and legends in their culture.
o Religion also affected political life as bad events were seen as punishment from
the gods.
o Trade was important but largely accomplished by sea (grain, luxury goods,
timber and pitch—were all staples of trade)
o Development of money (precious metals for goods) and its refinement occurred
over time. The Owls of Athens became the most common coinage.