Birthplace of Democracy

Ancient Greece

HIS 101 - Week 3

Ancient Greece

Geography

Steep rocky mountains extend to coastline Very little arable farmland Many islands around mainland & Aegean Sea Limited farmland and orientation on the sea led to a reliance on foreign trade

The Polis
A Greek City-State Independent centers with unique gods, customs, traditions Life centered around the Agora Intense religious & political devotion at polis level

Major Poleis

Acropolis

Athens
Named for Athena, protector goddess of city On the Attica Peninsula along Aegean Sea First settled in 1000 BCE Chosen for prime location and excellent Acropolis site Center of Greek cultural developments

Direct Democracy
Citizens only (wealthy males) voted on all measures This process developed over centuries Solons Constitution created democracy after period of tyranny Voting took place in Agora Votes were cast with an Ostrakon, a shard of pottery with name etched on it.

Sparta
Militaristic Society Monarchy Women could own property, inherit and hold citizenship Babies tested at birth Boys begin military service at age 7 State owned slaves called Helots

Persian War

Persian Wars

Huge Persian Empire dominated entire region Persia wanted to conquer and demand tribute from wealthy Greek city-states First invasion under Persian emperor Darius, followed by his son Xerxes who invaded twice. 499-448 BCE Persia repelled but continues to harass Greeks until Alexander

Battle of Thermopylae

300 Spartan soldiers prevent massive Persian Army from entering Attica Spartan traitor shows Persians way around impasse, Spartans fight to the death Persians destroyed at Battle of Salamis, Athens saved.

Delian League
Created to fight Persian Empire Drove Persians and pirates from Aegean Sea Over 100 city state members benefit from trade Growth of Athenian influence, wealth and power. Athenian Hegemony

Greek Colonial Expansion

Golden Age of Athens

100 year period between Persian Wars & Peloponnesian Wars Also called Age of Pericles for greatest leader Height of Greek civilization; art, architecture, math, philosophy, theater

Socrates
First of the line of great thinkers An uncriticized life is not worth living Socratic method, ethos Knowledge synonymous with virtue Questioned all aspects of Athenian life Put on trial at age 70 for corrupting the youth and narrowly found guilty Executed for leading youth astray

Plato
Student of Socrates Platonism - perfection, ideal states Platonic Love Founded The Academy The Republic
rejected democracy only wisest and most virtuous could lead Spartan military force Limitation on new ideas, music.

Aristotle
Student of Plato Part of The Academy founded a school called the Lyceum Established Empiricism building a case fact by fact Advocated for the Golden Mean 3 main theories for which he is best known:
1 critique of Platos theory of Ideas 2 Ethical Thought 3 Political Thought.

History

Herodotus - Father of History and also Father of Lies - wrote on Persian Wars Thucydides - Father of Scientific History - wrote on Age of Pericles, Peloponnesian War

Medicine & Mathematics

Hippocrates - Father of Medicine His medical teachings form basis of Hippocratic Oath Archimedes - Father of Geometry Also accomplished engineer, inventor, physicist, theories of calculus, created early machines

Greek Theater

Heavily supported by wealthy elite Aeschylus - wrote on mythological themes. Sophocles - criticism on religious & political problems. Aristophanes - comic theatre with social criticism and caricature.

Greek Pottery

Black on Red Style Red on Black Style Scenes of Olympics, the Gods, Sports, military campaigns

Greek Sculpture

Erechtheum on Acropolis

Built 421-407 BCE Known as Porch of Maidens Temple to Athena & Poseidon 6 Caryatids used in place of columns

Greek Columns
Consist of Shaft, Base & Capital Greek Orders: Doric, Ionic & Corinthian Named for City-State of origin Adopted & Adapted heavily by Romans

Parthenon

Parthenon
Constructed 447-431 BCE Temple to Goddess Athena on Acropolis Commissioned by Pericles himself Master Sculptor Phidias hired for all sculptures Architects Iktinos and Kallikrates designed the building

The Parthenon

Parthenon Metope

Parthenon Frieze

Lincoln Memorial

Zeus @ Olympia and Abraham Lincoln

Peloponnesian War
431 - 404 BCE Sparta led Peloponnesian League Athens led Delian League Athenians had naval power, Spartans land force Sparta invades Attica, besieges Athens until they surrender

 Sparta victorious over Delian League Sparta unable to effectively govern Philip of Macedon exploits weakness, conquers Greeks Philip assassinated and his son Alexander assumes Macedonian throne, solidifies control over Greeks.

Alexander the Great

356-323 BCE (became King in 336 BCE) Tutored by Aristotle, inherited power & wealth from his father Philip the Great Conquered all of Persia, Egypt, Mesopotamia and lands east to Indus River Died in Babylon at age 33 cause of death unknown, could be poisoning, but a disease is more likely (malaria, typhoid fever, West Nile Virus or even pancreatitis.

Alexanders Military Conquests

 Largest World Empire at that time Spread of Hellenic Culture throughout region Lands divided among generals at death Rapid division and disintegration of empire, only Hellenistic influences remained

Pericles Funeral Oration

"Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit. The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life. teaching us to obey the magistrates and the laws, particularly such as regard the protection of the injured