Chapter 6

Chapter 6, Sect. 1

Architecture:•Beautiful public buildings showed pride in & love for Athens•Acropolis centerpiece for ornate public buildings•Parthenon greatest example of Greek Architecture, 38 ft. statue of Athena inside•Considered by many to be the greatest gift to Western Civilization

(along with sculpture)

After the Persian Wars, Athens was rebuilt & prospered. It became the center of art & culture

Chapter 6, Sect. 1

Painting:•Almost all original paintings lost or destroyed•Current knowledge comes from Roman descriptions & copies•Surviving examples of Greek painting come from Greek vases & pottery

Sculpture:•Few original sculptures remain•Golden Age sculpture was less “stiff,” more natural•Myron – “The Discus Thrower”•Phidias – Statues of Athena on Acropolis & in Parthenon, & Zeus (40’) high at temple on Mt. Olympus•Praxiteles – life sized, life like sculptures

The Nature of Greek Art:Four major characteristics:1) Glorified human beings – show ideal human forms2) Symbolized pride in their city-states & honored their gods3) Expressed Greek ideals of harmony, balance, order, & moderation4) Expressed belief in combining beauty & usefulness (most art was usable)

Chapter 6, Sect. 1

The Cosmologists:Those wishing to understand origins & nature of universe (cosmos)

Philosophers: “lovers of wisdom”

Philosophy: • study of most fundamental questions of reality & existence• Generally a rational approach to existence instead of superstition

Chapter 6, Sect. 2

Socrates:Socrates: 470-399 B.C. Was a soldier in Peloponnesian War•Advocated thinking for yourself, •acquiring wisdom, which Leads to “right living,” •Felt that evil resulted from ignorance.•“the unexamined life is not worth living” •“Know Thyself”

Plato: 427-347 B.C.•Greatest of Socrates’ students, born to wealthy merchant family•Wrestler, poet & traveled extensively before a philosopher •Returned to Athens, founded school to teach philosophy•Wrote “dialogues” expressing ideas such as “Theory of Forms”•Wrote “The Republic” describing societal organization•Championed gov’t. run by “Intellectual Aristocrats”

Chapter 6, Sect. 2

Aristotle: 384-322 B.C.•Was student of Plato at Academy, founded own school in 335 B.C. •taught logic as basic to all knowledge•Evaluated facts to make decisions•Wrote “Ethics,” a study of beliefs leading to happiness•Wrote “Poetics,” evaluate good & bad drama•Wrote “Politics,” gov’t. & society should only have middle class•Believed in “Limited Democracy”•Tutored Alexander the Great

Pythagoras: +/- 560-480 B.C.Developed Pythagorean Theorem, A2+B2=C2

Chapter 6, Sect. 2

Hippocrates: 460-377 B.C.•Father of modern medicine•Taught disease comes from natural causes

Herodotus: c. 484-425 B.C.•Well traveled, sometimes exaggerated events•noted difference between primary & secondary sources

Thucydides: c.460-c.400 B.C. •Believed studying past gives understanding of human nature•Wrote “History of the Peloponnesian War”•Attempted to be unbiased & accurate

Chapter 6, Sect. 2

Greek Drama:•Dramas: plays containing action +/or dialogue, usually with conflicts•Used few main characters and a chorus (often used to tell the story)•Carved theaters (Amphitheaters) into hillsidesTragedies – •main characters struggle against fate•central character often overcome by external forces•Tragic heroes often suffer from hubris (excessive pride)Comedies – •Mock both ideas & people•Central characters often overcome adversity•Powerful social commentary

Chapter 6, Sect. 2

Chapter 6, Sect. 3

Macedonia in 359 B.C.

Sparta & Thebes attempt to dominate Greece between404 B.C. and 362 B.C.

Chapter 6, Sect. 3

•Father of Alexander•Hostage of the Greeks at Thebes, 368 - 365 BC.•Learned Greek lifestyle & military organization•Ruled Macedonia from 359 to 336 BC. Built strong military:

1st paid army (no longer pledged by nobles)Constantly drilled cavalry, archers & infantry Modified Phalanx

•Unified Macedonia•Greek orator, Demosthenes, warned Greeks of danger

•Conquered the Greeks•Assassinated in 336 B.C.

(356-323 B.C.)

•Son of Philip II of Macedonia•Well trained in military skills•Tutored by Aristotle•Became King after Father’s assassination 336 B.C.

Chapter 6, Sect. 3

•After quelling rebellions in Greece, set out to conquer world (Map page 134)•Conquered Persia, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, parts of SW Asia & India •Purposely spread Greek culture, establishing over 70 cities•Encouraged Macedonians & Persia to rule together•Married Persian princess •Encouraged his officers to intermarry with Persian royalty as well•Encouraged his subjects to consider him a “God-King”•Became convinced that his real father was Zeus

Chapter 6, Sect. 3

•Tired of conquest his army convinced him to return home 326 B.C.•Split Army in 2 groups to travel by different routes to Susa•Never reassembled the army•Died in 323 B.C. as result of a mysterious fever

•Influence of Alexander’s conquest & his spread of culture so great, that over time period became known as the Hellenistic Age

•The kingdom split into three main kingdoms that competed for power•The whole area eventually conquered by Rome

Chapter 6, Sect. 4

Alexander’s conquest & spread of Greek culture example of cultural diffusion

The Economy & Social Structure: •Trade was most profitable activity (bigger & better ships)•Alexandria, Egypt became trading & cultural center •3 basic economic/social classes

small group of wealthy aristocracyexpanding & thriving middle classhuge class of miserably poor

•As Middle class expanded, education more widespread•Status of women improved (more property rights, social leadership)

Chapter 6, Sect. 4

Chapter 6, Sect. 4

Religion & Philosophy:

•Kings encouraged “ruler worship” as a means of solidifying their support•Cults with secret teachings & rituals that promised immortality grewFour main philosophies emerged:Cynicism- live according to nature; shun wealth, pleasure & social statusSkepticism- no definite knowledge, everything is always changingStoicism- divine reason rules world, accept whatever comes, understand & fulfill your roleEpicureanism- seek pleasure & avoid pain; limit your desires to meet your needs

Chapter 6, Sect. 4

Mathematics & Physics: •Euclid – “Father of Modern Geometry,” wrote “Elements” used for 2,000yrs•Archimedes- calculated pi (π), measure area & volumes of spheres, cones, etc.

developed “block & tackle (compound pulley)

Medicine:•Advances in study of anatomy, understood that brain is center of nervous system

•Demonstrated ability to perform the most delicate surgeries

Astronomy & Geography:•Used mathematics to calculate positions of planets & stars•Aristarchus - understood planets revolve around sun•Hipparchus – could mathematically calculate eclipses & length of year•Geographers knew the Earth was round, & calculated circumference of Earth

Hellenistic Science:

Scientist used logic, observation, & mathHad no scientific instruments, such as telescopes or microscopes

Did not use knowledge for labor saving new inventionsHero invented a working steam engine, regarded it as a toy

Developed “Greek Fire”