Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase

Key ThemesTrade and the interaction of culturesPolitical culture and organizationsCultural and intellectual developments

Early Development in Greek SocietyBased on small, autonomous city-states which

developed in isolationOver time, however, city-states began to

venture out into the Aegean and eventually Mediterranean seas which they used as a highway to link with the rest of the world.Led to the spread of Greek goods, ideas, and

values.

Minoan and Mycenaean SocietiesMinoan Society

Developed in Crete c. 2000 BCE, fell 1100 BCEDeveloped written language (still

undecipherable)Traded olive oil, wineEstablished ColoniesMined CopperCreated beautiful frescoes, and built luxurious

palaces and homes

Minoan and Mycenaean SocietiesMycenaean

Known as the thugs of the MediterraneanTraded with the Minoans, but eventually

overpowered themAdapted Minoan Language to fit their language

and that that writing is also undecipherable.Fought a war with the city of Troy (Iliad and

Odyssey)1100 BCE fell apart due to constant foreign

invasion

The World of PolisPolis – City-StateEach Polis was its own economic, cultural,

and political center, so a wide range of political institutions developed in Greece

The World of PolisSparta and Athens – Two most famous Greek

Poleis (plural for Polis)Sparta

Relied on military power to control the region and maintain public order

Relied on the original Peloponnesian people as slaves to cultivate the agricultural region.

Valued equality and social status was based on strength, discipline, and military talent

Women, like men, were expected to be strong as their role was to produce solid Spartan Soldiers

The World of PolisAthens

Located in the region of AtticaPolitical structure based on democratic

principles and citizen participation in decision making.

Citizens – Defined as free adult males.

Greece and the Larger WorldThe Polis prospered and expanded by

establishing trading centers and colonies along the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Expansion brought them into conflict with the Persians and contact with and eventual domination by Alexander the Great of Macedon

Expansion and Conquest resulted in immense commercial and cultural exchange from India to Egypt.

Greek ColonizationGrowing population in the Polis spurred the

growth of colonies all on the shores of the Mediterranean and Black seas

Had their own political, social and economic structures

Diverse trading centers for fish, fur, metals, honey, fold, amber, and slaves.

Each colony was instrumental in spreading Greek language and culture.

Conflict with PersiaWar with Persia because of rebellion again

Darius and XerxesLasted for more than a century and Greeks

eventually wonDelian League – Alliance between the Greek

city-states formed during the Persian War.Fell apart following the Persian WarLed to Peloponnesian War – A civil war

between Greek city States

The Macedonians and the Coming of EmpireLocated in Macedonia to the North of Greece,

Philip II used the disagreements between Greek city states to over power Greece using win at all cost tactics.

By 338 BCE Philip controlled all of Greece and turned his attention to PersiaHis son, Alexander took over after his

mysterious assassination in 336 BCE

Alexander the GreatRuthless and intelligent, he remains one of

the great and complex personalities of history.

Won control of Ionia, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, Persia, and eventually most of India.

Died in Mesopotamia at the age of only 33 in 323 BCE.

Conquests spread Greek and Macedonian traditions even further.

The Hellenistic EraTime between Alexander’s death and the

expansion of the Roman EmpireAlexander’s Empire divided into 3 large states:

Antigonid Empire – Included Greece and Macedonia Ptolemic Empire – Included Egypt and parts of

northern Africa Seleucid Empire – Anatolia to Bactria All three spread Greek cultural and religious ideals

all across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The Fruits of Trade: Greek Economy and SocietyThe challenges of Greek geography forced

the early Greeks to depend on maritime trade.

Trade and Integration of the Mediterranean BasinGeography of Greece made it well suited for

grapes and olives.Used their access to the Mediterranean to

trade with grapes and olives with other regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe in exchange for food and other luxury items.

Family and SocietyStrong Patriarchal SocietyWomen only ventured outside home with

chaperone or watchful servants.Occasionally some women may work in or run

a merchant shopPriestess in a religious cult was the only public

position open to women.Women in Sparta enjoyed the most freedom

The Cultural Life of Classical GreeceGuided by principles of human reason.

Evident in the art, literature, and philosophy from this time period.

Even the written language they developed by adding vowels to the established Phoenician alphabet produced a flexible, easy-to-learn system for recording human speech.

Rational Thought and PhilosophyThree most significant scholars:

Socrates – Focused on questioning to uncover truths about human ethics and morality.

Plato – Known for theory on forms and ideas.Aristotle – Rely on senses and reason to sort

out the mysteries of the world. Wrote extensively about the natural world as well as

politics, ethics, and psychology Influential in later Christian and Islamic thinking.

Popular Religion and Greek DramaPhilosophy not a part of popular cultureMost Greeks turned to the traditions of

popular religion for guidance on proper behavior and understanding of human nature.

Polytheistic Religions used to explain natural phenomena and human problemsLead to the Greek Dramas.

Hellenistic Philosophy and ReligionHellenistic philosophers dealt with questions

of the individual need for peace and tranquility.

Stoicism was the most significant of these Hellenistic philosophies; it taught the duty of people to aid others and lead virtuous lives.