GREEK

Announcements

  • Term Paper:

    • A term paper is required for the class.
    • Students are encouraged to start working on it as soon as possible (6 weeks remaining until due date).
    • Students should read the guidelines and rubric thoroughly.
    • Open floor for questions regarding the term paper.

  • Upcoming Test Information:

    • Date: Test number one is scheduled for one week from Friday (November 17).
    • Test Format:
    • Divided into two parts:
      • Part 1:
      • Four questions created by the instructor based on the review sheet available on Canvas.
      • Emphasis on thorough understanding of the review sheet to facilitate test preparation.
      • Part 2:
      • One question from the TA for a total of five questions on the test.
    • Total points for the test: 25 points.
    • Students must sit in their designated TA sections during the test to avoid receiving a zero.
    • A seating chart will be provided for reference before the test.

  • Important Note:

    • It is essential for students to remember their TA’s name and location.

Test Preparation

  • Review Sheet Utilization:
    • All questions from the instructor will be based solely on material from the review sheet.
  • Format of Responses:
    • Responses can be in bullet points rather than full sentences/paragraphs.
    • Each question worth five points; partial credit available.
  • Communication with the Instructor and TAs:
    • Questions encouraged during office hours or after class.

Historical Focus: The Sixth Century BCE

Achaemenid Persia

  • Transition from the Middle East Power Balance to the discussion of Achaemenid Persia.
  • Early Structure of Persia:
    • Settled by shores of the Persian Gulf.
    • Early Persian tribes were divided and ruled by succession of outside powers.
    • Obligations of subjects:
    • Payment of taxes to ruling powers.
    • Military service when called.

Persian Power Relations in the 500s BCE

  • Dominant Kingdoms:
    • Four great kingdoms at balance:
    1. Lydia (located in what is now Turkey).
    2. Media (light yellow on the map).
    3. Babylonia (light brown, Mesopotamia).
    4. Egypt (dark brown, along the Nile).
    • Persians under Media's control initially, leading to taxation and military obligations.
    • Balance of Power:
    • Each of the four kingdoms maintains relative power without any overtaking another.

The Persian Empire's Rise

  • Cyrus the Great:

    • Ruled from 559 to 530 BCE.
    • Initially king of Anshan; later unified Persian tribes.
    • Led a successful rebellion against Media, enabled by alliances with Babylonia.
    • Victory over Media marked the foundation of the Persian Empire—Persians became rulers.
    • Continued conquest trajectory:
    • Conquered Lydia in 546 BCE.
    • Conquered Babylonia, consolidating Persian control.

  • Cambyses II:

    • Ruled from 530 to 522 BCE.
    • Continued expansion, notably conquered Egypt and Nubia.
    • Marked significant transition as Egypt fell under foreign rule.

  • Darius I:

    • Usurped power after a brief civil conflict following Cambyses' mysterious death in 522 BCE.
    • Expanded the empire significantly, conquering Central Asia and parts of India, even encroaching into Europe.
    • By 513 BCE, the empire reached its zenith.

Factors for Persian Empire’s Success

  1. Great Leadership:
    • Importance of capable rulers (Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius).
  2. Strong Military:
    • Formation of a large, disciplined army consisting of over 300,000 soldiers; militaristic society geared toward warfare.
  3. Effective Administration:
    • Established satrapies (provinces) for efficient governance with satraps (governors) responsible for tax collection and law enforcement.
    • Improved communication through a network of roads and a reliable messenger system (Royal Road).
  4. Religion:
    • Zoroastrianism as the belief system valuing good vs. evil and perceiving their empire's success as divinely ordained.

The Birth of Democracy in Greece

  • Concurrently, Greek states (polis) began to develop a form of democracy during the Archaic Age.
  • Population and City Growth:
    • Recovery from the Dark Ages leading to increased trade, population, size of cities, and establishment of colonies.
  • Phoenician Alphabet Influence:
    • Introduction of a phonetic writing system revolutionizing literacy and communication.
  • Hoplite Soldier Emergence:
    • Shift from bronze to iron allowed wider military participation, increasing army sizes significantly.

Political Structure of the Polis

  • Approximately 1,000 independent polises established by the end of the 500s BCE.
  • Governance:
    • Run by an assembly of citizens, not monarchs.
    • Citizens allowed to propose, debate, and vote on matters, establishing the first concepts of democracy.
    • Citizenship was limited:
    • Males had political rights, females did not.
    • Aliens (non-citizens) had no political rights regardless of residency.
    • Support for slavery existed, limiting political rights further.
  • Democracy vs. Oligarchy:
    • Most polises operated under oligarchy; named Athens as the most famous democracy but notable limitations in practice.

Conclusion

  • The remarkable developments of the 500s BCE set the stage for political and military confrontations, particularly between the burgeoning Persian Empire and the Greek states in the subsequent era.