Download The Beginnings of Greek Civilization

The Beginnings of Greek
Civilization
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Aegean Area
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Minoans
Mycenaean's
Troy
Geography
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Southern Balkan Peninsula
Western Turkey
Island of Crete
Crete - Minoans
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Knossos center of civilization
palace of Minos
palace murals show civilization
worshiped mother goddess
Crete II
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sea traders
2000 BCE dominated eastern
Mediterranean
peaked at 1600 BCE
earthquakes a frequent problem and
may have destroyed the civilization
Story of Theseus and the
Minotaur
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Crete ruled Mediterranean and took
Greek youth as part of tribute
youth used in religious ceremonies
danced with bulls - similar to today's
bullfights
Theseus heir to Athens chosen
in lottery
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went to Crete as offering to the Minotaur- son
of king Minos
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supposed 1/2 bull 1/2 human
lived in the labyrinth (palace)
may be symbolic of the Greeks conquering
the Minoans
Mycenaean
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Indo European
entered Balkans abut 2000BCE
intermarried with local Hellenes
City States built around a royal fortress
nobles lived on manors outside city
slaves and tenants farmed land
Major cities
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Mycenae
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palace center of government and business
products made in cities and laws inforced and
taxes collected
Dark ages lost writing and crafts
Dark Ages
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poets and oral tradition
Homer
Trojan War
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War between Myceaea and Troy
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Paris prince of Troy falls in love with Helen the sister in
law of the of king of Mycenae
Mycenaeans lay siege toTroy for 10 years
teach values of love of nature, husband wife
relationships and loyalty among friends
Greek Religion
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Gods and Goddess have human forms
and failings
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Goddess - Hera, Athena, Diana, Demeter,
Aphrodite
Gods-Zeus, Ares, Appolo, Posiedon, Dionysus
The City State - Polis
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geography caused the development of
individual isolated cities
City
Citizens
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vote
own property
serve in government
serve in army
most not citizens
women had no rights
Greek Colonies and Trade
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increases in population after 700BCE meant
cities needed more food
sent out citizens to establish colonies
coasts of Mediterranean and Black sea
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Syracuse
600 BCE replaced barter system with money
purple cloth - item of trade
pottery exported
Government
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first city states ruled by kings
landholding aristocrats began to assume
more power
as need for foot soldiers grew more were
given citizenship rights
tyrannies arose - dictatorships
500-336 BCE oligarchy (few wealthy people)
became the rule
2 democracies Athens and Sparta
Athens and Sparta
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Major rivals
united by war with Persia
Sparta
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descendants of the Dorian invaders
located in Peloponnesus
economy was based on agriculture
instead of colonies - invaded neighbors
militaristic
society on base of slaves - Helots
slaves revolted in 650BCE and 30 year war
resulted
Sparta - Military society
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all male citizens were soldiers
only healthy new born allowed to live
age 7 boys went to live in barracks
taught to read, write and use weapons
20 became soldiers
30 had to marry
lived in barracks until age 60
Sparta - women
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child producers
trained in gymnastics, wrestling, and
boxing
married at 18
given personal rights
could own land
but not allowed to participate in politics
Sparta - government
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2 kings
led army
conducted religious ceremonies
Assembly of all men over age 20 made laws
Assembly elected 5 overseers to administer
public affairs
Counsel of Elders proposed laws to Assembly
Spartan culture endured 250
years
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not open to new ideas
failed to progress
exceptional athletes and won Olympic
games
Athens
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Attica
descended from Mycenaeans
city named for goddess of wisdom Athena
Athens had an expanded definition of
citizenship
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all free men were citizens regardless of class
all could participated in Assembly
Athens's Tyrants brought the
change
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Draco’s Law (Draconian)
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improved code of laws
penalties given to offenders were harsh
written down so everyone knew them
Solon
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canceled all land debts and freed debtors from slavery
limited land one person could own
promoted trade and growing of cash crops
2 house legislature
landowner made up Assembly
Council of 500 drafted laws for approval
Tyrants II
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Peisistratus
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divided large estates among the landless
extended citizenship to non land owners
Organized a festival to Dionysus
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Began as a song sung by a choir of “goats”
Stories added = Greek Drama
Cleistheens
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democracy
reorganized structure of government
guaranteed freedom of speech
Athenian Democracy
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Assembly
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all male citizens
passed laws
supreme court
chose 10 generals to run the army and
navy
Athenian Democracy II
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Council of 500
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administered laws
collected taxes
built public works
members chosen by lottery
jury
ostracism - unpopular sent away for 10
years took 6000 votes
Athenian Education
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every male registered with 1 week of birth
sons were required to be educated
girls learned household duties
some private education for rich
most educated in the agora through daily conversations and
discussions
entered school at age 7 graduated at 18
 Iliad and Odyssey main books
 memorized
 arithmetic, geometry, drawing
 music and gymnastics
 rhetoric
 18 mandatory military service
War with Persia 500-479
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Cyrus II conquered Greek City States in
Turkey
even though Persians were not bad
conquerors they were resented
Athens sent aid to try and overthrow
Persia won and sent troops to punish
Athens
Marathon
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invasion point for Persians
25 miles north of Athens
Athenians seemingly ignored them
order to get back on boats
while in water and in disarray Athens
struck and Persians were defeated
Salamis
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480 BCE
Xerxes invaded Greece
200,000
Greeks led by Themistocles
delayed Persians at Themopylae under
Spartans
Persian fleet was engaged and defeated
Golden age of Athens
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461-421 BCE height of Greek Culture
Pericles lead Athens
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rebuilt city after burning by Persians
Parthenon
Daily life
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homes
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2 rooms
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work day
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main room
wool room for women's work
mornings given to work
afternoon attended the assembly or gym
heavy work done by slaves
Peloponnesian war 431-404
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War between Athens and Sparta
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clash of cultures
Athens under Pericles took control of Delian League
 city states that worked together to oust Persians
 took control of funds on isle of Delos
 centered courts in Athens
 supported revolts in other city states
Sparta led opposition
431 BCE to 404 BCE
Sparta joined with Persians
Athens hit by plague
Spartans defeated Athens
Civil war results
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power vacuum
Thebes tried to rule and failed
Macedonia became to rise in power and
influence