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The Greeks The context, significant features and impact of classical Greek civilization Time line and Context • Bronze age Aegean civilizations c.2300 BC • Minoan civilization ( not Greek) – earliest European civilization c2000BC • Lasted 500 years ended by northern invaders from Greece • King Minos • Homer (early pre- classical Greece)– story of the Minotaur and Labyrinth partly supported by archaeological record – finds by Schliemann ( d. 1890) at Knossos [ bulls labrys axe ] • Neighbouring cultures Celts, Phoenicians, Persia, Egypt Homer • • • • Attributed author of Iliad and Odyssey Herodotus-‘400 years before my time’ Retelling of older stories? Formed basis of Greek Education ‘the Greek bible’ • Writes of heroes, search for honour, glory and memorable deeds- values • The folly of human conflict • The power of fate The Iliad • Story of how the Greeks, lead by Achilles, won back Helen wife of King Meneleus of Sparta, who had been stolen by Paris from the city of Troy • Other Greek Heroes Odysseus, Agamemnon, Ajax • Trojans King Priam, Hector, Cassandra • Trojans defeated by the Trojan Horse The Odyssey • The adventures of Odysseus returning from Trojan wars to his wife Penelope • Land of the Lotus eaters • Circe the enchantress • Polyphemus the Cyclops • Scylla and Charybdids • The Sirens • Zeus v Aphrodite The Mycenaeans • Based at Mycenae on the Peleponnese. In Homer the capital of King Agamemnon • Again circumstantial archaeological evidence • Warriors and traders • Linear B writing • From 2000BC- c 1200 BC collapse of this civilization writing falls out of use for 400 years Rise of Greece • C 8th century BC • Iron overtakes bronze • Emergence of city states the POLIS • Improved writing – vowels • c600BC of Greek states only Sparta and Argos are monarchies • Urge to power of broader spectrum of men • The Phalanx- a new fighting strategy citizen soldiers long spears interlocking shields Diversity of Greek landscape and peoples • • • • • • • • • • Sea communications Climate – out door living Agriculture- olive oil not wealthy but easy to live- time for talk E.g. Socrates Little conspicuous gulf between educated and not References to farming in Hesiod Smiths and Potters significant crafts Weaving associated with women and home Gods represent natural world and diverse traditions City States • Greek city states- The Polis - were diverse and competitive yet had an identity as Hellenes. Non Greeks regarded as Barbarians i.e. non Greek speakers. • Shared culture • Gods • Places of worship • Stories, Homer, Festivals Different Political Systems • Monarchy , Aristocracy,- nobles • Oligarchy- Government by the rich • Tyranny -Tyrants could be popular – means power by own hands- could get repressive in response to challenge • Democracy- Athens • Solon cancels debt 570 BC • Tyranny PEISISTRATOS • 510 CLESTHENES- every free born male has the right to participate in the Ekklesia with a smaller elected senate for day to day decisions The Persian Wars (Herodotus) • War with Persia tests emergent democracy. Documented by Herodotus as a war for freedom • Cyrus The Great 6th c BC expansion of Persian Empire into Aegean Lands and Greek Colonies in Asia Minor (Turkey) • 449 BC Darius successor to Cyrus attacks across the Aegean Athens leads defence • Dissent amongst other Greek states even Spartans don’t make the battle of • MARATHON due to religious rituals • 9000 Athenian Hoplites – the citizen infantry, shoulder to shoulderoutnumbered 2 to 1.. • Hold off the might of the Persian Cavalry • Persians retreat…..until 480BC attack of Xerxes • 480 BC Persians return lead by Xerxes son of Darius. This time Spartan King Leonidas with 300 soldiers holds back the Persian hoards at THERMOPYLAE– giving Athenians time to evacuate the city which Persians burn. • THEMISOCLES meanwhile takes Athenian fleet to SALAMIS- the Persian fleet follows and is out manoeuvred and destroyed. • 479 Greek armies finally expel Persians from mainland Greece. Sparta • • • • • • Kingdom in Greece Military society ‘Return with your shield or on it’ Concept of freedom but collective Toughness, honour, comradeship, duty Rigid social organisation, training from 7 years- Spartans don’t work • Helots- semi slaves from surrounding region Athens rebuilt • Themistocles city wall, agora • Pericles builds Parthenon on the Acropolisdedicated to Athena 447-432BC • Statue 11m tall inside • Boost to craftsmen • Symbols of golden age of culture • Architecture- proportion , • Geometry, maths Pythagoras (A philosopher too) The Agora • Centre of city life trade, social judicial, intellectual • Bouieterion- council chamber, judgement by juries of fellow citizens • PHILOSOPHERS here too, a tradition in Greek life since Xenophanes • Sophists – can argue both sides of any case hence Sophistry Philosophy • SOCRATES 469-399BC dialogues with students • ‘A life not examined is not worth living’ • Recorded by his pupil PLATO 427-347 • Teacher to ARISTOTLE ( Logic) 384-322 BC • Definitions of truth, justice, beauty • Basis for the whole of western thought The Greek ideal Greek Drama • • • • • • • • Tragedy AESHYLUS SOPHOCLES, EURIPEDES Comedy ARISTOPHANES Masked players ( men), dramatic conventions e.g. unities, chorus Music and dance, competitions too Associated with festivals DIONYSIAN Slaves and prisoners allowed to watch AMPHITHEATRE could seat 17.000 Theatrical mask Gymnasion • Trained both mind and body- fitness of both inseparable to Greeks associated with sense of beauty and virtue combined • Done in the nude ( Shocking to Persians) • Plato's academy had running track and sports arena • Athletic accomplishment values since games at OLYMPIA pre 8th century BC Slaves and Metics • Athenian Citizens active in democracy ( more so than today) • BUT in Athens and other Greek states economy rooted in SLAVE labour • 100,000 in Athens for a free population of 150,000 -purchased, pows, born slaves • Domestic labour , heavy work, some highly skilled, not too arduous unless in LAURION silver mines • Metics – free foreign workers – shared social life but not citizenship numbers grew with time Women • No political status • In the home , seen and not heard, married young to older husbands • Marriage for sons, heirs ….and daughters for dynastic marriages) • Silence a mark of modesty • Upper class women more restrictions • Lower class women some work nurses , weavers, textiles, craftswomen , traders • Prostitutes integral part of Athenian Life • Glamorous courtesans, street whores • Athenian men don’t look to wives for intellectual company or sex – used prostitutes or men friends • ‘Greek love’ in addition to marriage After the golden age of classical Greece… • after C5 BC decline of Athenian power • Rise of Philip of Macedon • Father of Alexander the Great Greek Gods • • • • • • • • • • • • • Reflected Greek contact with nature Lived on Olympus Ruled by Zeus and spoke in thunderbolts and his jealous wife HERA Hephaestus the Smith Athena Goddess of wisdom Poseidon – the sea, Hades – the underworld Apollo the Sun Aphrodite – love Demeter- earth Iris the rainbow Ares –war Hermes- the messenger Artemis Nike Goddess of …? Bibliography • Green P (1973) A Concise History of Ancient Greece to the close of he classical era. London Thames and Hudson • Kerrigan, M (2001) Ancient Greece, London BBC • Kitto, H.D.F ( 1951)The Greeks, London Penguin • Hampshire History centre packs • www.bbb.co.uk – Lord Elgin, Olympics • www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass • www.primaryhistory.org Consider impact of Greek culture • Look at materials for teaching • Hants packs • Nuffield citizenship activity • Should the Elgin Marbles/ Parthenon Frieze be returned to Greece?