Ancient Greece

The earliest records of ancient Greece geography were maintained by

Herodotus, the 'Father of History', Thucydides and Xenophon.

Geography Greece is a peninsula about the size of Louisiana in the Mediterranean Sea.

It’s very close to:– Egypt– Persian Empire– Rome

Greek geography

Greece is mountainous Greek communities often

times developed independently because of the mountains

They were diverse communities independent of each other (City-States)

As a result, they tended to go to war to settle differences

Terracing saves water and soil in mountainous environments

The Man, the Myth, the Legend

What were legends? How are they

important for studying the past?

Where do we see legends in society?

Marathon: Phidippides

Sports

Entertainment

Star Wars

Legends

A legend is a semi-true story, which has

been passed on from person-to-person and has

important meaning or symbolism for the

culture in which it originates.

A legend usually includes an element of truth, or is based on historic facts, but with 'mythical qualities’

Legends usually involve heroic characters or fantastic places and often spiritual beliefs of the culture in which they originate.

Myths A myth is a story based on tradition or legend, which has a

deep symbolic meaning.

A myth 'conveys a truth' to those who tell it and hear it, rather

than necessarily recording a true event.

However…

myths can be accounts of actual events, they have become transformed by symbolic meaning or shifted over time or place.

Myths are often used to explain universal and local beginnings and involve supernatural beings.

Myths live on

The great power of the meaning of

these stories, to the culture in which they

developed, is a major reason why

they survive as long as they do -

sometimes for thousands of years.

Technology results from necessity

Since Greek coastal cities were sandwiched between the ocean and the sea, they developed a powerful navy for trading and fighting.

Technology results from scarcity All cities need fresh

water. This is a Greek aqueduct, basically a brick water pipe.

The first aqueduct was Assyrian, but most ancient societies had them.

The Greeks were the original Olympiads. Their scientists studied the best way to perform sports

Greek Invention

The Greeks invented the crane.

Greek Architecture

Greeks invented arches and columns.

This obviously took advanced mathematics.

More Greek Architecture

The Polis: Aristotle

“Every State is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good; for mankind always act in order to obtain that which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a greater degree than any other, and at the highest good.”

The Polis

Unique version of city-states called the Polis.– Typically built on two levels.

• Top Level: The acropolis: great for defense of the city

– Temples to the gods or goddesses

• Lower Level: Main City– Market Place, Theater, Public Buildings, Homes

Early Government

First ruler of the Polis was a king. – Government with a king or queen at the center

is a monarchy. Slowly this power shifted to the noble land

owners. Warriors or military defenders gain power as well.

– Through this developed an aristocracy. Middle Classes also emerged and formed an

Oligarchy.

Changes in Warfare

– In about 650 B.C.E. iron weapons and tools replaced bronze.

• Because iron was cheaper ordinary citizens could afford helmets, shields, and swords.

– New methods of fighting emerged. • The phalanx was a massive formation of

heavily armed foot soldiers.

– A New type of warfare began.

Greek Military

This is a phalanx. Soldiers get in a

tight formation. They each have a

large shield and a 9 foot long spear.

Greek Military

This is a hoplite, a Greek infantry soldier.

Hoplites were middle-class freemen who had to pay for their own weapon and shield.

Athens vs. Sparta

What made the city-states unique? Let us find out…. Ladies : examine what life was like in

Athens Gentlemen: jump into the life of the

Spartans

Political: Athens was the first democracy. Democracy: type of government where

people vote. Athens was a direct democracy where

people voted on everything.

Direct participation was the key to Athenian democracy.

In the Assembly, every male citizen was not only entitled to attend as often as he pleased but…

But…..

also had the right to debate, offer amendments, and vote on proposals. Every man had a say in whether to declare war or stay in peace. Basically any thing that required a government decision, all male citizens were allowed to participate in.

Political terms

All of Greece wasn’t a democracy.

Most of Greece was a monarchy a type of government ruled by a king or queen.

At right is Pericles, a good king of Athens.

Sparta

Sparta was an isolated city-state that was culturally and politically different from Athens.

Sparta was an oligarchy, government ruled by a few. They had 2 kings.

During the Peloponnesian Sparta sacked Athens.

Sparta

Spartan society was obsessed with war.

Boys were sent to military school at a young age.

Boys who are born deformed are left to die on mountainsides

Athens

Athenians were tough but were encouraged to engage in activities like art, philosophy, music.

Persian Invasion: Section 3

Yes Greek city-states had their differences but in times of difficulty and emergency they united as Greeks.

Their Greek culture in times of need united them above all.

Victory at Marathon: 1st Persian Invasion

Persian emperor Darius the Great sent a huge force across the Aegean to punish Athens for its interference.

The Persians outnumbered the Athenians 2 to 1. Overwhelmed by the furious attacks the Persians

retreated to their ships. Pheidippides, the fastest Athenian runner, was

sent to carry the news home to Athens. He ran 26.2 miles and said “Rejoice, we conquer.” Then he dropped dead.

Persian Invasion Background

500 B.C.E Athens emerged at the wealthiest Greek city-state.

Persians controlled the Greek city-state of Ionia. – In 499 B.C.E. the Ionian Greeks rebelled

against the Persians. Athens sent ships to support the Ionian rebellion.

Fact vs. Fiction ??

How can we determine and analyze popular culture vs. historical accuracy?

Fact vs. Fiction

In his comic book, he depicts the Persians as effeminate, and presents them as religious devotees.

The traitor is a hunchback. The Spartans are physically perfect. It is white versus black, man versus

woman, mysticism versus rationalism, healthy versus sick.

Persian Empire at the Time of Xerxes

Second Persian Invasion 480–479 BC

King Xerxes I of Persia sought to conquer all of Greece.

The invasion was a direct response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece(492–490 BC) at the Battle of Marathon which ended Darius the First’s attempts to conquer Greece.

After Darius's death, his son Xerxes spent several years planning for the second invasion, mustering an enormous army and navy.

The Athenians and Spartans led the Greek resistance, with some 70 city-states joining the 'Allied' effort. However, most of the Greek cities remained neutral or submitted to Xerxes.

The Bridge Over the Hellespont

The invasion began in spring 480 BC, when the Persian army crossed the Hellespont

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=40.368782,23.919811&spn=0.037209,0.069351&t=k

Persian Advance

The Persian advance was blocked at the pass of Thermopylae by a small Allied force under King Leonidas I of Sparta

Persian fleet was blocked by an Allied fleet at the straits of Artemisium.

Results Battle of Thermopylae: Allied army held

back the Persian army for seven days, before they were outflanked by a mountain path : annihilated

The Allied fleet had also withstood two days of Persian attacks at the Battle of Artemisium, but when news reached them of the disaster at Thermopylae, they withdrew to Salamis.

Victory in the Persian Wars increased the Greek sense of uniqueness.

Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful Greek city-state.

Athens in the Age of Pericles

Pericles was a statesman that pushed the Athenian city-state to thrive economically and allowed the government to become more democratic.

Direct Democracy- a large number of male citizens took part in the day-to-day affairs of government.

Greek v. GreekPeloponnesian Wars

Peloponnesian wars pitted city states of Athens and Sparta against each other – Sparta and other enemies of Athens

formed the Peloponnesian League. – Sparta supported an oligarchy and Athens

supported democracy.

Alexander the Great

Alexander was not from Athens, but Macedonia.

Alexander was a brilliant military strategist.

His favorite book was Homer’s Iliad

Alexander conquered the Persian empire and controlled the largest empire the world has ever seen.

What happens when cultures collide?

Alexander spread Hellenistic culture throughout Asia.

Hellenistic is a fancy word for Greek.

Alexander spread Greek technology and ideas throughout his empire

The Roman Coliseum has a strong Hellenistic influence.

What buildings in the USA have a Hellenistic influence?