Download Classical Period

Classical Period
1000 BCE- 600 CE
Differences of Classical Civilizations
from Early River Valleys
• Size and political strength
– Larger land areas meant need for larger
governments and stronger militaries
• More complex cultures
– Great religions emerged: Hinduism, Buddhism,
Judaism, Christianity & Confucianism philosophy
– Many civilizations produced art and literature
considered classics today
Differences of Classical Civilizations
from Early River Valleys
• More numerous and better written records
– More knowledge gained about classical
civilizations because of better record keeping
– All civilizations had writing and some developed
alphabets
• More complex long-distance trade
– Great trade routes developed: Silk road trade and
Indian Ocean trade
– Trade systems increased prosperity, introduced
new material goods, & spread ideas
Differences of Classical Civilizations
from Early River Valleys
• More contact between nomads and sedentary
people
– Urban areas came in contact with areas on the
periphery
– Central Asian nomads took over transport of
goods across the vast plains (settled into some
areas, as well)
– Attacks of nomads on civilization centers grew
Differences of Classical Civilizations
from Early River Valleys
• More direct influence on modern civilizations
– Many modern beliefs and practices are traceable
to Classical Period (more than to early river
valleys)
– Modern law codes are similar to Roman law, not
Hammurabi’s Code
– Religious beliefs of Classical Period are in practice
today
Important to Know
• Focus here is on Classical Civilizations,
but most of earth occupied at this time was by
nomadic or migratory people
• Two alternatives to sedentary agriculture
1. Shifting cultivation or “slash & burn” agriculture
2. Pastoral nomadism
Shifting cultivation or “slash & burn”
agriculture
• Predominated in rainforests of Central &
South America, west Africa, east & central
India, southeast Asia, and south Asia
• Rainforest undergrowth is burned, but large
trees are left to protect soil
• Ash from burn is used to fertilize crops
• Once nutrients from soil are depleted and new
area is burned
Slash & burn agriculture
Pastoral Nomadism
• Practice continued from earlier days across plains
of central Europe, central Arabian Peninsula, and
areas south of Saharan Desert
• Animals of pastoralist were domesticated
• Pastoralist sought good pastures
• Animals included horses, cattle, sheep, goats,
camels, and reindeer
• During Classical Period trade routes were
controlled by pastoralist across central Asia
– Some settled into sedentary lives on Silk Road trading
centers
Pastoral Nomadism
Classical Civilizations in three areas
1. The Mediterranean
– Greeks followed by Romans
2. The Indian subcontinent
– Mauryan Empire
– Gupta Empire
3. East Asia
– Warring States period following Zhou to Qin
Dynasty
– Han Dynasty
Geography Interlude
• C:\Users\Owner\Desktop\APHG Videos\Why
we need to teach geography.mov.mp4
Mediterranean: Greece
• Settled agriculture had developed along
Aegean Sea by about 2000 BCE
– First on the island of Crete
• Greece geography
– Mountainous with little land for farming & no
major rivers
– Advantageous was excellent and plenteous natural
harbors & calm sea (Greeks became good sailors)
Mediterranean: Greece
• From fall of Mycenae (1100 BCE) until about
800 BCE Greeks were isolated
• Phoenicians ended this isolation and
generated trade with Greeks
– Greek ships began traveling across the
Mediterranean
Phoenicians
Important Marker Event
Phoenician Alphabet
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Phoenicians 1200 BCE to 300 BCE
Civilization grew up in modern-day Lebanon
They were great maritime sailors
Developed the Phoenician alphabet
– First non-pictographic consonantal alphabet or a
phonetic alphabet
– This alphabet became basis for many modern
languages
Phoenician Alphabet
Marker Event
• System of 22 written marks
(letters) corresponding to
sounds
• Much simpler than any
alphabet of the day
• Greeks built on this by adding
signs for vowels
Greece Political Development
• Primary political form in Greece was the polis
or city-state
• City-states were independent political and
cultural units with their own government
– Some cases there were leagues tying city-states
together loosely, but never a central government
• Primary city-states were Athens & Sparta
• At its height Greece had over 200 poleis
Developmental Forms of Government
in Ancient Greek Poleis
• Monarchies
– Hereditary rule by one
• Oligarchies
– Rule by a few
• Aristocracies
– Rule by leading families
• Democracies
– New form of popular government
Early Athens
• Athens went through all the forms of government
listed previously
• Cleisthenes, an aristocrat, experimented with
democracy
• Heart of democracy was the town meeting
– Had to be a free male to participate
• Athens also had “Council of 500”
– Citizens chosen for one-year terms
• Important to note democracies consisted of only free
males: women & slaves no political power
Early Sparta
• In early 700’s Spartans defeated neighboring
city-state of Messenia
– Captured their people & used them for
agricultural labor (called helots)
• During 600’s Messenians kept rebelling and
Spartan men trained for military superiority
over them
– Helots met societies economic needs
– This set course for a society built around military
dominance
Ways to look at societies
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Social
Political
Inter action between people and environment
Cultural & Intellectual
Economic
Create a SPICE charts to classify and compare
societies and civilizations
Economic Characteristics of Greece
• Greek topography included mountainous
region not suited to agricultural production
– Grew barley that was hardier than wheat on its
plains
– Grew olive trees on edge of plains & grapevines
on lower slopes of hillsides
• Raised sheep & goats in most areas and
horses in northern Greece
Economic Characteristics of Greece
• Natural resources included building stones
such as marble, clay for pottery, but few metal
deposits
• Relied on maritime trade for a lot of their
goods: timber, gold, iron, copper, tin, & grain
• Farmers had to also be ready to serve in army
– Greek farmer soldiers were called hoplites
• Greek formed colonies around the Aegean
and eventually all the way to southern France
Greek colonies 550 BCE
Social Distinctions in Classical Greece
• Big social distinction in Classical Greece citystates is between citizens and non-citizens
Spartan & Helot
Athenian citizens—free males
Sparta & Social Distinctions
• Any distinction in Spartan life were made by
military and physical prowess
• Boys removed from home and joined the
military at age seven
• Spartans thought luxuries were harmful to
their purity
• Spartan values were based on the military
Sparta & Social Distinctions
• Helots outnumbered citizens 10 to 1
– Helots controlled by Spartan military males
• All Spartan citizens were theoretically equal in
status
– All wore simple clothing & no jewelry
– Houses equally unadorned
– Life was lived very frugally & austere
Athens & Social Distinctions
• Basic distinction in Athenian society between
citizens and non-citizens was important
• Athenians did enjoy luxuries and developed an
urban-based aristocracy
• Most Athenians were farmers outside of the
city, but in the urban area the distinctions
stood out
• Democracy was essentially for free males
– Athens had a slave population of almost 30%
Athens & Sparta Gender Distinctions
• Spartan women were free and equal with males
– Physical fitness encourage in women (healthy bodies for
healthy children)
• Spartan men away at war, so women ran the economy
• Athenian women confined to home & ventured outside
only when escorted by servants or slaves
• One or two rooms reserved for women away from
street
– Rural women had more freedom
• Athenian women had no political rights, nor could they
own property or businesses (they were citizens)
Cultural Characteristics
Classical Greece
• Greeks were polytheistic
– Main god Zeus & his wife Hera
– Poseidon, god of seas
– Athena, goddess of wisdom and war
– Apollo, god of Sun
Cultural Characteristics
Classical Greece
• Greeks did not take their gods that seriously
• They had an emphasis on secularism
– What’s that?
• Secularism: centered on the affairs of the
world
– Secular refers to the opposite of religious
– Secular violence: not with respect to religious
conflict
Cultural Characteristics
Classical Greece
• Greeks believed in natural law or the sense
that forces in nature caused phenomena to
occur
• Famous philosophers stating concepts of
natural law
– Socrates, focusing on ethical questions of life
– Plato, a concept of perfect forms & philosopher
kings
– Aristotle, focus on explanations of nature through
scientific discovery
Cultural Characteristics
Classical Greece
• Classical Greeks concentrated on three major
art forms:
1. Drama: centered on myths about gods & their
intervention in human affairs
2. Lyric poetry: style of poetry that has musical
quality and centers on personal feelings
3. “Classical” architecture: Greek temples
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Parthenon atop the Acropolis (hill) in Athens
Copied by Romans
Cultural Characteristics
Classical Greece
• Greek sculpture reflects
ideas of worth of individual
– Celebration of the human
form
• Achievements of Greeks
during Classical Age (c. 500300 BCE) is termed Hellenic
culture
– Based on Greek name for
their homeland, Hellas
Rise of Persia
• Ancient Persia rose in the area of modern-day
Iran
Rise of Persia
• Traders had come across this area from
southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent
• First warrior King was Cyrus the Great
• Particularly important is decree of Cyrus the
Great to free the Jews from Bagdad
– He is mentioned 23 times in the Jewish Bible
– Allowed Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild
their temple after Babylonian conquest
– Daniel was favored by Cyrus
Rise of Persia
• In the Persian court these governors were
called satraps
– They collected tribute (precious metals)
– They provided soldiers to keep control
• Persian King was referred to as :
– “the Great King, King of Kings, King in Persia, King
of countries”
– Satraps mimicked this role of Persian King in their
provinces
Rise of Persia
• Following Cyrus the Great were a succession
of rulers—most important Darius I
– Empire went into Egypt and into northern Greece(Macedonia)
• Political system setup by Cyrus I is to be noted
– Successful idea if you intend to conquer and have
a lasting empire
– Allow your subjects to practice their own customs
and laws under your governors
Greeks vs. Persians
• Most knowledge of Persians comes from Greeks
who faced them in battle in 5th century BCE
– Would this be accurate information (POV)
• Most famous battle in Greek Persian history is
Battle of Marathon
– See video of this
• Another noteworthy defeat of Persia by Greeks is
Battle of Thermopylae
– Did West (Greece) vs. East (Persia) begin in these
battles? (CCOT)
Hellenistic Synthesis
(Blending of Greek ideals with established cultures)
• King Philip of Macedonia (immediately north of
Greece) [359-336 BCE] defeated Greek city-states
one by one
• Philip was assassinated in 336 BCE and his son
Alexander (20 years old) took over
• 13 years later Alexander had conquered most of
known world at that time
– Egypt, Syria, Persia, & all the way to Indus Valley in
India
• Spread of Greek ideals after Alexander’s conquest
is called Hellenistic Age (323-30 BCE)
– He was student of Aristotle
Conquests of Alexander the Great
Mediterranean Civilizations: Rome
• Rome was heavily influenced by the Greeks, but
did develop its own unique character
• Migratory group called Etruscan’s came into
Rome around 800 BCE (don’t know from where)
– Dominated area city-states
– One of its dominated areas was Rome
• Rome gained its independence from Etruscan rule
in 509 BCE & established a republic
– Republic (state without a monarch—representative
rule)
Mediterranean Civilizations: Rome
• Roman Republic
– Run by a Senate compose of patricians (aristocrats)
– What is an aristocracy?
• Aristocrats: a class of persons holding exceptional
rank and privileges, esp. the hereditary nobility
• Republic had both a Senate and General
Assembly
– Not democratic, however, as plebeians (commoners)
composed General Assembly and had little power
– Plebeians represented 90% of population
Mediterranean Civilizations: Rome
• Senates power challenged by Julius Caesar
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Charismatic patrician & control of soldiers
Formed a Triumvirate (rule of three)
Declared himself to be dictator
Was assassinated by Senators on Ides of March—
March 15, 44 BCE
• Fight for power by his nephew Octavian and a
general Mark Antony
• Octavian defeated Antony in 31 BCE & Senate
declared him Augustus (revered one)
– Start of Roman Empire
Who was Cleopatra?
• Cleopatra VII was last queen of Egypt
– Direct descendant of Alexander Great’s general Ptolemy
• Cleopatra had a son with Julius Caesar & wanted
him as heir to him
• After Julius Caesar's assassination she sided with
Mark Antony (bad move)
– Had children with him
• Octavian defeated Mark Antony & Cleopatra
committed suicide: had snake bite her
– Events of this written by Roman scholar 130 years after
this happened
Cleopatra
Analyze this picture
Notice hairstyle
Augustus Reforms & the “Pax Romana”
• Augustus a clever politician and effective ruler
– Preferred to be called “princeps” or first citizen
• In his 40-year rule overhauled military,
economy, & government
– His reforms lasted for 250 years & created “Pax
Romana” or Roman Peace
– Codified Roman Law, used army as engineering force
to build roads & public works, created effective navy
• Roman Empire lasted until 476 CE
Economic & Social Distinctions
• Roman economy primarily agricultural with
hierarchal system of operation
– Aristocrats (patricians) controlled large plots of land
– Oldest living male, “paterfamilias” had complete
authority over family
• Patrons (men of wealth) had clients (subordinates)
– Patrons were usually Senators who had great political
power
– Clients served patrons with military service, labor, &
political support
– A client might be a patron himself to a lesser group
Economic & Social Distinctions
• Roman citizenship, therefore, through Patronclient relationships had a lot of inequality
• Tensions existed throughout Roman Empire with
this system of inequality
Economic & Social Distinctions
• Roman women
– Generally treated like children under strict scrutiny
of the men of family
– In women’s cycle she was supervised first by her
father, then her husband, and finally her son
• Compared to women of Greece, however, she
had more freedom with economic rights
– By 1st century BCE women supervised family
businesses & financial affairs of wealthy estates
– Roman literature describes women as well educated
and vocal
Economic & Social Distinctions
• Rome growing influence
– Expanded role in Mediterranean Sea trade
– Defeated Carthage (rival) in Punic Wars 264-146 BCE
• With expansion of empire came issue of
incorporating conquered people
– Some gained citizenship & wealth through military
accomplishments
– Many were taken into slavery (household & craft
production, but most used in mining & agricultural
production
– Slaves number around 2 million by 2nd & 1st cent. BCE
Roman Culture
• Romans borrowed heavily from Greeks
• Most Roman contributions were in law,
bureaucratic administration, finance, and
engineering
• Legal inventions include:
– Concept of precedent (how did courts rule previously
to determine verdict)
– Belief that equality should be goal of legal system
– Concept that judges should decide what a law means
– Natural law: belief that all humans have natural rights
given in nature (foundation of European & North
American law
Roman Arts, Literature, and Religion
• Roman art and literature shaped greatly by the
Greeks
– Cultural diffusion occurred with a large number of
Greek servants working for wealthy Romans
– Most Roman children tutored by Greeks
– Roman religion similar to that of Greeks
• Roman poet Virgil linked the Greek Iliad and
the Odyssey to Roman history in the Aeneid
– Roman literary works spread it language: Latin
Roman Arts, Literature, and Religion
• Romans valued oratory and ethical philosophy like
the Greeks
• Romans copied Greek sculpture
• Romans made significant strides in architecture &
built tremendous roads for its military marching
armies
• Built great aqueducts to carry water to urban
areas
• Roman gods virtually just like the Greeks, but with
different names: Zeus—Jupiter; Athena--Minerva
Decline of Rome
• Important to note
– Not one reason for decline
– Process happened over time, not quickly
• Common problem of all empires is defense of
large territory far from capital
– Germanic tribes continually attacking Roman territory
in north (costly to defend)
– These attacks increased in 3rd century CE when Rome
had very poor leadership (incompetent & corrupt
emperors)
Decline of Rome
• By 3rd century CE Rome had class struggles
over land
– Large estates using slave labor had taken up most
free land
• Contact with larger populations through trade,
unfortunately spread massive epidemics
– Population decimation in portions of the empire
Decline of Rome
• Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople
in eastern part of empire
• Law of unintended consequences
– Moved to have better connections in that part of
empire & escape attacks from Germanic tribes
– Effect: eventually sacrificed the western portion of the
Roman Empire as Germanic groups took control
(Franks, Saxons, Angles, Vandals, Visigoths, and
Ostrogoths)
– By 5th century CE Rome itself was sacked; last Roman
emperor deposed in 476 CE
– Western Roman Empire never returned