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Chapter 4: Ancient Greece (1750 B.C.-133 B.C.) Geography of Greece • Greece is part of the Balkan peninsula • Mountains divide Greece into isolated valleys • There are hundreds of small islands • Geography prevented the creation of a large, united empire • Many small city-states developed, cut off from one another by mountains or water • Seas linked the Greeks to the outside world- skilled sailors, traveling and trading all over the Mediterranean Minoan Civilization • The Minoans established a brilliant early civilization on the island of Crete • Traded with Egypt and Mesopotamia • Helped to shape the first Greek civilization The Palace at Knossos • The rulers of the Minoan trading empire lived in a large palace at Knossos • Filled with religious shrines • Walls of the palace were covered with frescoes which depicted Minoan society A Civilization Disappears By 1400 B.C. Minoan civilization had vanished • Archaeologists are not sure why they disappeared, possible theories: - Volcanic eruption - Earthquake - Tidal wave - Mycenaean invaders 1 Mycenaean Civilization • First Greek-speaking people who left a written record • Conquered the Greek mainland & Crete • Successful sea traders, traded with Egypt, Mesopotamia, Italy Writings of Homer • A Greek poet, Homer, leaves hints about these civilizations in his writings: • – The Iliad – The Odyssey Homer’s epic poems reveal much about the values of ancient Greeks. The Trojan War • Mycenaean's are best remembered for their part in this war • Conflict was over control of trade and straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black Seas • Legend is a romantic cause, the wife of a Greek king was kidnapped and the Mycenaean's sail to rescue her. • The Greeks seize Troy and burn the city down after a ten year battle. Mycenaean Decline • Frequent attacks by other sea traders, trade declines and cities are abandoned. • Greek civilization takes a step back, the art of writing was nearly lost. The Rise of Greek City-States Early Greek Governments • At first, the ruler was a king. A government in which a king or queen exercises central power is called a monarchy. • In some city-states, power shifted noble landowners who no longer defended the king. • A government ruled by a landholding elite is called an aristocracy. • Trade led to a new class of wealthy merchants. • A government power in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class, is called an oligarchy. • Tyranny – Sometimes there was a brutal ruler who has gained power by force. • Some societies grew into a limited democracy, or government by the people. 2 Greek City-States ATHENS • Great agricultural area • Developed limited democracy • Male citizens were members of the assembly • Most important trade center • Women were considered inferior • Valued education above all SPARTA • Strict military society • Rulers discouraged trade and travel • All boys received military training • Girls were raised to produce healthy sons for the army • Women had the right to inherit property Athens and Sparta united • The Greeks shared a common culture: – honored the same ancient heroes & gods – participated in common festivals – Greek language – felt superior to non-Greeks The Persian Wars • Persia wants to gain control of the Greek city-states • Athens and Sparta- stand up against Persia • Sparta loses to Persia, Athens wins • Athens becomes the most powerful city-state, forms the Delian League The Age of Pericles • After the Persian Wars, there was a golden age in Athens. 3 • Athens became a direct democracy under the rule of Pericles. • All men were expected to take part in government, serve on juries, and were paid a stipend if they held public office • Voted to banish anyone who threated democracy - known as ostracism. • Pericles hired architects and sculptors to improve Athens • Athens became the cultural center of Greece The Peloponnesian War CAUSES • Greeks outside of Athens resented their domination. • Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League to rival the Delian League. EFFECTS • Sparta wins and Athenian domination of the Greek world ended. • Athens recovered economically and remained the cultural center of Greece. Golden age of Greece Greek Philosophers • Socrates, Plato and Aristotle explored many subjects, from mathematics to logic. ARCHITECTURE • Perfect balance - to reflect the harmony of the universe. • Example: The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. ART • Sculptors emphasized natural poses that were life like but also idealistic. • Paintings offer views of Greek life. Greek Drama • Plays were performed in large outdoor theatres with little or no scenery. • Based on popular myths and legends which taught moral and social lessons. • Tragedies- plays that told stories of human suffering that usually ended in disaster. • Comedies- humorous plays that mocked people or customs. 4 The Writing of History • The Greeks applied reason, observation, and logic to the study of history. • Herodotus is called the “Father of History”- stressed the importance of research. Alexander The Great and the Hellenistic Age Macedonia • Philip of Macedonia was the first to conquer part of the Greek mainland. • His son, Alexander, succeeded him to the throne and began winning more land. • His first victory was against the Persians, went on to conquer all of Asia Minor, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. • In India, the army faced soldiers mounted on war elephants and monsoons. They were forced to retreat. • Alexander died and his empire did not last. The Legacy of Alexander • Alexander’s most lasting achievement was the spread of Greek culture. • Across the empire, local people adopted Greek ideas. In turn, Greek settlers adopted local customs. Hellenistic Civilization • A time of decline between the Greek Classical Era and the start of the Roman Empire • A blending of eastern (Persian & Indian) and western (Greek & Egyptian) cultures occurred- referred to as Hellenistic Civilization Hellenistic Golden Age – Pythagoras derived a formula to calculate the relationship between the sides of a triangle – Theorized about a heliocentric, or sun-centered, solar system – Showed that the Earth was round and accurately calculated the circumference – Physics was used to make inventions, such as the lever and the pulley – Hippocrates studied illnesses and cures and set ethical standards for medical care. 5