Geography effects Greek Traditions and Customs

Greece- Mountainous peninsula jutting out into Mediterranean sea.

Lived around the seaNeighboring Seas were transportation routes

connecting Greece to other societies since Greece lacked natural resources i.e. timber, metal, arable farmland

Rugged terrain & mountains-3/4 of Greece dividing it into independent communities

Geography Effect on Social Life

Little farmland and fresh water- Not able to support a large population

Desire for more living space, grassland for livestock, farmland may have been factors which motivated Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

Varied Climate- 48-80 degrees- Supported outdoor life such as leisure time, outdoor events, dicussions.

Mycenaean Civilization Developes

Indo-Europeans migrated form Eurasian steppes to Greek mainland later known as Mycenaeans.

Located in southern Greece surrounded by thick wall which could withstand almost any attack.

Warrior-king ruled surrounding villages, farms, and city-states such as Athens.

Contact with Minoans

Through trade or war, Myc. Came into contact with Minoans who influenced them and thus:

Saw Value of seaborne trade Adapted Minoan writing system to Greek

language Decorated vases with Minoan designs

• Minoans formed the core of Greek religion, art, politics, literature.

• Westerns Civilization has its roots in the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures

Mycenaeans Fight The Trojan War

Myc, fight a 10-year war against Troy in Anatolia

Legend says Trojan prince captured Helen, wife of Greek King.

Historians originally thought these legends were fictional, however, excavations prove the Trojan War was one of the last Myc. Battle campaigns

Thus Myc. Civilization collapsed after the war

Greek Culture Declines under the Dorians

Soon after Trojan War, sea raiders attacked and burned Myc. cities.

Soon, Dorians moved in- spoke dialect of Greek and may have been relatives of Bronze-Age Greeks

Dorian rule caused economy, trade, and writing to come to a standstill.

Thus little is known about these 400 years

Epics of Homer

Oral tradition taught later Greeks during this time of illiteracy

Blind man named Homer composed epics such as the Iliad which forms backdrop of the Trojan War.

These give insight to Greek ideal of arete meaning virtue and excellence

Through myths, Greeks explained mysteries of nature and human passions.

Different forms of Government Emerge

City-state or polis was the political unit in Greece which included surrounding countryside

The agora or marketplace was on a fortified hilltop called an acropolis where citizens gathered to discuss politics

Monarchy: Single person ruled government Aristocracy: inherited rule by small group of noble, land-

owning families Oligarchy: ruled by few powerful/military people Tyrants: Nobles/ wealthy citizens seized control by

appealing to citizens. Worked for interest of ordinary people

Athens Builds Limited Democracy

Athenian reformers moved toward democracy, rule by the people. Citizens participated directly in political decision making.

Draco- developed legal code based on idea that all people

were under equal law regardless of wealth. Upheld debt slavery dealt harshly with criminals making death a common

punishment.

Contributors to First Steps of Democracy

Solon- Outlawed debt slavery organized citizens according to wealth. Only top 3 classes could hold political office but all could

participate in assembly. Introduced concept that all citizens could bring charges against

wrongdoers.

Cleisthenes- Organized citizens into 10 groups based on location instead of

wealth. Increased power of assembly by allowing citizens to submit

laws for debate. Created Council of 500 which proposed laws and counseled

assembly. Members were chosen by random. Reforms allowed Athenians to participate in limited democracy

Athenian Education

Only sons of wealthy families received education starting at 7 years old to prepare them to be good citizens

Studied grammar, poetry, history, math, music, public speaking, and logic training, and spent part of the day on athletics

Girls stayed at home to learn how to be good wives and mothers. Some were able to read and write

Had very little to do with life outside the home

Sparta Builds A Military State

In southern Greek known as Peloponnesus, Sparta was cut off from the Greek world by the Gulf or Corinth

Conquered neighboring Messenians who became helots, peasants forced to stay on the land they worked.

Messenian revolt shocked the Spartans when they realized their vulnerability and decided change into a strong city-state.

Government and Daily Life

GovernmentCouncil Elders

proposed laws which assembly voted on

2 Kings ruled over military

Oligarchy

Daily Life centered around military training

Individuality discouraged

Did not value artsValued duty and

disciplineGirls receives some

military training Were allowed to run

family estates while men were at war

Persian Wars

Phalanx invented- foot soldiers or hoplites stood side by side holding a spear and shield

In 490 B.C. Greeks defeated Persians Pheidippides ran 26 miles from Marathon to

Athens to deliver message of Persian defeat and then died

Persians retreated when they found Athens heavily defended

10 years later, Darius’ son Xerxes went to Thermoplyae to fight 300 Spartans and 7000 Greeks. The Spartans sacrificed themselves for Greek forces to retreat

Persian Wars 2

Themistocles, an Athenian leader convinces Athens to evacuate and fight at sea near the island of Salamis.

Greeks destroyed 1/3 of Persian fleetBattle of Plateau- Greeks again defeated

PersiansDelian League was formed a year later from

city-stae alliances. They drove Persians from surrounding territories in Greece and ended threats of future attacks.

Pericles Brings Greece’s Golden Age

Pericles- wise and able statesman who had 3 goals:

Strengthen Athenian Democracy Hold & Strengthen the empire Glorify Athens Strengthen Democracy• Increased number of public officials who were paid- poor

could serve• Introduces Direct Democracy

Athenian Empire• Formed Delian League- used $ from treasury to make Navy

strongest in Mediterranean Glorify Athens• Used treasury money to beautify Athens.

Art and Architecture

The Parthenon- temple built to honor Athena built by Phidias. Contained a huge statue of Athena

Sculptors captured serene expressions and human body in motion.

Values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion became the standard for classical art.

Drama

2 kinds, Tragedy and ComedyAeschylus: was a famous writer who wrote

Orestria which examines the idea of justiceSophicles: wrote Oedipus the KingEuripedes: wrote Medea and included

strong women.Comedy showed the freedom and openness

of public discussion that existed in democratic Athens

Aristophanes: wrote first great comedies

History

Herodotus: pioneered accurate reporting of events and first considered work of history anout Persian Wars

Thucydides studied past events to aid in the understanding of the present.

Peleponnesian War Ends Golden Age

Athens had stronger navy while Sparta had stronger army

Sparta burned AthensPericles responded by bringing residents into

city wallsHowever, the plague struck and Pericles diedWar continues for year but eventually lead to

a truceSoon after, Sparta destroyed Athens they

surrendered

Philosophers Question Tradition

War caused Athenians to lose confidence in democratic government and they begin to question their values

Greek Philosophers base their thinking on: The Universe is put in an orderly way and subject to unchanging

laws People can understand these laws through logic and reason

Sophists were people who questioned traditional ideas

Protagoras: Questioned existence of Greek Gods and said there was no universal standard of truth

Philosophers

Socrates Said “the unexamined life is not worth living” Brought to trial for corrupting the youth and

neglecting the city’s gods.

Plato Student of Socrates Wrote The Republic about an ideal society

Aristotle Invented scientific method and taught Alexander the

Great Applied his beliefs in various fields

Alexander and Mycedonia

Macedonians- lived in rough mountains north of greece

King Philip 2nd transformed peasants to an army

Mac. Defeated Greeks at the Battle of Chaeronea despite Demosthenes warnings

After Philips murder, Alexander took over

Alexander

Favorite book was the IliadWhen the city of Thebes tried to rebel, Alexander

destroyed the city and thus city-states gave up the idea of rebellion

His victory at Granicus against Persian forces scared Darius the 3rd

The following battle gave Alex the power over AnatoliaAfter rejecting Darius’ peace offering, Alex marched to

Egypt where he was crowned pharaoh and named liberator and founded Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile

Alex’s victory at Gaugamela ended Persian power

Alexander’s conquest ends

Led his army to Indus Valley but exhausted, the army begged to turn back

After Alexander died of illness, his henerals fought over control and eventually the kingdom was split into its original, separate regions

The result of Greek and Eastern Blending

The Hellenistic Culture- blending of Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences

The Koine language helped the diverse backgrounds to communicate

Alexandria- foremost city of commerceContained Alexander's tomb, library, art

galleries, a zoo, gardens etc.