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Greece Individualism of the States • Greece was a compilation of citystates – Athens – Olympia – Sparta – Thebes – Syracuse – Delphi • They were more apart than together Individualism of the States • There was much competition: – Food supply (remember none of the technology we have today) – Distant markets – Olympics – Leadership in other areas (arts, law/government, wealth/power) – Religion (my god vs. your god) Individualism of the States • Separateness brought about unique cultures – Festivals and calendars – Laws and customs • Balance between order (laws) and liberty (freedom) – Too small a city state – no power, instability – Too large a city state – dictatorship and tyranny Individualism of the States • In the end, this independent freedom/spirit was the Greek demise. • All the different cultures were unable to unite and stand together for common cause Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • Sparta began as the main power in the Greek world – Athletic prowess – Wealthy – Sea farers Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • 512 BC – Darius I of Persia conquered many lands going westward up to and including Thrace and Macedon • 510 BC – Darius had heard of Athens – Decided to conquer • Hippias, a deposed ruler of Athens, wanted the Persian ruler to help him recapture Athens Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • Sparta had been under Persian rule for some time • Decided they’d had enough – The leader, Aristagorus, asked Athens for help – Instead of money, Athens offered ships and people • The overthrow was not successful – Persians maintained their rule – Darius knew who the Athenians were ; decided to put them in their place Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • 491 BC – 600 ships traveled across the sea and camped near Marathon – The Greek city states were scared, but raised the armies and went to fight – The numbers: Greeks 20,000, Persians 100,000 – Greeks used massive offensive and defensive attacks – Persians were used to fighting one on one Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • • • • Greeks fought with skill, courage, and strategy It was not only one of the most decisive victories in history, it was also one of the most incredible Greek testimony is that 6,400 Persians died, but only 192 Greeks fell at Marathon One runner ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to let the town know that the Greeks were victorious – He arrived, delivered the message, and dropped dead Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • The Second Persian war was fought by Darius’ son Xerxes • For 4 years he collected: – About 2 million men – 1207 ships in all • Persians did not kill Greek spies but sent them home – Tell them what you saw… Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • Northern Greek cities bowed easily out of fear – $1,000,000 feast – Tried to appease Persians • Themosticles in charges of Athens • Strategy: – Athenians fled the city to regroup elsewhere – Persians arrived to deserted city – Greeks congregated at Salamis • a great defensive position! Ionian Revolts and the Golden Age • • Greek “spies” told Persians that Greeks were at Salamis Persians floated down and blocked entrances – Wanted to “finish off” the Greeks • Greeks fought like crazy – defensive positions – ambushes from behind – 200 ships went down • • • Greeks knew how to swim, but Persians didn’t Lots of other ethnicities besides Persians died Humiliated Persians went home Athens in Glory • Themosticles – – – – – Great general, lousy peacetime leader Took bribes Insulted people Unscrupulous However… • • • • He recognized the need for trade Built ship ports put walls @ cities negotiated w/Persia for trade Athens in Glory • Themosticles – – – – stole money from the treasury He hated Sparta tried to make Athens great to spite Sparta Sparta found documents to implicate him in some scandals • – Fled Athens • – – handed docs over to gov’t in Athens tried to hide in a couple of other cities, but they turned him away He ended up going to Persia (turncoat) Died before he could weasel his way back into power (449 @ 65 years old) Athens in Glory • • • • Eventually leadership of Athens went to Pericles, 467-428 BC Friend and pupil of Anaxagorus (Greek philosopher) Studied under Zeno (Greek Philosopher) Considered a true Greek (complete man) – – – – – Economy Military Literary Artistic Philosopher Athens in Glory • Pericles created: – first paid jury (unheard of at that time) – paid military – pay fee to enter festivals and games (to raise $ for city) – Public works for the unemployed or idle build ships, arsenals, warehouses, walls @ cities – He wanted to beautify Athens and keep people working. Athens in Glory • At plays, people of Athens could see philosophers and artists attend – These were the sports heroes & superstars of their day • Pericles did democracy • He strengthened laws – Pericles came up w/trial by jury where jurors were called to work and paid for the day Athens in Glory • Pericles did some dumb stuff too – No legal marriage btwn. Athenians and foreigners – Established Athenian colonies on foreign soil • Gave that land away to poor citizens – Got the funds that were acquired from the war transferred from Delios to Athens • “not secure enough” – Delios was unaware that he was stealing to pay for Athenian public works Greek Accomplishments • Letters • Greeks leaned writing from Phoenicians – Back and forth, then left to right • Greeks added vowels • 10 different alphabets were competing as the correct form of writing between all the city states • Greeks eventually added spaces too Greek Accomplishments • Letters cont. • Earliest writings were commercial and religious • Every book written by hand – books were limited • Most people did not know how to read • Most books (and learning) was done verbally – read by trained reciters Greek Accomplishments • Literature – Divided and united Greece • • Dialects Recited aloud, rarely rhyming – Songs of love, war, and heroic deeds Greek Accomplishments • Literature cont. – Homeric poems oldest known epics • Illiad earliest – All about fighting – Achilles is main character » Part god/part human » Big fat baby really spoiled and pouting and unwilling to fight » Then his friend is killed and he’s cruel and vindictive. Greek Accomplishments • Literature cont. – Homeric poems oldest known epics • Odyssey came later – Almost seems like a different author – Story emphasizes: » wit, not strength » resilience and determination » patience and cool calculation, not temper – May not have been Homer Greek Accomplishments • Olympics – “Of all things the measure is Man, of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not.” – Protagorus Greeks real religion was health, beauty, and strength. Why? – • • – – Constantly called upon to defend their cities Working the land and keeping themselves fed was arduous Heroes were the athletes Things like hunting became a sport when they used to be necessities First recorded Olympic is 776 BC in Olympia – • Besides running, javelin, discus, also wrestling, singing & boxing Greek Accomplishments • Arts – We have only a small portion of what existed, but lots of words about it – Vases, sculpture, architecture, music & dance, theatre – – – – Originally religious bent – lots of it (competition) The win in the Persian war made Greeks think “Gee! Look at what we can do!” What made Greek art improve and flourish so much was the cultural exchange of ideas and techniques Achieve greatness just to be the best