Unit Notes and Commentary
I.
Hellas: the land
A.
As ancient Greeks called their land, consists of the
Greek Peninsula and the Aegean Sea.
B.
Extension of the Balkan Mountains.
C.
See quote p. 117
D.
Rivers are non-existent; thus we get our first
non-river based civilization. Thus,
many of the idiosyncrasies of Greek civilization can be explained by the lack
of a dynamic river system.
E.
A land blessed with great harbors and sea access
F.
Dynamic location between Europe and Asia Minor.
G.
Was Geography a hindrance for the Ancient
Greeks? What aspects were
hindrances? Helpful?
II.
The First Greeks:
A.
Archaeology has not revealed an exact date for the
birth of Mycenaean (My-sin-e-an) Civilization.
Common belief is that the Mycenaean’s were an Indo European Group that
migrated at roughly the same time that their Hittite, Persian, and Aryan
counterparts infested Mesopotamia, Persia, and India respectively.
B.
1650 is one acceptable time scale given to Mycenaean
beginnings. Great city of Mycenae
(My-scene-e)
C.
Greeks merged with these peoples and formed Modern
Greek civilization.
D.
This epoch is known as the Heroic period and is
recount in the works of Homer. The
Iliad and the Odyssey. Both of which
are available in my room for reading.
E.
Most of these legends deal with the semi-historical
war; the Trojan War.
F.
Discovered by the legendary archaeological excavation
in Turkey.
G.
Sir Arthur Evans also unveiled another civilization
at the turn of the Century-the Minoans.
Named after the legendary Minoan (My-know-an) King; Minos. This civilization existed on the island of
Crete, they spoke a script unknown to modern scientists: Linear A. Here is a Linear A script link…if you would like to
take a crack at deciphering it!
Here is another one, comparing it to the
early Greek/Mycenaean language of Linear B, which we have translated.
H.
Considering the unknown script all we know about
Minoan civilization comes from excavation and scientific study of the island
and the legendary castle that sits upon it; Knossos.
I.
The society dominated by kings and the nobles of
their court.
J.
Minoans served as a cultural bridge (Diffusion) as
they traded with Asia Minor, Europe, and Egypt.
K.
Mycenaean civilization began to flourish about 1650
with settlements in Athens, Thebes, Sparta and Pylos.
L.
The Political structure of Ancient Greece was the
Kingdom, far from its later democratic roots.
M. Kings drew
their legacy and power from the splendor and size of their castle. Scribes kept accurate records of taxation in
Linear B a relative of Linear A.
N.
An extensive division of labor tightly controlled
from the palace controlled the economy.
O.
Minoan/Mycenaean contacts were initially peaceful and
commercially productive however this relationship soured in the 1450 when
Mycenaean’s attacked Crete destroying palaces and conquering Knossos
(Cnossus). The island was in foreign
hands for the next 50 years. The palace
will be largely destroyed (see Greek PowerPoint for images) by whom the
occupying Mycenaean’s or the revolting Minoans is uncertain.
P.
Whatever the reason the fall of Minoan civilization
led to a further resurgence in trade for the Mycenaean’s and the early
Greeks. The civilization of the Minoans
and Mycenaean’s is known collectively as Pre-Greek or Aegean civilization.
Q.
While this group certainly prospered, it quickly
entered into a period of decline due to the likely invasion by foreigners known
as Dorians. However, the evidence
points to a series of internal conflicts that are in response to the
Mycenaean’s warlike nature, and it is likely that the Dark ages of 1100-800 BC
were caused by Mycenaean’s themselves.
This period saw a decline in trade, farming, and even literacy!
R.
However, this Dark Age was not without its benefits
as the age saw massive migrations of Greeks out of the centralized areas to
Crete, Asia Minor and Turkey, spreading their ideas with them and creating the
basis for a Greek Empire.
III.
Homer, Hesiod, and The Heroes of the Past:
A.
The Greeks unlike any of our civilizations had no
single sacred series of religious texts that enhanced our historical
understanding of them.
B.
They did however possess the writings of the
legendary (fictional)
blind poet Homer.
C.
The writings spoke of heroes, heroines, and a time
where gods walked the earth and played with humans as if they were clay
figurines.
i.
This represents much of the problems that relate to
Greek history and that is that much of our awareness and understanding comes
from fictitious accounts, and thus our analysis is not of a primary source
basis rather is interpretive.
D.
The basis of Greek religion, however can be traced to
the epic poem Theogony by Hesiod.
E.
The writings of Hesiod and Homer are dated to roughly
the same time as Greece was emerging out of the Dark Ages and into the age of
Heroes.
F.
Accounts-accounts of Achilles the tragic hero and his
conflict with the Mycenaean king Agamemnon.
G.
Odyssey-the account of the hero Odysseus and his
journey home from Troy encountering and surviving the gamesmanship of the God.
H.
It is in these stories and Theogony by Hesiod that we
see glimpses of the Greek mythological beginnings and their pessimistic
portrayal of their anthromophorbic gods.
I.
For more “divine” inspiration please see the
information on Greek Mythology on the Greek PowerPoint on the website.
J.
Story of Hesiod and his familial dispute sums up the
afterlife and the perspective of Greek Gods and Justice/Morality.
IV.
Polis:
A.
The basic political state in Greece, the Polis or
Greek City-State
B.
Three dominant Polis’ Athens, Thebes and Sparta, the
rest of the peninsula was dotted with small city-states who could not muster
multi-regional support. See map 5.1
C.
City, town and the countryside-definition. Similar to a medieval fiefdom in
geographical terms.
D.
Later in the 5th century these cities were
walled, for protection from attack generated by other polis’.
E.
Polis contained (see PP for pictures) an Acropolis,
or an elevated point of the Polis.
F.
Agora: market place
G.
Surrounding areas, farm and wasteland the objects of
wealth in Greece.
H.
Given the roots of Greek Democracy it is widely
believed that towns and Polis structures outside the big three were quite
small.
I.
This small, cozy nature provided Greece with some of
its character and mystique. The
close-knit society made for easy governance and a close knit personable
society. Unlike the vacuous empires of
the past in which Kings were almost mythological.
J.
You will find no divine type emperor in Greek society
due to this structure in Greece.
K.
Nor will you find armies, rather wealthy individuals
kept cavalries in the name/good of the society.
L.
Greek Political Terms: (Founders of most things
political)
i.
Monarchy: rule by one man
ii.
Aristocracy: “Best people”
iii.
Oligarchy: rule of a few (over the many)
iv.
Democracy: rule by all citizens.
v.
Tyranny: rule by one who had seized power via extra
legal means.
vi.
Whoever controlled the power wealthy or poor dictated
system; poor/commoners usually drove system to Democracy, wealthy to Oligarchy.
vii.
As a result of this intimate relationship…the Greeks
allowed nearly no foreigners into their realm.
M. Birth of
Greek Federalism came with the creation of multiple-polis states, which
inevitably led to one becoming more powerful.
N.
Greeks were so intensely individualistic that they
had a very difficult time creating a large-scale society due to the intense
feelings about Democracy and the freedom of individuals.
V.
Lyric Age
A.
Based on the great literary genius of the post-dark
age period. Poets and politics
dominated the era.
B.
Overseas expansion into the areas across the
Mediterranean also crucial. This period
and the expansion were vital for the Greeks as had they not moved abroad they
would not have survived given the agrarian handicaps of the peninsula.
C.
Given the climactic similarities of the region it was
easy to adapt to any new surrounding whether on the Italian peninsula, Cyprus
or The Eastern Mediterranean.
D.
Archilochus: a member of the colonial organizations
and a brilliant poet. Energetic,
self-reliant, angry adventurous and obscene.
E.
Sappho: born on the island of Lesbos specialized in
intense, personal, erotic poetry celebrating the homosexual relationships that
marked her lifestyle. From her birth
island we get the phrase “Lesbian”.
VI.
The Growth of Sparta:
A.
During the Lyric Age; Sparta became the leading polis
in Greece. Faced same problems, tackled
them differently.
B.
Problem: Overpopulation and Hunger-conquest not
colonization. Example Messenian wars a
conquest of fertile lands in the Peloponnesus.
This conquest last for 20 years, turned the defeated Messenians into
serfs of the Spartan State (Helots).
C.
The harsh treatment led to a second conflict known
cleverly as the second Messenian war, which was a very violent horrific
struggle. Thirty years it took for the
Spartans to subdue the Messenian Helots.
D.
Speaks volumes about Spartan society.
E.
Restructuring of society by non-nobles was a result
of the 2nd Messenian war, brought on by the laws of Lycurgus who
equalized laws. Created a dual
executive oligarchy (similar to France today in some political regards). They also divided the defeated Messenian
lands equally amongst all citizens.
Helots worked and slaved the land providing for Sparta. Spartans used terrorism to subdue the
ancient slaves.
F.
Also under the new rules of Lycurgan society Sparta
became even more military in nature with the suppression of individual needs to
the state (Fascism) and a barracks type military state. All males over 12 were sent to a military
company for preparation, at 24 they were ready. Spartan mother’s perspective 127.
G.
See comparison sheet/story on Athens Sparta.
H.
Spartan women deemed equal, in many regards as free
as any in the ancient world. A key cog
in the military state of Sparta.
VII.
The Rise of Athens
A.
Athenian response to problems of Greek civilization
markedly different from the Spartans.
B.
Colonization v. Conquest
C.
Democracy v. Oligarchy
D.
Philosophy v. Violence.
E.
Evolution
i.
Draco: first law code of Athenian Polis, harsh yet
based in the hands of the people. (621 BC)
Conflict between Aristrocrats/Poor over land. Debtors exiled, tyranny on rise until…
ii.
Solon: an aristocrat and poet who saw the rights of
all as important, condemned greed in his poetry. Oral citations called for justice and fairness, elected the
Archon or Chief Magistrate of Athens in 594 implementing many of his policies
by freeing debtors, canceling all debts and ending enslavement on the basis of
debt. Divided society into 4 legal
groups all enjoying rights. When
people called for him to assume a tyrannical role he left Athens.
iii.
Pisastratus: returned to Athens conquered and
established a tyranny when he realized that Aristocrats were the problem he
reduced their power and supported the common people.
iv.
Cleisthenes: emerged victorious in a brief battle
over tyranny with the son of Pisastratus, Hippias. Reorganized the Athenian democracy based on the will of the
people, all had a say. Created the Deme
a local unit to serve as the basis of his political system. Citizenship was tightly linked to the
Deme. All Demes were grouped into
tribes (10), which worked with the assembly of all citizens and a council of
500. World’s first bicameral political
structure.
1.
Boule-council of 500
2.
Ecclesia-assembly of all (major power) open to all
males over 18.
v.
Athenian democracy perfect for a small state (est.
population during the rise of democracy 180-220K). Women and slaves denied rights.
Compelling aspect the state existed for good of citizen.
VIII.
Using the Map in your book (page 118), prepare for
the Map Quiz on Thursday the 11th:
A.
Identify the following:
i.
Macedonia
ii.
Ionia
iii.
Ithaca
iv.
Crete
v.
Mount Olympus
vi.
Cnossus
vii.
Delphi
viii.
Thessaly
ix.
Delphi
x.
Thebes
xi.
Athens
xii.
Sparta
xiii.
Corinth
xiv.
Mycenae
xv.
Byzantium
xvi.
Troy
xvii.
Rhodes
xviii.
Lesbos
xix.
Halicanarsus
xx.
Peloponnesus
xxi.
Messenia
xxii.
Hellespont
xxiii.
Aegean Sea
xxiv.
Mediterranean Sea
xxv.
Ionian Sea
IX.
The Classical Period: (500-338 BCE)
A.
Warfare: main rival the Persians and themselves.
B.
499 BCE the Greeks living on the edge of the Persian
Empire rebelled against the pressing Persians.
490 the turning point arrived at the battle of Marathon (story of 26.1
mile race).
C.
Angered at the defeat of the Persian Empire in 490,
ten years later Xerxes lead a powerful invasion force that was turned back by a
Spartan led coalition on land and an Athenian led Naval force. (Themistocles)
D.
Greek fighting forces known as Hoplites, showed their
mettle at Thermopylae (pass in Euboea).
E.
Key victory came at battle of Salmis an Island just
west of Athens
F.
The victory ended the Persian threat and allowed for
the continuation of Greek Civilization
G.
Result II: The establishment of the Delian league an
alliance structure aimed at liberating Ionia from the Persians. Leadership fell to Athens, controlled
financial system as well.
H.
Athenian success against Persia had a sinister side,
became an Athenian empire. Controlled
finances and fruits of success turning Sparta and the rest of Greece against
the Athenians.
I.
Sparta began to form a counter allegiance against the
Athenians.
J.
It was during this time that Pericles emerged as the
dominant statesman, a war broke out in 459 BC over these matters with an end in
445. The war resulted in no damage or
power struggle.
K.
However, the Athenian attitude did not change despite
the war. Spartans declared a second war
in 431 that would last a generation and would bring about major changes in
Greece; the Peloponnesian War.
Chronicled by the historian Thucydides
L.
Alcibiades: a prominent politician who replaced
Pericles who died in a plague, one of the series that emerged during the
crisis. He was a student of Socrates
who had a self-seeking side that led this demise. His scheming helped bring about an end to Athens, he for personal
gain deserted to Sparta and even aided the Persians…
M. War ends in
404 BC with the destruction of Athens by the Spartans. A serious blow to this civilization will be
dealt…results forthcoming.
X.
The Birth of the Philosopher Kings: A revolution in
Thought.
A.
A time of great thinking and thought was the
Classical Age.
B.
Herodotus: chronicled the wars with Persia. The first Historian.
C.
Thucydides: chronicled the wars with Sparta; the
Peloponnesian War.
D.
Development of the Acropolis by brilliant architects.
(See PP for pictures.) Such buildings as the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike,
Poseidon’s temple, etc…Sculptures by
Phidias.
E.
Playwrights:
i.
Aeschylus: dramatist: Oresteia. Wrote about betrayal, murder, reason and
reconciliation.
ii.
Sophocles: tragic poet authored Antigone, Oedipus
the King and Oedipus at Colunus.
Wrote about the personal and political.
Great influence to Shakespeare and Marlow.
iii.
Euripides: last of the tragic dramatists. Explored personal conflict, wrote about
situations pertaining to Polis during struggle like Peloponnesian war, the role
of the divine, the importance and splendor of humans. Profound impact on Rome and beyond.
F.
Philosophers:
i.
Pre-Socratic thinkers
1.
Thales: learned mathematician took mathematics and
astronomy to new levels, built on the achievements of the learned Babylonians,
Greeks and Indians. Applied reason to
Nature; ex. Solar Eclipses. Natural
elements such as Water building blocks of nature.
2.
Anaximander: infinity of universe.
3.
Heraclitus: world had no beginning or end.
4.
Culmination of Pre-Socratic thought: elements in the
Universe were Air, Earth, Fire and Water.
5.
Aesop:
a non-scientific thinker a storyteller, moralist. Good sense and simple patterns, in certain regards similar to
Confucius. Check the link for some
fables!
ii.
Classical Thinkers:
1.
Hippocrates: father of Modern Medicine. Sought natural explanations to phenomena of
the body. Basing information on
knowledge and not magic, he made great strides in the advent of reason and logic. Viewed medicine as a craft.
2.
Sophists: traveled the Greek world teaching young MEN
about philosophy. All Human Beings were
proper subject matter. Excellence and
logic could be taught. Prepared for
life in the Polis. Laid groundwork for
the later Philosophers.
3.
Socrates (470-399): an artisan spent his life
investigating and defining. Never
formally taught so not a pure Sophist his legacy was his orations, which were
composed by his followers. Posed
ethical questions and drove the learner to understanding through questioning:
The Socratic Method. Placed on trial
for corrupting youth…read this for key
info on the trial and accusations.
4.
Plato (427-347 BC): a prolific student of Socrates
and a brilliant author. Created the
Academy. Essays on everything from ordinary
life, to science, to politics. His text
the Republic is the pre-eminent work in the annals of Political
Science. Wrote with satire, irony, and
comedy to portray deep methods of thought.
His experiences during the Peloponnesian War forced him to ask new
questions of Humankind. Where had
society gone wrong? Ignorance was a
wretched principle the worst in human scheme.
Wrote extensively on the life of Socrates and his demise to point out
problems in society. Only a divine
province brought about goodness.
Anything visible, tangible, are constant and indestructible.
a.
His utopian polis was a society of balance, order,
and education, equal, with all contributing.
Later contradicted in Laws, as Peloponnesian War clouded his
vision.
5.
Aristotle: a student of Plato (384-322 BC), authored Politics. Wrote about the ideal Polis, he stressed
moderation concluding that the balance of the ideal state depended on peoples
talent and education. Both a
philosopher and a scientist. Utilized
logic as his guide, attempted to bridge gap between abstract and concrete. Wrote Physics and Metaphysics
expressing his empiricism. Physics
dealt with the natural phenomenon that surrounds us all, principles that lasted
through the Enlightenment. Four
principles matter, form, movement and goal as building blocks of life. Took up the matter of Ionian speculation in
the text On the Heaven. Theories
of cosmology added ether to the normal building blocks emphasized in the
past. Universe revolves and it is both
spherical and infinite. In short he
tried to learn everything!
6.
Philosopher Quiz: Wednesday! Everything in this Roman numeral! Short and sweet.
XI.
Daily Life in Athens:
A.
Lived very happily and peacefully in Athens,
miserable and intense in Sparta.
B.
Cooking done over a hearth, ate bread, olives, figs,
lentils and grapes, occasionally meat which was in rare supply.
C.
Jobs: farmer, potter, bronze smith, sailor, merchant,
boat maker, construction and laborers.
D.
Slavery: commonplace-very different than US
version. VERY IMPORTANT-I’ll explain
why in class.
E.
Difficulty of agriculture.
F.
Religion: based upon the presence of a group of
anthromophorbic gods who ruled and meddled in the lives of humans. They were so involved that people did
nothing in their daily lives to anger any of them! Expressed in the development of mythology. Stories designed to foster morality and the
experience of all Greeks. See a link on Mythology, read a story or two if
you are interested!
i.
Much was done to please the gods such as temples and
sacrifices. Oracles common for divine
inspiration.
ii.
Olympics designed to please the gods develop heroes.
G.
Sexuality: homosexuality viewed as a normal stage in
life.
XII.
The Demise: 404-338 BC
A.
Sparta defeats Athens, and begins striving for the
creation of a Spartan Empire. Their
arrogance and attitude was as dangerous as the Athenians they replaced. Solicited Persian help to attain an empire. Theban army under Epaminondas destroyed the
Spartan army. Thebes was unable to
bring peace to the region, Epaminondas death in 362 BC brought about an end to
an exhausted age.
B.
Rise of Macedonian empire under Philip II the father
of Alexander the Great. His genius,
patience and determination brought all of Greece under his yoke. The final end came in 338 BC when the
combined armies of Thebes and Athens fell to Philo pat Chaeronea. He had defeated the Greeks and brought an
end to their freedom.
C.
Why they fell?
i.
Agricultural weaknesses
ii.
Philosophical differences between Athens and Sparta
iii.
Failure to unite
D.
