Download Ch4 Notes-Classical Mediterranean Civs

Classical Mediterranean Civilizations
Chapter 4 – Classical Mediterranean
The Persian Tradition:
• By 550 B.C.E. Cyrus the Great established a massive
Persian Empire across the Northern Middle East.
• Tolerant of local customs; developed their own religion—
Zoroastrianism – a religion named after the prophet that
founded it – Zoroaster. The religion had a concept of heaven
and hell. He received his relevations from a deity called
Ahura Mazda.
• The empire tried several times to Conquer Greece (Darius,
Xerxes); but it was a Greek, Alexander of Macedonia that
conquered them. Fortunately for Persia, Alexander liked
Persian culture. He married a Persian; ordered his army to
marry Persian women. The resultant culture became known
as Hellenistic.
• The Sassanid Empire emerged in the region during the
Times of imperial Rome.
--
Zoroaster
Persian Empire, circa 529 B.C.E.
Patterns of Greek and Roman History
Greece:
• Many features of early Greek culture
are from the island of Crete; which was
heavily influenced by the
ancient Egyptians. Namely, its
mythology and architecture.
• The Greek people themselves were
Indo-Europeans that took over the
Greek peninsula around 1700 B.C.E.
and formed an early civilization around
the town of Mycenae around 1400
B.C.E.
• The most famous Mycenaean story is the Trojan War as told by
by the blind bard Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Greek History in a nutshell
• Greece’s rise between 800-600 B.C.E. occurred around
city-states that each had its own form of government;
usually one ruled by a tyrant or a council of aristocrats.
• City-states served them well because of Greece’s
mountainous terrain made a unified Greece difficult.
• Greeks were unified in that they spoke and wrote in a
common language. They adopted their alphabet from the
Phoenicians. Greek unity can also be shown in their
participation in the Olympic games.
• Two dominant city-states that emerged were Sparta and
Athens. Between 500 and 449 B.C.E. they cooperated to
defeat two Persian invasions; but later were rivals over
control of Greece in what became known as the
Peloponnesian War. Sparta won; although both sides
suffered great losses which led to the rise of the
Macedonians from Northern Greece.
The Acropolis: Acro - edge
and polis - city
The Parthenon in Athens Athena’s Temple
Pericles
• Greek aristocrat and Athenian
political leader
• Promoter of the democratic political
structure
• Restrained the more aggressive
Athenians who wanted to expand the
empire.
• Unfortunate that he could not prevent
a war with Sparta that weakened both
sides.
Athens compared to Sparta
• Athens developed a
democracy
• Developed diverse
commercial markets along
with extensive use of
slaves
• Proud of their intellectual
and artistic achievements
• Patriarchal: free women
had less freedom than
slaves
• Sparta’s government is a
military aristocracy
• The Helots, their slaves did
all of the work. Spartans
culled them
• Austere lifestyles and a
culture that resembled
Communism
• Women enjoyed many
more rights that their
Athenian counterparts
Enter Alexander…
The declining power of Athens and Sparta
encouraged kings from Macedonia to conquer
the Greek Peninsula. Philip of Macedonia won a
crucial battle in 338 B.C.E. His son, Alexander
continued to conquer for 13 years prior to his
death at age 33. For interesting reading, look into
biographies of Alexander.
• It is not clear what exactly killed Alexander – poison, typhoid
fever, malaria, consumption (drinking); but it was a messy affair
as to who would take over. Eventually, his generals fought each
other over control of the empire.
• Culturally, however, the region of Alexander’s empire and the
time period in history became known as “Hellenistic.”
• The Hellenes-the Greeks-were known for their art, their trade,
and their scientific achievement (Alexandria in Egypt); but little
for its political activity, as the Hellenistic kings were autocratic.
Exit Alexander…
Alexander’s Empire
The Rise of Rome
• By the 1st Century B.C.E., Rome had subjugated all the
Greek and Hellenistic kingdoms alike.
• Rome started out as a humble monarchy in Central Italy
around 800 B.C.E.
• Circa 509 B.C.E., Roman aristocrats drove out the
monarchy – thus begins the Roman Republic.
• Rome appeared to have a strong military orientation;
probably more to hold on to their own territory rather than
conquests…but
• Rome had its rivals. They fought three wars against
Carthage, known as the Punic Wars from 264-146
B.C.E. These wars include the famous trek across the
Alps by the Carthaginian general Hannibal with packladen elephants.
• Carthage, a Phoenician city was eventually totally
destroyed by Rome, which spread salt around Carthage
to prevent future agriculture.
Julius Caesar and the end of the Roman
Republic
• There were many civil wars before and after Caesar - the
Roman Republic was at its end.
• Caesar versus Pompey - Caesar won in 45 BCE; Pompey
lost his head as a gift to Julius from the Egyptians.
• “Beware of the Ides of March” was the omen given to
Caesar. March 15, 44 BCE, Caesar is assassinated by
members of the Roman Senate, including his friend
Brutus.
• Caesar’s grandnephew Augustus Caesar(Octavian) seizes
power in 27 BCE; establishing the basic structure of the
Roman Empire
• The next 200 years there is peace and prosperity in the
Roman Empire - called the “Pax Romana.”
The Slow, Painful Death of the Roman
Empire
• The empire fell into decline after 200 C.E.
• The empire finally was overturned in 476 C.E.
when Germanic invaders and Huns toppled the
Roman government
• The decline was due to a failing economy and
population loss; trade levels and birth rates both
fell
• Government had a bad string of emperors
• Roman army increasingly had to use foreign
recruits whose loyalty to Rome was suspect
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Greek and Roman Political
Institutions
• Both Greece and Rome had a variety of
political forms, yet mainly emphasized
aristocratic rule. However, we also find
democracy and autocracy in the
Mediterranean societies
• Politics important to the Greeks and
Romans. Politics comes from the Greek word
for city-state
• Even the Roman Empire allowed a large
degree of autonomy for city-states within their
empire
• Monarchy was NOT a preferred form; rule by
tyrants - individual strongman was more
common
Greek Political Institutions
!
• The word democracy is derived from the Greek word,
demos for “the people.”
• In 5th-century Athens, major decisions were made by
general assemblies in which all citizens could participate;
this was a direct democracy
• The assemblies met every 10 days; executive officers and
judges were chosen by lots, not elected - all citizens should
be able to serve
• Who was a Greek citizen? NOT women, NOT half the
adult males, who were slaves or foreigners
• However, the most common political form was the
aristocracy or “rule of the best.” Sparta was ruled by a
militaristic aristocracy, determined to maintain rule over a
large slave population
Roman Political Institutions during the Republic
!
• Roman citizens could meet in general assemblies; not to pass laws,
but to elect local magistrates
!
• The most important elected assembly was the Roman Senate - made
up of aristocrats who held all of the important jobs
!
• Two consuls shared executive power; in a time of crises the Senate
could elect a dictator to hold emergency power until the crisis was over
!
• Like the Greeks, the Romans felt strongly about the importance of
political participation. Cicero, a senator is known today for his
speeches(orations) on politics.
•
•Roman writing on politics is similar to Confucianism; but with less
emphasis on hierarchy and bureaucratic virtues - more on law-making
and judging political actions. Mediterranean political writers were
concerned about the structure of the state itself - the various types of
political forms
The Roman Senate
Roman Political Institutions during the Empire
!
• The empire maintained some of its older institutions like the
Senate; but it became a meaningless forum for debate
• The empire relied more on its generals for control of the
empire
• Most regions under the empire’s control were allowed selfrule. Exceptions - forced dissolution of a Jewish state after a
rebellion in 63 C.E.
• Romans had tolerance for local customs and religions
• Romans felt that good laws could hold the empire together;
a concept developed from the republic days - the Twelve
Tables(450 B.C.E.)
• Rome built roads and harbors to transport its huge army - it
placed huge importance on military conquest
• To distract the citizens, Roman state built stadiums and
public baths: “bread and circuses” were designed to prevent
popular disorder
Greek and Roman Religion and Culture
!
Greco- Roman Religion
• The Greeks and Romans did not create a world-class religion; in this they
differ from India and China.
• Christianity did arise during the Roman Empire, but it was not a product of
Greek or Roman culture.
• Greco-Roman religion is belief in the spirits of nature elevated into a
complex set of gods and goddesses regulating human life.
• Ceremonies to the gods did have a significant political importance.
• The gods were usually depicted as having human traits(love,
hate, pride, jealousy, sorrow, etc.) and the stories about them
read like a soap opera. Good storytelling = a literary tradition.
• Like the Indians, stories about the gods illustrated human
passions and served as a way to examine human nature.
• Unlike the Indians, the Greeks and Romans were more interested in what
the gods could do and how they could help man on earth. Hindu Indians
wanted to learn how to elevate their spiritual plane closer to the gods.
• The Greco-Roman religion did not satisfy the people spiritually and mystery
religions periodically swept into Greece and Rome, usually from the Middle
East.
• A division arose between upper-class and popular belief
Greco-Roman Philosophy
!
• While the dominant religion promoted political loyalty, it did not
provide a basis for ethical thought.
• Hence, a separate model for ethical behavior was developed
• Aristotle and Cicero stressed moderation and balance in human
behavior(compare with Confucius).
• The Stoics emphasized an inner moral independence; practiced
strict discipline of the body and personal bravery.
• Socrates encouraged people to question what everyone else
took as truth. Socrates’ forced suicide was a result of his
questioning the existence of the Greek gods
• Plato, Socrates’ student stressed knowledge of the three perfect
forms: the absolute Truth, Good, and Beautiful
• Thus a philosophical tradition got started in Greece that deemphasized spirituality but concentrated on understanding Man
and Nature
Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David
Plato and Aristotle
Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian - Classical Architecture