Classical Greece

I. Introduction:• Greece located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

• It was easier for settlers to travel by sea than land, thus most early settlements were along the coast.

Agriculture – grains, grapes, olives

Politically – settlements were independent (city-states)

Culturally – The Greeks were unified through language, festivals, religion- Pan–Hellenic games (Olympics)

- Mount Olympia (Home of gods)

II. Origins of Greek Culture

Greece’s first civilization was the Minoans, who lived on the Island of Crete between 3200-1500 BCE

- Their largest settlement was the Palace of Knossos.

- Island of Crete was center for Mediterranean commerce (trade)

Palace of King Minas at Knossos on Crete

Ruins from Crete

Minoan art reflects a peaceful people with a love for beauty & life.

Their art reveals that women had a prominent status in society.

Possibly they were ruled by a priestess/Queen.

The Minoans were extremely advanced with indoor plumbing & light wells.

Minoan culture was destroyed by earthquakes, volcanoes, & tidal waves.•The people left Crete and settle on the mainland of Greece

III. Mycenaean Greeks - Indo-European immigrants settled in

Greece around 2000 BCE; slowly overpowered the Minoans and expanded territory to Sicily & Italy

- Mycenaeans were a warlike society loosely united under a system of feudal alliances.

- Most important settlement was Mycenae- They had:

- Massive protective walls (stone fortresses protected agricultural settlements)

- Horse-drawn chariots- Bronze weapons

The Mycenaean Era is the period when these great events in Greek mythology occurred:

- Worship of the Olympian gods.- Lives of King Agamemnon &

Odysseus.- The life of Hector & Achilles. - The Conquest of the city of Troy

(Trojan War – ca. 1200 BCE)

Lion Gate of Mycenae - entrance to Agamemnon's Palace

The Trojan Horse is a Mycenaean story.

Remains of Troy

Gold Burial Mask & Wine Cup.

- Mycenaeans were a wealthy and skilled society; based on a feudal system similar to Medieval Europe.

Downfall of the Mycenaeans- Around 1150

B.C.E., settlements were destroyed by invading tribes from the north, the Dorian Greeks. Dorians bring iron technology to Greece.

-The Dorian Greeks caused:- Drop in agricultural production- Drop in population- Cities reduced to villages- Writing virtually lost

Benefits of Mycenae’s Fall:

- It destroys the power of the Mycenaean Kings allowing everyone to be more equal.

- It creates a simple life from which city-states can develop.

- It allows for development of an oral tradition of story telling that results in Homer’s Iliad & Odyssey as well as the Olympian myths.

Dorian villages were led by a local leader called the Basileus

A “Council of Nobles” and “Assembly of Warriors” assist in running the village.

Dorian villages were often located near a

hill called an acropolis (high city)

Homer: The father of Greek literature. Creator of the Epic poems “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”Both stories deal with the events of the Trojan War

and it’s aftermath.

IV. Classical Greece (800-379 B.C.E.)

Several aspects of Mycenaean religious and cultural traditions were kept alive after the Dorian Invasion.

Greeks were also able to develop new and unique cultural traditions

One tradition kept alive was

the Pan-Hellenic Games

(Olympics) These were athletic competitions held every four years.

The Greeks loved these games so much that they would forget their differences and cease any wars to compete

Another tradition kept alive was the Greek Humanistic

Perspective This was a set of beliefs which

emphasize the importance of reason and of the individual.

The Greeks believed that man is the most important creature that the gods created.

This perspective will affect government, philosophy, and the arts.

Evolution toward DemocracyMonarchy - rule by a hereditary

king

Oligarchy - rule by a few, always small group of wealthy men

Dictatorship – rule by a tyrant

Democracy – rule by the people (meaning free male citizens)

Comparison of the two most important Classical

Greek City-States:

Sparta and Athens

BOTH were a Polis (City-State.)

A Greek Polis was usually:

- Small Size- Small

Population- Located on a

Hill- Served as

seat of government

Sparta- Sparta is located on the

Peloponnesian Peninsula- Society was based on conquest:

Dorian Greeks conquered the original farmers (called Helots)

- Activities of Spartans were geared toward maintaining supremacy over the Helots

- Trade and travel prohibited by the Spartan government.

- The government demanded strict subordination of the individual to the state

- The government was a military oligarchy.

- All Spartan men required to serve in military.

- Society emphasized physical perfection

- The government required that boys seven years old be sent to military camps to live.They lived in military barracks until age 30 at which time they were allowed to marry and start a home.

-2 Kings- each from two separate families. They checked each authority.

-The Council- composed of all Spartan males 60+ years. They advised the kings.

-The Assembly- composed of all Spartan men 30+ years. They voted to go to war.

-Ephors - Spartan judges.

Political Organization of Sparta:

Athens Athenian Society was NOT based

upon conquest More citizens (free males) were

allowed to participate in the political process.

Power was strength of navy

Social classes of Athens:- There were 2 social classes: citizens and non-citizens.

- Citizens = adult males; could own land and take part in government. They were divided into social classes by wealth.

- Non-citizens = women, slaves, and foreigners.

Athens became the most successful democracy in Greece.

Over time every male Athenian citizen was given the right to vote in the assembly, which passed laws and determine government policies.

The “Father of Athenian democracy” was Solon.

•Athens’ 2nd democratic leader was Cleisthenes; in 510 BCE he gave citizenship to all free men living in Athens.

Athens 3rd democratic leader was Pericles; known as the “Father of Athens’ Golden Age”

Reforms of Pericles:

Allowing all citizens (regardless of wealth) the right to hold political office, and serve on a jury.

Athens:DemocraticProgressiveImperialisticIntellectually and culturally advanced

Sparta:AristocraticConservativeAgrarianFearful and jealous of Athens

The End