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Origins of Classical Hellenism Mediterranean Culture Minoan Society 2200 b.c.e- 1450 b.c.e • Island of Crete is center of ancient trading society – magnificent palaces at Knossos • Exchanged goods from Egypt to Sicily • Early script ,Linear A ,used for record keeping • Natural disasters destroyed much of Crete, and the important island of Thera ( modern Santorini) • The riches of Minoan society also attracted invaders Artist’s Recreation of Knossos Minoan Culture - Religion Minoan Priest Minoan Snake Goddess The Minoan World: mid-2M B.C.E. Mycenae • Indo-European tribes descend into the Balkans .. These Dorians founded the Mycenaean society • Capital city was in the Peloponnese , kingdom expand throughout much of what is the modernday nation of Greece… Sparta becomes center of martial life… renowned for their warriors and women • Various Poleis develop, geography made unity difficult – by 1000 bce many Greek-speaking colonies established throughout Mediterraiian and Black Sea region ( Magna Graecia) magna graecia Hellenic World • Cultural ties amongst the city-states…shared linguistic, religious values • Diverse political systems…Spartans enslave neighbors ( Helots), other forms of slavery elsewhere • Athens leads move to plurality- direct democracy allowed free males with property to participate • Athenian golden age under Pericles • Short-lived ( delian)union dissolves- • 27 year ( Peloponnesian) war among Hellenes left long-term damage • Half-century of Spartan domination ends with conquest by Phillip of Macedon ( circa 350 bce) • The experiment of rule by the people ( demos) will inspire others Legacy of Hellenic Culture • Playwrites,philosphers impact on centuries to come– • Comedy / tragedy basis for western drama to the present • Socrates developed the basis for logic • Plato’s republic promoted government run by philosopher kings chosen by the public • Aristotle’s writings on physics, the cosmos and matter would hold for 1,500 years –however, he clearly was misogynistic ! Awful view of women • Other scientific and mathematical geniuses – Archimedes of Syracuse, Euclid ( father of geometry), and Claudius Ptolemy Hellenistic (diffusion) • By- product of Alexander’s conquests– all things Greek spread over vast area • Egyptian branch ( Ptolemaic), preserves the classics , merged with Roman Empire of Alexander of Macedonia
