Greece and IranGreece and Iran1000 B.C.E. – 30 B.C.E.1000 B.C.E. – 30 B.C.E.

I.I. Ancient IranAncient Iran A. Geography and ResourcesA. Geography and Resources 1. Iran is bounded by the Zagros 1. Iran is bounded by the Zagros

Mountains to the west, the Caucasus Mountains to the west, the Caucasus Mountains and Caspian Sea to the Mountains and Caspian Sea to the northwest and north, the mountains of northwest and north, the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert of Baluchistan Afghanistan and the desert of Baluchistan to the east and southeast, and the to the east and southeast, and the Persian Gulf to the southwest.Persian Gulf to the southwest.

2. The northeast is less protected by 2. The northeast is less protected by natural boundaries.natural boundaries.

IranIran

3. Unlike the River valley civilizations 3. Unlike the River valley civilizations of the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Ganges, and of the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Ganges, and Yellow Rivers, ancient Iran never had a Yellow Rivers, ancient Iran never had a dense population due to water issues.dense population due to water issues.

4. The best-watered and most 4. The best-watered and most populous parts lie to the north and west.populous parts lie to the north and west.

5. In the 15. In the 1stst millennium B.C.E., millennium B.C.E., underground irrigation allowed them to underground irrigation allowed them to open the plains for agriculture.open the plains for agriculture.

B. The Rise of the Persian EmpireB. The Rise of the Persian Empire 1. The word “Iranians” has been used by 1. The word “Iranians” has been used by

historians to denote a group of peoples who historians to denote a group of peoples who spoke a related language and shared similar spoke a related language and shared similar cultural values.cultural values.

2. The first group to achieve a level of 2. The first group to achieve a level of political organization was the Medes.political organization was the Medes.

3. The Medes played a major role in the 3. The Medes played a major role in the destruction of the Assyrian Empire in the destruction of the Assyrian Empire in the late 7late 7thth century B.C.E. century B.C.E.

4. The Medes established an empire for 4. The Medes established an empire for themselves that extended westward across themselves that extended westward across Assyria into Anatolia and southeast toward the Assyria into Anatolia and southeast toward the Persian Gulf, a region occupied by another Persian Gulf, a region occupied by another Iranian people, the Persians.Iranian people, the Persians.

5. The Persian rulers at this time were called 5. The Persian rulers at this time were called Achaemenids and they cemented their Achaemenids and they cemented their relationship with the Median court through relationship with the Median court through marriage.marriage.

6. 6. CyrusCyrus, son of a Persian chieftain, married , son of a Persian chieftain, married a Median princess and soon overthrew the a Median princess and soon overthrew the Median monarch around 550 B.C.E.Median monarch around 550 B.C.E.

Median EmpireMedian Empire

7. The male head of the household in 7. The male head of the household in ancient Persia had nearly absolute power ancient Persia had nearly absolute power over family members.over family members.

8. Society was divided in three social 8. Society was divided in three social classes: Warriors, Priests, and Peasants.classes: Warriors, Priests, and Peasants.

9. Over the course of two decades (550 9. Over the course of two decades (550 B.C.E. to 530 B.C.E., Cyrus redrew the map B.C.E. to 530 B.C.E., Cyrus redrew the map of western Asia.of western Asia.

10. Cyrus defeated all of Anatolia, 10. Cyrus defeated all of Anatolia, including the Greek city-states of the including the Greek city-states of the western coast as well as the Neo-Babylonian western coast as well as the Neo-Babylonian dynasty of Mesopotamia.dynasty of Mesopotamia.

Persian Empire under CyrusPersian Empire under Cyrus

11. Cyrus was eventually killed in battle 11. Cyrus was eventually killed in battle in 530 B.C.E. and was succeeded by this son in 530 B.C.E. and was succeeded by this son Cambyses.Cambyses.

12. Cambyses set his sights on Egypt 12. Cambyses set his sights on Egypt and was able to defeat them in a series of and was able to defeat them in a series of bloody battles.bloody battles.

13. The Greeks depicted Cambyses as a 13. The Greeks depicted Cambyses as a cruel and impious madman but Egyptian cruel and impious madman but Egyptian sources write of him favorably as someone sources write of him favorably as someone who respected native traditions.who respected native traditions.

14. Cambyses died in 522 B.C.E. 14. Cambyses died in 522 B.C.E. and a new monarch by the name of and a new monarch by the name of Darius IDarius I seized the throne. seized the throne.

15. Darius extended Persian control 15. Darius extended Persian control as far east as the Indus valley and west as far east as the Indus valley and west into Europe.into Europe.

16. Darius promoted maritime 16. Darius promoted maritime routes exploring the Indus Delta and routes exploring the Indus Delta and completing a canal from the Red Sea to completing a canal from the Red Sea to the Nile.the Nile.

C. Imperial Organization and IdeologyC. Imperial Organization and Ideology

1. Darius’ empire was the largest 1. Darius’ empire was the largest ever seen by the world. It stretched ever seen by the world. It stretched from eastern Europe to Pakistan and from eastern Europe to Pakistan and from southern Russia to Sudan.from southern Russia to Sudan.

2. It is sometimes referred that 2. It is sometimes referred that Darius was the 2Darius was the 2ndnd founder of the founder of the Persian Empire, after Cyrus.Persian Empire, after Cyrus.

3. Darius divided his empire into 3. Darius divided his empire into twenty provinces, each one under the twenty provinces, each one under the supervision of a Persian supervision of a Persian satrapsatrap, or , or governor.governor.

4. The satraps were likely to be 4. The satraps were likely to be related or connected by marriage to the related or connected by marriage to the royal family.royal family.

5. The further from the empire the 5. The further from the empire the satrap was located the more autonomy satrap was located the more autonomy it possessed.it possessed.

6. The most important duty of the satrap 6. The most important duty of the satrap was to collect tribute and send it to the king.was to collect tribute and send it to the king.

7. Darius prescribed how much precious 7. Darius prescribed how much precious metal was to be contributed to him and the metal was to be contributed to him and the satrap was responsible for making that happen.satrap was responsible for making that happen.

8. The administrative capital of Persia was 8. The administrative capital of Persia was Susa in southwestern Iran.Susa in southwestern Iran.

9. Sometimes it took a whole year for 9. Sometimes it took a whole year for foreign diplomats to make the journey there foreign diplomats to make the journey there and back.and back.

DaricDaric

10. Darius built a huge fortress-city 10. Darius built a huge fortress-city at at PersepolisPersepolis which became the which became the ceremonial capital of Persia.ceremonial capital of Persia.

11. The ancient Persian religion was 11. The ancient Persian religion was called called ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism. .

12. Zoroastrianism was a 12. Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion that preached monotheistic religion that preached about the dualistic nature of the about the dualistic nature of the universe.universe.

13. Zoroaster, the founder of the 13. Zoroaster, the founder of the religion, revealed that the world had religion, revealed that the world had been created by Ahuramazda, “the been created by Ahuramazda, “the wise lord”, and it was threatened by wise lord”, and it was threatened by Angra Mainya, “the hostile spirit”, Angra Mainya, “the hostile spirit”, backed by a host of demons.backed by a host of demons.

14. This struggle plays out for 14. This struggle plays out for 12,000 years and ends when good 12,000 years and ends when good finally triumphs over evil.finally triumphs over evil.

II.II. The Rise of the GreeksThe Rise of the Greeks A. Geography and ResourcesA. Geography and Resources 1. Greek civilization arose in the lands 1. Greek civilization arose in the lands

bordering the Aegean Sea: the Greek bordering the Aegean Sea: the Greek mainland, the islands of the Aegean, and mainland, the islands of the Aegean, and the western coast of Anatolia.the western coast of Anatolia.

2. The Greek interior has no navigable 2. The Greek interior has no navigable rivers with which to ease travel or the rivers with which to ease travel or the transport of goods.transport of goods.

3. Without large rivers, Greek farmers on 3. Without large rivers, Greek farmers on the mainland depended entirely on the mainland depended entirely on rainfall.rainfall.

Ancient Greek CitiesAncient Greek Cities

4. A look at Greece reveals a deeply 4. A look at Greece reveals a deeply pitted coastline with many natural harbors.pitted coastline with many natural harbors.

5. The environment and other 5. The environment and other circumstances drew the Greeks to the Sea.circumstances drew the Greeks to the Sea.

6. They obtained timber from the 6. They obtained timber from the northern Aegean, gold and iron from northern Aegean, gold and iron from Anatolia, copper from Cyprus, tin from the Anatolia, copper from Cyprus, tin from the western Mediterranean, and grain from the western Mediterranean, and grain from the Black Sea, Egypt, and Sicily.Black Sea, Egypt, and Sicily.

B. The Emergence of the PolisB. The Emergence of the Polis

1. After the collapse of the Mycenaean 1. After the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization, Greece fell into a “Dark Age” civilization, Greece fell into a “Dark Age” due to depopulation, poverty, and due to depopulation, poverty, and backwardness.backwardness.

2. This isolation ended when Phoenician 2. This isolation ended when Phoenician sailors arrived around 800 B.C.E.sailors arrived around 800 B.C.E.

3. Scholars generally refer to this time 3. Scholars generally refer to this time as the beginning of the “Archaic” period of as the beginning of the “Archaic” period of Greek history.Greek history.

4. The most important contribution that 4. The most important contribution that came from the Phoenicians was a writing came from the Phoenicians was a writing system.system.

5. The Phoenicians used a set of twenty-5. The Phoenicians used a set of twenty-two symbols to represent sounds of two symbols to represent sounds of consonants allowing the reader to infer the consonants allowing the reader to infer the sounds of the vowels. So the Greeks used left sounds of the vowels. So the Greeks used left over symbols, from which there was no Greek over symbols, from which there was no Greek sound, and made them into vowels, thus sound, and made them into vowels, thus producing the first true alphabet.producing the first true alphabet.

6. An alphabet opens the door for more 6. An alphabet opens the door for more widespread literacy.widespread literacy.

Early Greek WritingEarly Greek Writing

7. Archaic Greece consisted of hundreds of 7. Archaic Greece consisted of hundreds of independent political entities that were located independent political entities that were located on plains separated by mountain barriers.on plains separated by mountain barriers.

8. The Greek polis, or city-state, consisted 8. The Greek polis, or city-state, consisted of an urban center and the rural territory that it of an urban center and the rural territory that it controlled.controlled.

9. A hilltop 9. A hilltop acropolisacropolis, top of the city, , top of the city, offered a place of sanctuary in case of offered a place of sanctuary in case of emergency.emergency.

10. An agora, gathering place, was an open 10. An agora, gathering place, was an open area where citizens gathered.area where citizens gathered.

11. By the early 711. By the early 7thth century B.C.E. the century B.C.E. the Greeks had adopted a new type of warfare Greeks had adopted a new type of warfare raged by raged by hopliteshoplites, heavily armored , heavily armored infantrymen.infantrymen.

12. The principle of this warfare was 12. The principle of this warfare was fight in a tight and rigid formation.fight in a tight and rigid formation.

13. The Greek used certain terms to 13. The Greek used certain terms to distinguish themselves from other peoples.distinguish themselves from other peoples.

14. The term Hellenes was used for 14. The term Hellenes was used for themselves, while the term barbaroi was themselves, while the term barbaroi was used for those who were non-Greek.used for those who were non-Greek.

15. In the mid-715. In the mid-7thth and 6 and 6thth centuries an individual centuries an individual called a called a tyrant tyrant – a person who seized control in – a person who seized control in violation of normal traditions – gained control.violation of normal traditions – gained control.

16. Eventually, tyrants of this age were part of 16. Eventually, tyrants of this age were part of the evolutionary pattern that led toward the the evolutionary pattern that led toward the formation of the 1formation of the 1stst democracydemocracy – the exercise of – the exercise of power by all free, adult males.power by all free, adult males.

17. Greek religion encompassed a wide range of 17. Greek religion encompassed a wide range of cults and beliefs. It was polytheistic encompassing cults and beliefs. It was polytheistic encompassing both male and female deities.both male and female deities.

18. Their gods were portrayed as 18. Their gods were portrayed as anthropomorphicanthropomorphic – humanlike in appearance with – humanlike in appearance with humanlike emotions.humanlike emotions.

The Twelve OlympiansThe Twelve Olympians

C. New Intellectual CurrentsC. New Intellectual Currents 1. One distinctive feature of the Archaic 1. One distinctive feature of the Archaic

period was a growing emphasis on the period was a growing emphasis on the individual.individual.

2. This new pattern led to the concept of 2. This new pattern led to the concept of humanismhumanism – a valuing of the uniqueness, – a valuing of the uniqueness, talents, and rights of the individual.talents, and rights of the individual.

3. A group known as pre-Socratic thinkers, 3. A group known as pre-Socratic thinkers, philosophers before Socrates, began to philosophers before Socrates, began to question the kinds of gods that Homer had question the kinds of gods that Homer had popularized.popularized.

4. They sought rational explanations for 4. They sought rational explanations for the origin and nature of the world.the origin and nature of the world.

5. Another intellectual movement also 5. Another intellectual movement also developed in Ionia in the 6developed in Ionia in the 6thth century B.C.E., century B.C.E., they were called they were called logographerslogographers, writers of , writers of prose accounts.prose accounts.

6. Historia, “investigation/research”, was 6. Historia, “investigation/research”, was the name they gave to the method they the name they gave to the method they used to collect, sort, and select information.used to collect, sort, and select information.

7. A man by the name of Herodotus 7. A man by the name of Herodotus sought out the question “why” which is why sought out the question “why” which is why we consider him today to be the father of we consider him today to be the father of history.history.

D. Athens and SpartaD. Athens and Sparta 1. The two most preeminent Greek city-1. The two most preeminent Greek city-

states of the late Archaic and Classical states of the late Archaic and Classical periods were Athens and Sparta.periods were Athens and Sparta.

2. Unlike most of the Greek city-states, 2. Unlike most of the Greek city-states, the Spartans chose a military path of the Spartans chose a military path of exploitation to solve its population problems.exploitation to solve its population problems.

3. They crossed the western mountainous 3. They crossed the western mountainous frontier and defeated a group called the frontier and defeated a group called the Messenians, who descended to the state of Messenians, who descended to the state of helot, the most abused and exploited helot, the most abused and exploited population on the Greek mainland.population on the Greek mainland.

4. In order to prevent a helot 4. In order to prevent a helot uprising, Spartan citizens spent their lives uprising, Spartan citizens spent their lives in military training.in military training.

5. At age seven, boys were taken 5. At age seven, boys were taken from their families and put into barracks.from their families and put into barracks.

6. By practicing an extreme life of 6. By practicing an extreme life of military preparedness, they declined to military preparedness, they declined to participate in the economic, political, and participate in the economic, political, and cultural renaissance of the rest of Greece.cultural renaissance of the rest of Greece.

7. Athens followed a different path due 7. Athens followed a different path due to its unusually large population and to its unusually large population and suitable land within the region of Attica.suitable land within the region of Attica.

8. In 594 B.C.E., Solon was appointed 8. In 594 B.C.E., Solon was appointed lawgiver and given extraordinary powers.lawgiver and given extraordinary powers.

9. He divided the Athenian community 9. He divided the Athenian community into four classes so as to avert a civil war.into four classes so as to avert a civil war.

10. By doing this, he broke the power 10. By doing this, he broke the power of the aristocracy.of the aristocracy.

11. In the 460s and 450s B.C.E., a 11. In the 460s and 450s B.C.E., a man by the name of Pericles took the man by the name of Pericles took the last steps in the evolution of Athenian last steps in the evolution of Athenian democracy.democracy.

III.III. The Struggle of Persia and GreeceThe Struggle of Persia and Greece A. Early EncountersA. Early Encounters 1. Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia in 546 B.C.E. 1. Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia in 546 B.C.E.

led to the subjugation of the Greek cities led to the subjugation of the Greek cities on the Anatolian seacoast. on the Anatolian seacoast.

2. Then in 499 B.C.E. a Greek revolt took 2. Then in 499 B.C.E. a Greek revolt took place called the Ionian Revolt.place called the Ionian Revolt.

3. It took the Persians five years and a 3. It took the Persians five years and a massive infusion of troops and resources massive infusion of troops and resources to stamp out the insurrection.to stamp out the insurrection.

Ionian RevoltIonian Revolt

3. Because of the support the 3. Because of the support the Athenians gave in the Ionic Revolts, Athenians gave in the Ionic Revolts, Darius attacked Greece twice in 490 Darius attacked Greece twice in 490 B.C.E.B.C.E.

4. Ultimately, Athenian hoplites 4. Ultimately, Athenian hoplites defeated Persia at the battle of defeated Persia at the battle of marathon 26 miles from Athens.marathon 26 miles from Athens.

5. Darius’ son Xerxes succeeded his 5. Darius’ son Xerxes succeeded his father in 486 B.C.E. and turned his father in 486 B.C.E. and turned his attention back on the Greeks.attention back on the Greeks.

6. A large land based army and an 6. A large land based army and an impressive navy crossed the Hellespont for impressive navy crossed the Hellespont for an invasion of Greece.an invasion of Greece.

7. In southern Greece, an alliance of 7. In southern Greece, an alliance of states bent on resistance was formed under states bent on resistance was formed under the leadership of the Spartans.the leadership of the Spartans.

8. The Hellenic League stalled the 8. The Hellenic League stalled the Persians at Thermopylae but the Persians Persians at Thermopylae but the Persians eventually sacked the city of Athens.eventually sacked the city of Athens.

9. The following Spring, the Persian army 9. The following Spring, the Persian army was routed at Plataea and the Persian threat was routed at Plataea and the Persian threat receded.receded.

HellespontHellespont

10. In 477 B.C.E., the Delian 10. In 477 B.C.E., the Delian League was formed.League was formed.

11. In less than 20 years, League 11. In less than 20 years, League forces led by Athenian generals swept forces led by Athenian generals swept the Persians from the waters of the the Persians from the waters of the eastern Mediterranean freeing all the eastern Mediterranean freeing all the Greek communities.Greek communities.

B. The Height of Athenian PowerB. The Height of Athenian Power

1. The “Classical” period of Greek 1. The “Classical” period of Greek history spans from 480-323 B.C.E. and history spans from 480-323 B.C.E. and begins with successful defense of the begins with successful defense of the Greek homeland.Greek homeland.

2. Athens mastery of naval 2. Athens mastery of naval technology transformed Greek warfare technology transformed Greek warfare and politics and brought power and and politics and brought power and wealth to Athens itself.wealth to Athens itself.

3. With its new naval power in the ready, 3. With its new naval power in the ready, Athens did not hesitate to use political Athens did not hesitate to use political power to promote its commercial interests.power to promote its commercial interests.

4. Its new commercial profits brought 4. Its new commercial profits brought Athens cultural achievement as well.Athens cultural achievement as well.

5. Traveling teachers called Sophists, or 5. Traveling teachers called Sophists, or “wise men”, provided instruction in logic “wise men”, provided instruction in logic and public speaking. This discipline was and public speaking. This discipline was called rhetoric.called rhetoric.

6. The most noted intellectual of the day 6. The most noted intellectual of the day was a man called Socrates.was a man called Socrates.

7. Socrates was a sculptor by trade who spent 7. Socrates was a sculptor by trade who spent most of his time in the company of young men. most of his time in the company of young men.

8. Socrates was often found deflating the 8. Socrates was often found deflating the pretension of these so called “wise men”.pretension of these so called “wise men”.

9. Socrates once said that he only knew one more 9. Socrates once said that he only knew one more thing than everybody else: that he knew nothing.thing than everybody else: that he knew nothing.

10. Socrates was eventually tried for corrupting 10. Socrates was eventually tried for corrupting Athens youth and sentence to die. His disciple Plato Athens youth and sentence to die. His disciple Plato left Athens to start a school called the Academy.left Athens to start a school called the Academy.

11. Plato wrote later about him suggesting that 11. Plato wrote later about him suggesting that his “Socratic Method” of question and answer was his “Socratic Method” of question and answer was important to reach a deeper understanding of the important to reach a deeper understanding of the meaning of values such as justice, excellence, and meaning of values such as justice, excellence, and wisdom.wisdom.

The Death of SocratesThe Death of Socrates

C. Failure of the City-States and Triumph of the C. Failure of the City-States and Triumph of the MacedoniansMacedonians

1. In the year 432 B.C.E. the 1. In the year 432 B.C.E. the Peloponnesian Peloponnesian WarWar broke out between Athens and Sparta. broke out between Athens and Sparta.

2. Athens strategy was to not engage Sparta 2. Athens strategy was to not engage Sparta in a land war since they knew that the hoplites in a land war since they knew that the hoplites had to return home to their farms eventually.had to return home to their farms eventually.

3. Because of the back and forth nature of 3. Because of the back and forth nature of the war, it dragged on for 3 decades until Athens the war, it dragged on for 3 decades until Athens eventually fell to the Spartans in 404 B.C.E.eventually fell to the Spartans in 404 B.C.E.

4. The victorious Spartans took over 4. The victorious Spartans took over Athens’s overseas empire until other Greek Athens’s overseas empire until other Greek city-states became suspicious of them.city-states became suspicious of them.

5. This skirmishing of Greek city-states 5. This skirmishing of Greek city-states lasted most of the 4lasted most of the 4thth century B.C.E. century B.C.E. further weakening Greek domination.further weakening Greek domination.

6. Slowly but surely, the Persians 6. Slowly but surely, the Persians started to recoup their old losses in the started to recoup their old losses in the western Anatolian coast.western Anatolian coast.

7. However, in the northern Greek 7. However, in the northern Greek states, a new power would emerge.states, a new power would emerge.

8. Philip II of Macedonia defeats a 8. Philip II of Macedonia defeats a coalition of southern states and coalition of southern states and establishes the Confederacy of Corinth establishes the Confederacy of Corinth with him as its military commander.with him as its military commander.

9. Philip had skillfully reengineered 9. Philip had skillfully reengineered the hoplite formations with larger the hoplite formations with larger spears and new implementations of spears and new implementations of cavalry use. cavalry use.

Macedonian PhalanxMacedonian Phalanx

10. Philip planned on invading Persia 10. Philip planned on invading Persia and actually started construction of a and actually started construction of a bridgehead at the Hellespont.bridgehead at the Hellespont.

11. However, he was assassinated in 11. However, he was assassinated in 336 B.C.E.336 B.C.E.

12. His son, Alexander the Great, 12. His son, Alexander the Great, succeeded him and soon began the succeeded him and soon began the invasion of Asia and the destruction of invasion of Asia and the destruction of the Persians.the Persians.

13. Alexander defeated the Persians 13. Alexander defeated the Persians in three pitched battles at the Granicus in three pitched battles at the Granicus River, Issus, and finally at Gaugamela.River, Issus, and finally at Gaugamela.

14. Historians call the epoch ushered 14. Historians call the epoch ushered in by the conquests of Alexander as the in by the conquests of Alexander as the “Hellenistic Age” (323-30 B.C.E.).“Hellenistic Age” (323-30 B.C.E.).

15. This means the spreading of 15. This means the spreading of Greek culture.Greek culture.

Alexander’s EmpireAlexander’s Empire