Chapter 5
Ancient Greece

Introduction

• The heritage of Greece is extremely significance to the development of Western Civilization

w Were the first people to think and act like modern man

w Were the first people to experiment w/ self-government

w Made significant advances in scientific thought

• Greek geography

w Geography had a significant impact on the development of their unique civilization

w Divided into three main regions

• Peloponnesus Peninsula to the south

s Home to Sparta and Corinth

• Attica in the middle; a plains area

s Home to Athens, Thebes, and Delphi

• Macedonia to the north

s Rough and rugged area that connects via the Hellespont to Asia Minor

wGreeks became a sea-going people due to their close proximity of the sea to most early Greek city-states

• Merchants and traders developed sense of freedom and independence

• Terrain of Greece was not conducive to unification

s Mainland divided by a short but rugged mountain range

s Greek rivers are shallow and non-navigable

s Soil is rocky and poor

s Coastline is very irregular with many excellent natural harbors

• Climate, while moderate did not allow for Greeks to grow ample food

s Mild climate means a long growing season

s Rain, while sufficient was not ample to grow grain crops

s Resorted to growing dates, fruits, and olives

s Many Greeks raised sheep

s Inability to raise sufficient crops prompted the Greeks to become a sea-going nation which relied on foreign trade for grain to feed a growing population

The Mycenaeans (2500-1100 BCE)

• Arose simultaneously w/ Minoans

• Heavily influenced by the Minoans, but appear to have been warrior-like and aggressive

w Cities were heavily fortified, small, and crudely constructed

• Had a written languageàLinear Bàdeciphered by Michael Ventris

• History

w Ruled by legendary kingàAgamemnon

w Singular eventàlong, protracted war with arch enemiesàTrojans of Troy

• Iliad and Odyssey written by Homer c.800 BCE

w Ruins of Troy excavated by Henrich Schliemannà 1870

w Seem to have disappeared 1184 BCEàinvasion (Dorians?) drought (?)

The Rise of
the Greek Polis

• The Dark Age transforms Greece into a country of city-states

w After the fall of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, Greek culture regressed for almost 300 years

• Art of writing was lost

• Cities were destroyed or plundered

• Native Ionian population was enslaved by invading Dorians from northern Balkan plains

• Eventually cities began to grow

• Cities were walled for protection

• Each city-state was independent of each other

wThe city-state or polis, became the dominant governmental structure of Greece

• The polis was small in size, Athens the largest, was only the size of Rhode Island

• Population remained relatively low; Athens at its height had only 4,000 people

• Each polis had an Acropolis, or high point, where the government and religious buildings were constructed

• The market place, or Agora, was the meeting place for most of the people and was the economic center of the polis

• The surrounding farmland supported the population inside the walled city

w Nobles began to challenge the hereditary kings for power in the polis between 800-650 BCE

• Power shift began to occur as wealthy nobles began to support the military

• Small farmers were forced to sell to wealthy nobles

• Merchant class developed to supply goods to expanding population

• Debt slavery also increased, challenged free laborers for jobs

• General population become more disenfranchised and distrustful of wealthy leaders

w Between 650-500 BCE a new leader, the tyrant, began to challenge for political power

• Class economic and political warfare broke out between the rising aristocracy and the general population

• Aristocrats also began to fight among themselves

• Poor began to turn to someone who could galvanize the poor and challenge the aristocracy

• The tyrant, or one who seizes government power through extra-constitutional means and breaks with tradition, is created

• A tyrant today is often though of as one who is cruel; however in early Greece, tyrants were often good

• Tyrants often came from the middle class and usually promised peace and prosperity

• Tyrants took different forms in different city-states

s In Athens it led to democracy

s In Sparta it led to authoritarianism

s In Corinth it led to oligarchy

Greek Religion

• Greek religion reflected Greek ideals

w Morality was only remotely connected to religion

w Religion was not constructed as “saving” one from immorality

w No specials rules or commandments existed

w Temples were places for gods to visit, not places of worship

w No real concern for life after death

w Believed that the afterlife was boring and that all souls went to Hades-not a place of rewards or punishments

w Gods and mortals were both controlled by fate

w Gods could be dealt with on a personal level and often visited the humans in disguise

w Gods had human characteristics with human desires and weaknesses

w All gods lived on Mount Olympus

• Greeks had certain expectations from their religion including:

w Explanation of natural forces of the physical world such as lightening, thunder, and rough seas

w Explanation of the passions which made humans lose confidence or control

w Provided a way by which humans could gain fortunes or benefits

• Greeks celebrated their religion through festivals and oracles

w Believed that gods often spoke through oracles, such as the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, to help human understand the desires of the gods

w Festivals were held to honor the gods and goddesses

• The Gallery of Greek gods was known as the Pantheon

w Zeusàthe chief god and of good weather

w Heraàsister/wife of Zeus/protectoress of married women, children and the home

w Poseidonàbrother of Zeus and god of the seas and horses

w Athenaàgoddess of wisdom,virginity and protectoress of Athens

w Apolloàgod of the sun, truth, music and poetry

w Aresàgod of war

• The Greeks also celebrated heroes who were not totally divine

w Heraclesàgreatest of the heroes, had abnormal strength

w Perseusàhero who killed Medusa and slayed Gorgon

w Jasonàhero who sailed with the argonots in search of the Golden Fleece

w Theseusàhero who killed the minotaur

Daily Life in Ancient Greece

• The Greek idea of individuality, freedom, and knowledge were reflected in the life of the Greek people

w Simplicity is a term often used to describe the Greek way of life

w Most Greeks were farmers and raised

• Sheep or goats

• Grew olives, grapes and dates

w Large middle class did arise in some coastal cities

w Commercial trade developed because of a need to feed a growing population

w Greek merchants traded leather products and pottery for foods such as grain

w Homes reflect the idea of Greek simplicity

• Homes were plain stone buildings, whitewashed

• Contained no luxurious furnishings as they were not the center of life

• Houses contained no plumbing of sewer systems

• Streets were narrow and dirty

w Women did not enjoy the status of Greek males

• Status of women was amongst the lowest in the ancient world

• Marriages were almost always arranged and women had to pay a large dowry to marry

w Education played an integral part in the lives of ancient Greeks

• Formal education was limited to rich males

• At age 6, rich males were given a slave, to care for him and to act as a tutor

• Males attended grammar schoolàstudied grammar, gymnastics and music

• Attended a secondary school called gymnasiumàprepared men for citizenry by teaching ethics, geometry, government and rhetoric

• Teachers were called Sophists who were experts in rhetoric

• Age 18 all male citizens served one year of military training followed by one year of service

• Males became full citizens at age 20

Sparta

• The rise of the Spartan city-state took place c1000 BCE

w Located in the Peloponnesian Peninsula

w Dorian invaders overran native Ionian and Laconian native c1000 BCE

w Sparta controlled most of Peloponnesus

• Client city-state of Messenia revolted in 900 BCE

• Spartans became convinced that they must adopt a strong military state to keep order

w King Lycurgus considered the creator of Spartan military state

w Rigid social classes soon developed in Sparta in order to control the lives of the people

• Descendants of the Doriansàowned all property and moneyàcitizens

• Descendants of the Ioniansàformed large merchant classàwere free but not citizens

• Descendants of the Laconians àlargest groupàenslaved and called Helots

w System of government was fully authoritarian

• The Assembly (Appela)

s Made up of all male Spartans over the age of thirty

s Had power to elect officials, declare war, and impeach kings

• The Council of Elders (Gerousia)

s Comprised of 30 Spartiates over the age of 60

s Prepared legislation, had veto power over the assembly, and served as a court of law

• The King: dual kingship elected from the Council of Elders who served as military commanders and priests

• Ephors

s Five Spartans elected by the Assembly who represented the five major city-states controlled by Sparta

s Had little military power but served as advisors to the kings

• Spartan society reflected the authoritarianism of the government and social classes

w Money was forbidden, travel limited and foreigners were restricted from entering the country

w A Spartan code was developed

• Fight hard

• Follows orders without question

• Never retreat or surrender

• Old Spartan motto was “Spartans always return from war with their shields on, or on them”

• Status of women

w Trained to be good mothers and wives

w Trained to have total devotion to the Spartan state

w No political power

• Male citizens were raised for the purpose of serving in the military

w Infanticide was practiced to prevent weak or physically handicapped from reaching maturity

w Males were taken from others at age seven-raised in barracks until age twenty

• Taught simple reading and writing

• Issued one garmentàno shoes

• Often beaten in public

• Encouraged to steal in order to feed themselves

• Taught to walk in silence with downcast eyes

• Taught to speak in short sentenced

w At age twentyàmen were full citizens

• Must serve in military until age sixty

• Married a wife chosen for them at age thirty, but spent mealtime and leisure time in social club of just men

Democracy in Athens

• The rise of the Athenian city-state took place c1000 BCE

w Athens is located on the mainlandàAtticaàacross the Straits of Messina from Sparta and Corinth

w Dorians invaders overran Ionian natives

w Unlike Spartans, Dorians assimilated the Ionian culture and became peaceful

w Athenians turned to the seaàestablished strong commercial trade

w Found many colonies in the Aegean

w Many Athenians became wealthy thus creating a wide social gap between its people

• Social classes developed in Athens creating friction among the people

w All males whose mother and father were citizens could vote and take part in the government

w The rising merchant and artisan class could not own land or take part in the government

w About ½ of population were slavesàconsidered personal property but did have some safeguards against abuse

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• The early Athenian government was an aristocracy which controlled all facets of government

w The Assembly (Ecclesia); comprised of all male citizens but had very little power initially

w King; elected by the aristocrats and owed power to them

w Archons

• 9 aristocrats chosen from the Assembly

• Made all laws and executed them

• Controlled all political facets of Athenian life

w Judgesàaristocrats chosen from Assembly and were given the task for verbal interpretation of the law

• A series of democratic reformers moved Athens from an aristocracy to a democracy over a period of 150 years

w Draco (621 BCE)

• Elected Archon in 621 BCE and went on to write down existing verbal laws

• Laws were harsh and severe but represented significant step in democracy

• Harsh laws are often called “Draconian”

w Solon (594 BCE)

• Appointed to deal w/ Athenian problems in 594 BCE

• Cancelled debt slavery

• Gave citizenship to foreign artisans who promised to settle permanently in Athens

• “Solon” is now often used to describe a wise lawmaker

• Aristocrats soon tried to destroy his reforms call Anarchy (without Archons) or period of no government

w Pisistrastrus (560 BCE)

• Tyrant who seized power after Solon

• Abolished land ownership as a requirement for citizenship

• Exiled aristocrats who disagreed with him

• Contributed greatly to the growth of a united state

w Cleisthenes (508 BCE)

• Tyrant who seized power in 508 BCE

• An aristocrat dedicated to democracy

• Divided Athens into ten tribes based on geographic distribution

• All citizens could participate in the government, including the common man

• Established Boule; 500 men chosen by lot to prepare business for the Assembly

• His reforms eliminated old tribal loyalties and people began to think of themselves as Athenians

• The result of the tyrants and reformers was the creation of the most democratic government in ancient history

w All officials were chosen by lot

w Assembly had full and final authority over the making and execution of laws

w Adopted a policy of Ostracism, or exile, for those who attempted to restore aristocracy

• Athens developed into a direct democracy by the middle of the 5^th century BCE

The Persian Wars

• The Persian wars had their origin with a conflict that arose between the Persian Empire and the expanding Greek colonies in the Aegean

w Persia had conquered all of the Fertile Crescent and Asia Minor by 500 BCE

w Conflict arose over Miletus on the west coast of Asia Minor

w Miletus, with encouragement from Athens revolted from Persian rule to join a growing Greek colonial empire

w A small Persian fleet challenged the Greek navy and was defeated

w Darius, the Persian emperor declared war on Athens and her allies

• The First Persian Campaign (492 BCE)

w Persian navy embarked along the Hellespont (Dardenelles) and headed towards Athens

w Persian navy conquered several Greek city-states along the Macedonian coast

w Persian fleet was destroyed by a severe storm in the Aegean Sea

w Darius was forced to abandon the campaign and return to Persia

• The Second Persian Campaign (491-490 BCE)

w Darius sent a message to all Greek city-states demanding submission

• Ordered all to send him “earth and water”

• Spartans threw Persian emissary into a well

w Most city-states refused to submit and prepared for war

w Persian navy sailed directly across Aegean and landed on the coast of Marathon

w Battle of Marathon was turning point for western civilization

• Greeks perfected light infantryàhoplites and military formationàphalanx

• Battle of MarathonàGreek victoryàMiltiades soundly defeated the Persians

• Herodotus reported the Greeks lost 192 to Persia’s 6400

• Persians disembark at Marathonàattempted an end-run on Athensàcatch them unprepared

• Greeks send runner from Marathon to Athens to warn Athenians of Persian threat

s Gave Athenians time to prepare

• Darius returned to Persianàdefeatedàembarrassed

• The Third Persian Campaign (480-479 BCE)

w Xerxes, son of Darius, determined to avenge father’s defeat

w Raised the greatest army in ancient history

w Built pontoon-bridge across Hellespont to convey troops across the water

w Persian army marched down coast of Macedonia, conquering all in its path

w Xerxes’s army finally stopped at tiny pass Thermopylae

w Band of 300 Spartans held off Persians, while Greek army retreated to prepare for invasion

w After 3 days “Immortals” found secret pass and slaughtered Spartans

w Xerxes marched to AthensàAthenians had abandoned cityàretreated to small islandàSalamis

w Themistocles tricked Xerxes into thinking that Greeks were surrendering

w Xerxes loaded army into boatsàheaded to Salamis

w Greek boats were smaller/quickeràdefeated Persian navyàgreat loss of life

w Xerxes watched from Acropolisàretreated back across Greece

w Greeks soundly defeated PersiansàBattle of Plataea 479 BCE

• Impact of the Persian Wars

w Persians remained viable force in Asia Minor but never again threatened Greece

w Persian Wars gave Greeks point of unityàDelian League was formed for defensive purposes

w Persian Wars produced first extensive historyàThe History of the Persian WarsàHerodotus

Greek Scientific Thought

• Modern scientific thought originated with Ancient Greeks

w Scientific method was created

w Disciplines of mathematics, natural history, physics, astronomy and geography were formed

• Significant accomplishments were made by Greek scientists

w Pythagoras (582-504 BCE)

• Philosopher who established a cult which sought to explain world in numerical terms

• Also established geometrical theorems

w Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

• Philosopher-scientistàideas dominated world of science until “Scientific Revolution”

• Established “Scientific Method”

• Founded disciplines of biology, zoology, and botany

w Democritus (460-322 BCE)àdeveloped the first “Atomic Theory” in order to answer the question of how change is possible

w Hippocrates (460-377 BCE)àthe “Father of Medicine”

• Taught all diseases came from natural causes and could be cured by rest, diet, and cleanliness

Greek Art

• Greek art reflected the ideals of Greek culture

w Art glorified and idealized humans

w Symbolized pride in the polis

w Honored the gods

w Expressed the ideals of harmony, balance, order, and moderation

w Concepts of three-dimensional representation and movement was created

w Combined the beliefs of beauty and usefulness

• Art began as the decoration of pottery

w Pottery painting characterized by three distinct period

• Geometric

• Black-figured

• Red-figured

w Painting used to commemorate religious or historical events

w Very few examples exist today

• Greek art used as architectural and construction

w Homes were plain/public buildings beautiful

w Public buildings built with interior roomàcellaàsurrounded by columns

w Three distinct column types

• Dorian

• Ionian

• Corinthian

• Greatest art reached its height in the mode of sculpture

w Characterized by movement and three dimensional representation

w Most existing pieces are anonymous

• MyronàDiscobolus

• Phidiasàstatue of AthenaàParthenon

• Polykleitusàthe Spearbearer

• PraxitelesàHermes and the Infant Dionysus

• Other great examples of Greek sculpture

w Nike of Samothrace

w Venus de Milo

w The Dying Gaul

w Laocoon

Hellenic Philosophy

• The Ancient Greeks created the science of philosophy and most western philosophical thought had its origins at this time

w Philosophy defined is the inquiry into the fundamental questions of reality and human existence

w Philosophy literally means “Lover of Wisdom” in ancient Greek.

• Term was coined by Socrates

w Early Greek philosophers were often in conflict with authorities including government officials

w Philosophers had as their goal teaching people to think for themselves

w Thales is often called the “Father of Philosophy”

• Three great philosophers lived during and immediately after the “Golden Age of Athens”

w Socrates (469-399 BCE)

• Trained as a sculptor, he became a teacher but soon became critical of sophistry

• Created a method of questioning called the “Socratic Method”

• Had many students including Plato and Alcibiades

• Main themesà

s Know thyself

s Belief in monotheism

s Immortality of the soul

s Strong belief in education with its goal being the improvement of the individual

s Belief that everyone had virtue and bad behavior was the result of ignorance

• Socrates was eventually executed for “corruption”

w Plato (429-347 BCE)

• Socrates' greatest student

• Established his own school known as the Academy

• Wrote down his conversations in terms of “dialogues”

• Sometimes difficult to distinguish between the thoughts of Socrates and Plato

• Man thing was that the true reality was “ideas,” not material things

• Greatest writings included the Trial of Socrates and The Republic

w Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

• Plato’s greatest student and founder of his own school known as the “Lyceum”

• Known for his common sense, versatility and ability to analyze and classify

• Tutor of Alexander the Great

• Prolific writer whose books formed the basis of scientific thought up to the Renaissance

• Most noted as the founder of the “scientific method” as well as his discoveries in natural history

The Peloponnesian War

• Athens became the dominant city-state after the Persian Wars

w Themistocles, the leaders of Athens, formed the Delian League in 478 BCE

w The Delian League was a loose union of over 200 city-states

w A central depository of wealth existed on the island of Delos

w Each polis contributed troops and ships for the mutual protection of the members

w The Delian League, however, soon became an Athenian controlled empire

w Sparta and Corinth were not members and opposed the Delian League

• Athens was rebuilt during this time into a beautiful city

w The leaders of the rebuilding was Periclesàdirected the buildings of the Acropolis

• Parthenon

• Temple of Athena Nike

w This time is often called the “Golden Age of Athens”

w Pericles also ordered the construction of wooden walls to protect the road from Athens to its port city of Piraeus

w Periclean Age dominated by great accomplishments in philosophy, drama, science, art, and architecture

• The Peloponnesian War destroyed the “Golden Age of Athens”

w Discontent between Athens and Sparta heightened

w Athens represented liberalism, freedom, and individuality

w Sparta represented conservatism, authoritarianism, and obedience to law

w Both city-states desired war and did little to prevent it

w The war was documented by Thucydides in the “History of the Peloponnesian War”

• The war started over a small polis, Messina, leaving the Delian League and forming an alliance with Sparta

w Sparta and her allies invided Athens in 431 BCE when Athens demanded Messina return to the League

w Athens under the leadership of Pericles, devised a strategy to hide behind its “Long Walls” and wait out the siege

w Athenians engaged Sparta only on the sea where it had a distinct advantage

w Strategy became unpopular with those outside of Athens and many city-states deserted the Delian League