Schoology Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece: Background

Important Dates

  • C. 750 B.C.: Geographic context of Ancient Greece

  • 2000-1400 BCE: Minoan Civilization flourishes

  • 1200 BCE: Trojan War occurs

  • 1150-750 BCE: Greek Dark Ages

  • 800 BCE: Rise of Greek City States

  • 776 BCE: First Olympic Games celebrated

  • 520 BCE: Persia invades Ionian region

  • 490-479 BCE: Persian Wars fought

  • 461-429 BCE: Age of Pericles (Golden Age of Greece)

  • 431-404 BCE: Peloponnesian War (Sparta vs Athens)

  • 338 BCE: Philip of Macedonia invades and defeats Greece

Geography of Greece

  • Location:

    • Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea, and Aegean Sea.

    • Major geographic features include the Balkan Peninsula and mountainous terrain.

    • Limited arable land (~20%), causing reliance on sea trade.

The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations

  • Minoans (2000-1400 BCE):

    • Powerful sea trading civilization, based on Crete.

    • Prosperous through trade and rich culture.

  • Indo-European Migration:

    • Groups such as Mycenaeans migrated from the Black Sea to Greece.

    • Mycenaeans established fortified cities like Tiryns and Athens (1600-1200 BCE).

Trojan War

  • Fought around 1200 BCE between Mycenaean Greeks and Troy.

  • Originated from the abduction of Helen of Troy, igniting a conflict over trade dominance.

Post-Trojan War Period

  • The collapse of Mycenaean civilization due to attacks by sea peoples.

  • Dorians invaded, leading to the Greek Dark Ages (1150-750 BCE).

  • Limited written records, but oral traditions continued, notably through poets like Homer.

Greek Mythology and Religion

  • Polytheistic beliefs

  • Major gods include:

    • Zeus (sky), Hera (marriage), Apollo (light), Artemis (hunt), Athena (wisdom), Aphrodite (love).

  • Myths explained natural phenomena and human experiences.

The Greek Polis

  • City-states (Polis) developed due to mountainous geography.

  • Each polis had about 20,000 inhabitants.

  • Acropolis served as the governmental center.

Trade and Economic Factors

  • Proximity to the Fertile Crescent aided trade.

  • Exported wine, olive oil, and marble while importing grains and metals.

  • Cultural diffusion noted across the Mediterranean region.

Government Types in City-States

  • Varied systems including:

    • Monarchy: Rule by kings.

    • Aristocracy: Rule by elite landowners.

    • Oligarchy: Wealthy merchants and artisans governing in small groups.

    • Tyranny: Non-lawful rulers rising during unrest.

Comparison: Athens vs. Sparta

Sparta Background

  • Founded through the conquest of Messenia in 725 BCE.

  • Helots were subjugated peoples who worked the land.

Spartan Society and Government

  • Militaristic society focused on warrior superiority.

  • Boys taken at 7 to train as soldiers, achieving full citizenship at 30.

  • Governance structured around an assembly, elected council, and two kings for military command.

Athenian Political Evolution

  • Progression from monarchy to democracy, influenced by leaders like Draco and Solon.

  • Cleisthenes established the first form of Athenian democracy with the Council of Five Hundred.

The Persian Wars and the Golden Age

Causes of Persian Wars

  • Ionia's revolt against Persian control led to wars between Greek city-states and Persia.

Key Battles

  • Battle of Marathon (490 BCE): Athenian victory against Persian forces.

  • Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE): Spartan defeat but heroic resistance.

  • Battle of Salamis (480 BCE): Naval victory for Greeks.

  • Battle of Plataea (479 BCE): Final Greek victory led by Spartans.

Consequences of the Persian Wars

  • Formation of the Delian League led by Athens.

  • Athens experienced a Golden Age under Pericles, focusing on democracy, military strength, and cultural achievements.

Cultural Achievements

Art and Architecture

  • Parthenon: A monumental temple dedicated to Athena.

  • Statue of Athena: Created by Phidias, symbolizing Athenian culture.

Drama and Literature

  • Development of tragedy and comedy as dramatic forms.

    • Key playwrights include Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Historical Methodologies

  • Herodotus: "Father of History" focusing on cause and effect.

  • Thucydides: Critique of non-factual information, documented the Peloponnesian War.

Philosophers

  • Socrates: Introduced ethics and questioning; met his death by poisoning.

  • Plato: Student of Socrates; founded The Academy and wrote 'The Republic'.

  • Aristotle: Comprehensive studies in various fields.

Hellenistic Culture Post-Alexander

Conquests of Alexander the Great

  • Unified Greece and expanded into Persia, Egypt, and India, resulting in the spread of Greek culture.

  • Established cities, including Alexandria, as cultural hubs.

Division of Alexander's Empire

  • After his death, the empire fragmented into three main areas ruled by his generals: Antigonus (Macedonia), Ptolemy (Egypt), and Seleucus (Persian Empire).

Impact of Hellenistic Civilization

  • Blending of Greek, Persian, and Egyptian cultures.

  • Alexandria became a center of learning and commerce.