Download Ancient Greece - Calaveras Unified School District

Democracy in Ancient Greece
I. Geography shaped Greek Civilization.
A. The sea shaped Greek Civilization just as in Asia rivers did.
B. The terrain isolated the people.
1. It is very mountainous with mostly fertile valleys.
2. Because of the difficulty in crossing, the city-states were isolated.
3. To most Greeks their home was their valley region.
4. The land could not feed all the people – sea traded needed.
C. The climate helped to shape life.
1. Moderate temperatures and rain only in the winter.
2. People could meet outside and talk.
3. Everyone knew everyone else.
4. Public discussions and exchange of news were part of civic duty and culture.
II. First Ancient Civilizations (Bronze Age)
A. Crete (2000-1400 BC)
1. Minoans (King Minos) sea traders.
2. Great culture of art - they delighted in nature, wall paintings, clothes, athletic contests.
3. Women viewed almost as equals as man, respect.
4. They even had plumbing, toilets and bathes.
D. Creation of the Greek Hero
1. Homer’s stories
2. The Olympics started in 776 BC, crowned with wreath of olives leaves, honor and fame.
3. Greek gods were like humans in conflict, but immortal
4. Myths tried to explain the mysteries of nature and the power of human passions.
5. Religion in Greece was tied to government and civic pride.
III. City-states compete for power.
A. City-states (polis) are the cradle of democracy.
1. Citizens were expected to be involved.
2. Only free males were viewed as citizens.
3. They were to be involved in all discussions of public matters, open debate.
4. They were considered free and rational men.
5. Leaders were expected to be willingly to listen.
B. Power passes from kings to citizens.
1. After warrior-kings, an aristocracy (group of nobles) ruled the city-states and served
themselves.
2. Because iron was now cheap, citizens were soldiers and courageous.
3. Often an out-of-place noble would lead these farmer-soldiers into a revolt.
a. He would set himself up as a tyrant.
b. Not liked by nobles for his part and for giving out their land.
c. He would build community buildings.
4. Many other city-states tried other forms of government.
C. Sparta built an army state.
1. Spartans conquered their neighbors and made them helots (serfs), forced to work the land.
2. After a helot revolt in 600 BC, the Spartans created a harsh society.
a. Babies examine for fitness, if not fit, they were left to die.
b. Boys at age seven were moved into barracks and given little food and clothes, but tough
discipline.
c. Girls were raised to be hard, and as women were given nearly equal rights as men and
ran the family lands.
3. Great army, but no art or architecture.
4. Values were duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, beauty and individuality.
D. Athens turned to democracy.
1. They were educated to think and act as a free people.
2. They were eager to learn new ideas.
3. Two leaders reformed the government into a democracy, rule by the people.
4. Solon (594 BC) reforms the economy and politics.
a. Canceled all debts, freed indebted slaves, made farming profitable and required sons to
get a trade.
b. Allowed all males to discuss and vote on issues, and allowed anyone to bring charges
against anyone committing a wrong, so all were responsible for justice.
5. Cleisthenese (508 BC) creates a Council of 500 to prose laws and advise the Athenian
assembly.
E. The Persian Wars came twice to Greece, one in 490 and again 480 BC.
IV. Athens led Greece in its golden age.
A. Pericles (480 BC) strengthens democracy and the arts of Athens.
1. Created paid public officials to hire more than the rich for government.
2. Using Delian League funds they built up the Athenian Navy.
3. Also used their funds to beautify Athens with gold, marble and the Parthenon.
B. Art flourished in Athens.
1. Classical Art was created a standard by the Athenians - order, balance, and proportion.
Great statues and temples, and individuals began to decorate their homes.
2. The Greeks invented drama.
3. Pottery was another source of art - telling myths and legends.
C. Sparta defeated Athens in Peloponnesian War of 27 years starting in 431 BC.
1. After having its navy destroyed and the city depleted by plagues, it surrenders.
2. Athens is shaken by defeat.
a. Democracy begins to fail.
b. Art begins to show emotion - statues and comedies.
D. Philosophers searched for truth.
1. Philosopher is “one who loves wisdom”.
2. Socrates created the Socratic method of asking questions to find the truth of something;
he was sentenced to death for corrupting the youth of Athens.
3. Plato theorized that the average citizen was incapable of governing wisely.
a. He created a school of thought called the Academy.
b. Wrote The Republic about the best form of government.
c. Only the top third should rule, and their greatest philosopher would be king.
4. His greatest pupil was Aristotle who was hungry for knowledge. He developed syllogism If A and B, then C.
Roman Civilization and its Republic (1000 BC to AD 476)
I. The Creation of the City of Rome
A. Geography plays a role.
1. The Alps in the north separates it from Europe.
2. Large coastal region provides trade routes and sea products.
3. Weather is very mild, allowing for discussions and interaction.
4. Rivers provide trade route.
B. Rome creates its “own” culture.
1. All trade routes from north and south cross at one point, Rome.
2. Greeks, Latins, and Etruscans battled for control of Italy
3. Romans combine the best of all.
a. Religious ideas from the Greeks (gods) and the Etruscans (signs).
b. Romans overthrew the king and set up a republic.
c. Romans value family ties.
1.) The ways of the fathers - discipline, strength, & loyalty - gravitas.
2.) Paternalism - ruled by father.
a.) controlled property.
b.) could sell into slavery or kill any member without penalty.
c.) spoke for family.
d.) chief priest.
3.) Women ran the household and were viewed as background equals.
d. Society was divided into classes.
1.) Upper - patrician - original families had the right to make laws, held offices.
2.) Plebeians - commoner, artisans, merchants - could vote.
3.) Later huge numbers of slaves.
4. Romans built a mighty army.
a. All males were required to serve for 10 years.
b. Legion 6,000 fought as century (100), flexible to attack in any direction.
C. The Roman Republic spread its power.
1. Plebeians demanded more rights.
2. 12 Tables
a. Now written down, nobles could not misinterpret.
b. All citizens had the right to protection under the law.
3. Rome achieved a balanced government.
a. 2 Consuls - general/president 1.) power of life and death
2.) term only one year, once every 10 years
3.) veto - “I forbid” - stops other consul’s laws
b. Senate - aristocratic branch
1.) advised consuls
2.) influenced domestic and foreign affairs
3.) membership for life, continuity and power
c. Democratic assembly of all citizen-soldiers, later decisions were law.
d. Dictator - in times of crisis - 6 months of total power
4. Rome won control of Italy.
a. After sack of Rome in 390 BC, Romans rebuild their wall that stood for 800 years.
b. They drove the Greeks from the land by 275 BC.
c. Three levels of citizens.
1.) Romans - from the city and area around
2.) ½ citizens were given all rights except voting.
3.) Allies of Rome, gave troops, formed alliance with only Rome, free to self-govern.
d. Citizenship could be granted to a select few in other lands.
5. Rome fought with Carthage, other sea trading competitor, The Punic Wars.
D. The Republic collapsed in Rome
1. As the empire expanded, the gap between rich and poor grew.
a. rich upper class
1.) Hannibal destroyed many farms thus creating huge farms.
2.) Many conquered people were brought in as slaves, workers and servants.
3.) Great spoils of war made the wealthy accustom to great art, decorations and food.
b. Bottom was the slaves brought back from war
c. Proletariat - proletarius "citizen of the lowest class," in ancient Rome, landless people,
exempted from taxes and military service, which served the state only by having children.
Without farms or jobs they became dangerous discontent mobs.
2. Attempts to reform the political system.
a. Gracchi attempt to reform, give land to the poor?, deal with unemployment.
b. Both were killed by the senate (Tiberius 133 and Gaius 123 BC).
c. An army leader, Marius 105 BC, takes political power after creating a professional army.
d. This army would now fight for its leader who brought wealth, not the Republic.
e. 88 BC, Sulla ends the six-month dictator’s limit
3. Julius Caesar takes power.
a. Bribes Sulla’s soldiers not to kill him.
b. After playing politics for 20 years, he became governor of Spain.
c. With that wealth, and the support of the rich Crassus and popular general Pompey, they
set up the First Triumvirate.
d. The 3 bribed and bullied the senate and assembly into following them.
e. Julius would go off to conquer Gaul and Britannia.
f. Upon return (50 BC) he was ordered to disband his army, which would lead to his end.
g. He crosses the Ribicon - a decision from which there is no return.
h. He attacks Rome to start a civil war.
i. Defeats Pompey in Greece, who is later beheaded in Egypt.
j. Returns to Rome in 46 BC with the support of 2 armies and the people.
k. He made several great changes.
1.) Granted citizenship to many outside of Rome and Italy.
2.) Increased the Senate to 900 and filled it with his followers.
3.) He ordered landowners to substitute at least 1/3 of slaves for free workers.
4.) To create jobs he set up public works programs - great buildings and roads.
5.) He founded many colonies where landless could go.
6.) These programs cut in half the number on government dole - grain handouts.
7.) The Julian calendar based on the sun, 365 days plus 1, used until 1582 AD.
l. He was murdered by a group of senators on March 15, 44 BC, “Ides of March”.
4. The Republic dies after Caesar’s death.
a. A third civil war creates a great leader, Octavian (Augustus).
b. He is part of a 2nd Triumvirate, Octavian (grandson of Caesar), Lepidus (powerful
politician) and Marc Antony (great general) 43-33 BC.
e. In the Naval Battle of Actium 31 BC, Marc Antony is defeated.
f. Octavian returns as triumphant 1st citizen.
g. He later takes the title Augustus - exalted one
h. He was the 1st emperor of the Roman Empire - ruled for 41 years.
i. Romans found it convenient to let the republic die, while acting like it still existed.
II. The Roman Empire
A. It is a time of Pax Romana.
1. Pax Romana - peace and prosperity in the empire
a. Pax - Peace
b. 27 BC - AD180
c. No war inside of empire, the size of the US and 90 million people
2. Augustus set up a sound government.
a. He created policies - plans for governing
b. He encouraged the values of simplicity, soberness, and patriotism.
c. He improved trade and transportation.
1.) A common coinage of a denarius made trade easier.
2.) Removed transportation taxes to move goods freely.
3.) Great highways around the empire.
4.) Aqueducts - above ground structures carried water from hills to cities.
d. He created public building programs.
1.) Concrete was used widely for it was easy to move.
2.) Covered things with marble to make them look grander.
3.) Great buildings like temples, assembly houses, and coliseums.
e. A civil service is created, removing real power from the senators.
1.) Free(d) people ran the grain, roads, post, etc.
2.) Since it improved their lives, these men were loyal to emperor.
3. Peace continued after Augustus.
a. The civil service that Augustus created survived good and bad Caesars over the next
170 years.
b. Succession was a problem, who chose? Last emperor, senate, or army.
c. 5 Good emperors ruled the last 85 years of Pax Romana.
B. Romans extended the Greek Culture
1. The blend of the two cultures is called Greco-Roman.
2. New Schools of philosophy arose.
a. Epicuranism
1.) Free the body of pain and mind of fear.
2.) Avoid pain by avoiding excesses.
3.) Accept death as the end, so therefore, there was nothing to fear
4.) Forgot avoiding excesses, wealthy used ideas to justify pursuit of pleasure.
b. Stoicism
1.) Encouraged virtue, duty, and endurance.
2.) Universe was controlled by Universal Law, Divine Reason, or Supreme Power.
3.) Taught virtues of reason, duty, and courage.
4.) Pain and pleasure were unimportant.
5.) Many wealth students would later be in politics and spreading stoic ideas.
6.) Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditations.
7.) Human laws and power should be reasonable and just.
8.) Pater familias no longer had power of life and death.
9.) Also masters were prohibited in killing or injuring their slaves.
3. Latin literature took many forms.
a. Livy’s history was bias.
1.) 142 books covering all Roman History up to Augustus.
2.) He thought that past people were more heroic than present people.
3.) Old heroes were men of honor, courage, discipline, and moral strength.
4.) They did their duty for family, god, and state.
b. Virgil’s epic poem was the story of Romulus and Remus.
c. The Silver Age of Literature
1.) Criticism replaced patriotism.
2.) Praise replaced by satire - mocking of society for its foolishness and wickedness.
3.) Juvenal wrote about the morals of private citizens.
4.) Tacitus wrote scorn of the Roman govt.
5.) Rome was so secure at this time that these writers were allowed this freedom.
4. Fine buildings adorn Rome.
a. Rome was the most spectacular tourist attraction in the ancient world.
b. 10,000 statues, 700 pools, 500 fountains, 37 gates, 36 arches.
5. Roman law united the empire.
a. Early law (12 Table) dealt with the rights of Romans.
b. Later the laws were applied to all people.
c. Many of the most important principles were Stoic. For Example
1.) No person could be judged without first seeing the facts.
2.) All accused had the right to face their accusers and defend themselves.
3.) If there were questions about someone’s guilt, then he should be viewed as innocent.
4.)Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside
(unconstitutional).
d. Long after Rome was gone, its laws endured.
e. They became the basis for many European countries, and later nations of the world.
C. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
1. Crises weakened the empire.
a. Economics decay
1.) Trade was disrupted by barbarian attacks.
2.) Most trade was import and not export, so money was flowing out.
3.) Prices rose because of devaluation of coins - inflation.
4.) Farming output dropped off.
b. Military decay.
1.) Military was being defeated on the borders & the soldiers were having morale trouble.
2.) Roman soldiers were fighting for pay now and not patriotism.
3.) To keep costs down, the empire hired barbarians to fight, they had limited loyalty.
c. Political decay
1.) Most people were concerned about themselves and not the “republic”.
2.) With the loss of income, few wanted to enter govt., and lose money.
3.) The soldiers were the only ones willing to take over, but it was bloody.
d. Diocletian (284 - 311 AD) reformed the empire to keep it alive.
1.) Doubled the size of the army to protect borders.
2.) Beat inflation by creating price and wage controls.
3.) Restored Roman religion by persecuting Christians.
4.) Increased emperors prestige by looking more like a Persian ruler in purple & gold.
5.) To administer empire he divided it into West & East and he took the east.
6.) Reforms didn’t work very well, but they did set the stage for the next emperor.
e. Constantine (312 - 337 AD) reformed the empire more and unifies it again for only a
short time.
1.) While preparing to defeat a rival, he sees the sign of a cross of light in the sky, so he
put the symbol on his soldiers’ shields and he credits the victory to God.
2.) Edict of Milan allows freedom of religion. (In 395 AD Theodosius makes Christianity
the official religion of the empire.)
3.) Moved capital to Byzantium, because
a.) trading crossroad
b.) easier to defend
c.) Christian city
d.) located in prosperous east.
e.) Renamed city Constantinople.
4.) After his death, empire will be split forever.
2. Barbarians overran the empire.
a. Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Lombards, Vandals (all
Germanic people) Final sacking of Rome came in 455 AD by the Vandals.
D. Legacy of Roman Empire
1. Republic form of government spread through world, but not until after American
Revolution.
2. Laws spread through much of Europe and the world.
3. Language - Latin
a. Latin roots form the foundation of the Romance Languages of Italian, French, Romanian,
Spanish, and Portuguese.
b. Latin roots make up more than 1/3 of English (English is also a 1/3 Germanic).
c. Alphabet of 23 letters is the basis for many languages such as English.
4. Architecture
a. practical - useful - such as roads and aqueducts.
b. grand scale - large to impress.
5. Art was realistic, impressive and beautiful.
Western Civilization (103)
Men spent their leisure time where? (agora 105)
arete (107)
acropolis (108)
phalanx (109)
Eratosthenes (126)
Euclid (126)
Archimedes (126)
Cincinnatus (137)
Pyrrhic victory (137)
tribune (142)
civil war (145)
Plotted to be king (L146)
gladiator (peace 151)
Caesar (rb 151)
Hannibal
Cicero
Roman Forum