chapter 4 - the early greeks

Chapter 4The Early Greeks

The Geography of Greece

Mainland Greece is a peninsula – a body of land surrounded by water on three sides

To the west is the Ionian Sea, to the east is the Aegean Sea, and to the south is the Mediterranean Sea

Most ancient Greeks made a living by the seas as fishers, sailors and traders


The Geography of Greece Mainland Greece is also very mountainous and rocky, limiting the

ability to farm

However, some areas were farmed, growing wheat, barley, olives, and grapes

Many Greek communities grew up independent due to the separation caused by the mountains and seas


The Minoans The Minoan civilization arose on Crete, an island that lies

to the southeast of mainland Greece

Although, the Minoans were not Greeks, Crete would later become part of Greece

In 1900, and English archaeologist, Arthur Evans, discovered the ruins of a grand palace, the center of the Minoan civilization


The Minoans The grand palace was in the city of Knossos

It had many rooms including private quarters for the royal family, bathrooms, storehouses, and workshops

The Minoans made their wealth from trade and by 2000 B.C. controlled the eastern Mediterranean Sea

The Minoan civilization suddenly collapsed c. 1450 B.C.

Possible theories: earthquake/tsunami, invaded by Mycenaeans, volcanic eruption of Thera


The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans were originally from central Asia

They invaded Greece around 1900 B.C., conquering the people and becoming the first Greek kings

Each Mycenaean kingdom had a fortified palace at its center where the ruler lived

Mycenaean palaces were also the center of much artisan work, government oversight, and storehouses


The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans soon began to trade with the Minoans,

copying much of the Minoan lifestyles and religion

Around 1400 B.C., the Mycenaeans replaced the Minoans as the major power on the Mediterranean Sea

The Mycenaeans were also very successful in battles (i.e. Trojan War)

By 1100 B.C., much of the Mycenaean civilization had collapsed due to earthquakes, fighting within kingdoms


The Mycenaeans The years between 1100 B.C. and 750 B.C. became

known as the Dark Age Farmers grew food only for their families Education ceased Many Greeks left the mainland, expanding the reach

of Greek culture

The Dorians moved in and settled on the Peloponnesus peninsula Advanced weapons and farm technology


The Mycenaeans Gradually people began to farm and educate again

Adopted the idea of an alphabet from the Phoenicians

As the Greek population grew, cities began sending people outside Greece to start colonies

Colony – a settlement in a new territory that keeps close ties to its homeland

Colonization led to the growth of trade and industry


The Polis At the end of the Dark Age, many nobles had overthrown

the Greek kings and created city-states, known as a polis

Acropolis – a fortified area at the top of a hill used as a gathering place in the polis Sometimes a religious center

Agora – an open area below the acropolis that served as both a market and a meeting/debating place


Citizenship The Greeks were the first people to develop the idea of

citizenship

Each Greek city-state was run by its citizens

Citizens – members of a political community who treat each other as equals and who have rights and responsibilities Free native-born men who owned land Women, children might qualify, but without rights


Citizenship Rights – elect officials, pass laws, hold office, own property

In return, citizens must serve in government and fight as citizen soldiers


Sparta and Athens The rule by the nobles began to decline by 650 B.C.

Small farmers demanded changes in the power structure and merchants and artisans wanted to be a part of government

Both groups were very wealthy, but were not citizens because they did not own land

The growing frustration led to the rise of tyrants


Sparta and Athens Tyrant – someone who takes power by force and rules with

total authority

Tyrants overthrew the nobles during the 600’s B.C. with the backing of the common people

Tyrants became popular with the people by building new marketplaces, temples, and walls

However, most Greeks wanted rule by law with all citizens participating in government


Sparta and Athens By 500 B.C., most city-states had become either oligarchies

or democracies

Oligarchy – a form of government in which only a few people hold power

Democracy – a form of government in which all citizens share in running the government

Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy) became two of the most powerful governments of early Greece


Sparta and Athens Sparta was founded by the Dorians who conquered and

enslaved their neighbors to be workers These captive workers were called helots

Fearing the helots might someday rebel, the government firmly controlled the people and trained the men for war

Spartan soldiers were trained until age 30, but remained in the army until age 60

Spartan girls were trained in sports – running & wrestling


Sparta and Athens The Spartan government included two kings which headed

a council of elders who presented laws to an assembly

The assembly voted on the laws and chose 5 ephors Ephor – a person who enforced the laws and managed

tax collection

By focusing on military training, the Spartans fell behind in trade, technology and science, but played a key role in defending Greece


Sparta and Athens The Athenian lifestyle and government was much different

than that of the Spartans

Athenians focused on providing boys a good education, “the 3 R’s,” sports, and music

At age 18, boys finished school and became citizens

Most Athenian girls were taught at home by their mothers


Sparta and Athens During the 600’s B.C., Athens was an oligarchy ruled by

landowning nobles

During the early 500’s B.C., the government was in much turmoil due to rebellion by the farmers

After much reform by a noble, Solon; a tyrant, Peisistratus; and Cleisthenes, the most important leader, the Athenian government became a democracy


The Persian Empire The people of Persia lived in what is today southwestern

Iran

Cyrus the Great (559 B.C. to 530 B.C.) united the Persians into a powerful kingdom, larger than any in the world

In 539 B.C., Cyrus’ armies captured Babylon, northern Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, and the Phoenician cities


The Persian Empire Persian leaders who followed Cyrus conquered Egypt,

western India, and Thrace

King Darius (521 B.C.) reorganized the government, dividing the empire into 20 states called satrapies

The king’s power depended upon the strength of his army

The Persian government paid people to be full-time soldiers, unlike the Greek city-states (citizen soldiers)


The Persian Wars The Greeks often clashed with the Persians while setting

up colonies in the Mediterranean region

The Greeks and the Persians fought in several key battles

Battle of Marathon – the Athenians successfully defeated the Persians as they attempted to attack Athens

King Xerxes, Darius’ son, vowed revenge against the Athenians


The Persian Wars An Athenian general, Themistocles, determined the

best strategy to defeat the Persians would be to attack their ships and cut off supplies to the Persian army

Battle of Thermopylae – most Greek soldiers survived but Sparta’s King Leonidas and several hundred others fought to the death, losing this battle

Strait of Salamis – naval battle the Greeks won decidedly with smaller, faster, and easier to steer ships


The Persian Wars Battle of Plataea (479 B.C.) – the Greek army crushed

the Persian army at Plataea, northwest of Athens This battle convinced the Persians to retreat to

Asia Minor

The Fall of the Persian Empire A weakened army, high taxes which led to rebellions, and

fighting within the royal family made Persia vulnerable to attack

Conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C.


The Age of Pericles

150,000

35,000

100,000

Population of Athens, 400s B.C.

CitizensForeignersSlaves


The Age of Pericles Persians remained a threat to Greece

Delian League – group of city-states, including Athens, but not Sparta who united in 478 B.C. to defend themselves against the Persians Also worked to drive Persia out of Greek territories

Most of the troops, commanders and chief officials were from Athens

Soon grew into more than a partnership, but an empire


The Age of Pericles Democracy in Athens

Their system of government was a direct democracy People gather at mass meetings to decide

government matters and every citizen can vote on laws and policies

Representative democracy (U.S.) – citizens choose a smaller group of representatives to make laws and governmental decisions on their behalf


The Age of Pericles Usually fewer than 6,000 men attended the assembly

meetings, which were held every 10 days

The assembly passed all laws, elected officials, and made decisions on war and foreign affairs

Ten officials known as generals carried out the assembly’s laws and policies


The Age of Pericles Pericles – one of the leading figures in Athenian politics

Guided Athens for more than 30 years

Helped Athens dominate/control the Delian league

Strived to make Athens more democratic

The Age of Pericles was a period of cultural prosperity – tremendous creativity and learning

Started a major rebuilding program


The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) War between Sparta and Athens for control of Greece

Sparta and Athens did not understand or trust each other and clashed over political ideology and perceived aggression

Both city-states thought they could easily win the war

Pericles knew the Spartans could defeat the Athenians in open land battles


The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) During the second year of the war, a plague spread

throughout Athens, killing one-third of the people

The Spartans made a deal with the Persian Empire They exchanged Greek territory in Asia Minor for

enough money to build a navy

Sparta’s new navy destroyed the Athenian fleet

One year later, after losing more land battles, Athens surrendered


The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) Effects of the war

Weakened all of the major Greek city-states

Many people died, farms were destroyed, people lost jobs

Made it impossible for the Greeks to unite and work together again

30 years later, war broke out again, further weakening the kingdom

chapter 4 - the early greeks

Education

early greeks sparta

ancient greeks

athens sparta

government sparta oligarchy

form of government

southeast of mainland

government oversight

citizens citizens members