2. Study Questions:
How did Greece’s Geography shape the development of its
early history and lead to city-states?
What were the key features of the governments of Athens and
Sparta? How does Athenian democracy compare to
democracy in our modern world?
The term “classical period” implies enduring traditions. What
were the lasting cultural and intellectual achievements of the
classical period?
How did Alexander the Great’s conquests shape Hellenistic
Society?
How did the meeting of cultures in the Hellenistic world shape
religion, philosophy, & Science?
3.
4. Hellas, 3500-800 BCE
• Greek name for Greece (see map next slide)
• Geography was a divisive force in Greek life
– Led to a fragmented population
– fragmented politics
– Poor communication
– Prohibited growth of large empire (like
Mesopotamia or Egypt)
– Most common form of government = polis or
independent city-state
5. Early Greek Kingdoms
• Minoan & Myceneaen
• Minoan Kingdom:
– 2000-1000 BCE on island of Crete
– Their writing has never been deciphered
– Archaeology and Art are only sources for
understanding their culture
– Cities on Crete had different rulers who built large
palaces (example = Knossos)
11. Minoan Kingdom
• Palace at Knossos—almost 1,000 rooms
– Running water
– Indoor plumbing with sewage system
• Named Minoan after mythological King Minos
of Crete
• Disrupted by series of earthquakes &
tsunamis, ~1700 BCE
12. Mycenaean Kingdom 2,000-1,000 BCE
• Developed on mainland at same time as Minoan
Kingdom
• Built large palaces and cities
– Thebes & Athens
• Writing has been deciphered
– Warring society with strong military
– King and nobles at top
• Graves also yield lots of evidence of culture
• Destroyed by war with Minoans and other
kingdoms
17. Dark Age of Greece, 1100-800 BCE
Following the fall of the Minoan and Mycenaean
kingdoms, the “Dark Age” of Greece began.
However, traditional stories of the people and
their heroes were continued and were later
collected in two epic poems, the Iliad and the
Odyssey, both of which are attributed to
Homer.
18. Development of the Polis
• The polis, or city-state
– Occurred in the Dark Age
– the central political unit in Greece.
– included the city and its surrounding rural countryside, the
chora, which supported the urban population.
– protected by soldiers known as hoplites.
– A variety of types of government could be found in
the poleis.
• democracy,
• oligarchy
• tyranny
19. Polis
• Each polis contained market (agora) which
also became the political center
• and an acropolis (elevated area with temples,
altars, and public monuments)
20. How does this sculpture reflect key
elements of Spartan identity?
21. Greek Expansion 800-500 BCE
1. Increase in population led to increase demand for food and
colonization of coastal areas of northern Aegean, Black Sea,
North Africa, Southern Italy, Spain (see map next slide)
1. Created a widespread, Mediterranean Greek Cultural Zone
2. Growth of 2 very important City-States
1. Sparta
2. Athens
22.
23. Sparta
• Spartans conquered neighboring areas and enslaved residents
• Soldiers demanded equal rights with elite nobles
– Created Lycurgan system of Government= all Spartan citizens had
equal rights
– intense loyalty to Sparta, Sparta defense more important than
individual needs
• All work done by slaves (helots)
• Military Training occupied lives of Spartan men and military
became very powerful
– Men lived together in Military camps with wives and children at home
where women managed estates
– Most meaningful relationships were same-sex ones—believed men
would fight harder for lovers and comrades
24. Athens
• Draco published the first Athenian law code in an effort to
establish a law for all citizens. His harsh code is the origin of the
term draconian.
• Solon reformed the harsh system & influenced the transition of
Athenian government into a democracy, though this democracy
did not include women, slaves, or outsiders.
• Athens demonstrated that a large group of people could run the
affairs of state—as opposed to one or a few
25. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
• A. The Deadly Conflicts, 499–404 B.C.E.
• 1. Confrontations began between the Persian Empire and
Greek city-states along the Ionian coast. The Greeks defeated
the Persians at the battle of Marathon. Later, the Persian king
Xerxes led a massive invasion of Greece. Although the
Persians occupied Athens, they were defeated in the battle of
Salamis by the Greek navy and at Plataea by the Greek army.
• 2. Although Sparta and Athens were unified in defeating
Persia, the two city-states fought each other during the
Peloponnesian War. The bloody conflict left both city-states
weak and vulnerable.
26. Greece, Classical Period, 500-338 BCE
• Highest peak of Greek politics, thought, art,
and violent conflicts
– Wars with Persia and Sparta
– Built Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis
• Celebrated goddess Athena and victory over Persia
– Greek plays
• Antigone
• Oedipus Rex
30. Greece, Classical Period, 500-338 BCE
• Philosophy
– Sophists
– Socrates
– Plato
– Aristotle
• Polytheist Religion
– Revolved around Olympian gods—Zues, Hera, Apollo,
Athena…
– No sacred books or texts
– No ethical code of conduct imposed by religion
31. Greece, Classical Period, 500-338 BCE
Daily Life and Social Conditions in Athens
• family included the dominant male of the household.
•Women had little involvement in public affairs, and their
status was restricted by law.
•Prostitution was legal in Athens. Sophisticated escorts
known as hetaerae served men as social and sexual
partners.
•Same-sex relations were accepted throughout the Greek
city-states. Relationships between young males and their
older tutors were celebrated throughout the arts.
•Sexual desire and procreation, though important, were
not necessarily linked together.
32. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 BCE
Alexander the Great
From Polis to Monarchy, 404–200 B.C.E.
•The Peloponnesian War (between Sparta and Athens) left the
Greek city-states weak and vulnerable.
•Philip II of Macedonia won control of Greece and united the
Greek states with his kingdom. Following Philip’s assassination,
Philip’s son Alexander took charge of his father’s kingdom.
•2. Alexander set out to conquer the rest of Asia, eventually
pushing into the territories of the Indus River valley of India. He
continued into Arab regions and died in Babylon. Several of
Alexander’s generals then fought to control the empire, which
was eventually divided into thirds.
36. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 BCE
Building a Shared Society
•The most significant outcome of Alexander’s empire was the spread
of Greek culture and ideas. Greek traditions blended with other
cultures, creating a society in which Greek cities granted citizenship
to Hellenized natives.
• Alexander’s former empire was drawn into three independent
Hellenized kingdoms. The Seleucid kings ruled in Asia Minor. The
Antigonids controlled the Macedonian kingdom in Europe. The
Ptolemaic kings ruled Egypt.
37. 1. Although the city of
Ay Khanoum was
situated very far from
the original cultural
centers of Classical
Greece, on the
present-day border
between Russian and
Afghanistan, its
Hellenistic rulers
brought with them
elements of Greek
culture. Can you find
any evidence of such
elements in the image
on the plate?
38. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 BCE
The Growth of Trade and Commerce
•The vast territory once under the control of Alexander was linked
together by routes conducive to caravan trade. The trade spawned
economic growth.
•Traditional commodities, agricultural goods, and raw materials were
transported on the overland routes reaching into new territories. New
goods such as silk were included in the economic trade.
39. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy,
and Science
Religion in the Hellenistic World
•Religious thought also traveled the overland trail routes. As the
traditional Greek religions confronted Eastern religions, aspects of
both were incorporated into the so-called mystery religions.
•Egyptian mythology became popular in the Hellenistic world. Isis
became the most important goddess of the Hellenistic world.
Philosophy and Its Guidance for Life
•Greek and Eastern ideas influenced the philosophy of
Epicureanism, which sought peace in a tumultuous world.
•Stoicism was the most popular of the Hellenistic philosophies. The
Stoics believed that living a virtuous life was the most important
thing and that people could achieve happiness only when living in
accordance with nature.
40. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy,
and Science
Hellenistic Science and Medicine
•Euclid compiled the textbook The Elements of Geometry.
•Archimedes devised new military technology and engineered
numerous types of tools.
•Herophilus dissected corpses and documented his observations. He
discovered the nervous system and also studied the brain, liver, lungs,
and uterus.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Hellas: The Land and the Polis, ca. 3500–ca. 800 B.C.E.
A. The Minoans and Mycenaeans
1. The flourishing culture that developed on the island of Crete has been named Minoan by archaeologists, after the mythical king Minos. Trade with mainland populations opened up economic opportunities to exchange numerous goods.
2. Social hierarchies developed, with a king and a group of nobles at the head. The Knossos, the largest structure from Minoan society, is an example of the construction abilities of this complex society. The Knossos had over a thousand rooms and featured indoor plumbing.
3. Mycenaean Greeks, located in the Peloponnesus, established cities throughout the mainland. Mycenaean kings grew wealthy and eventually conquered the Minoans, but the Mycenaeans continued to fight other populations.
4. Following the fall of the Minoan and Mycenaean kingdoms, the “Dark Age” of Greece began. However, traditional stories of the people and their heroes were continued and were later collected in two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, both of which are attributed to Homer.
Hellas: The Land and the Polis, ca. 3500–ca. 800 B.C.E.
B. The Development of the Polis
1. The polis, or city-state, became the central political unit in Greece. The polis included the city and its surrounding rural countryside, the chora, which supported the urban population. The polis was protected by soldiers known as hoplites.
2. A variety of types of government could be found in the poleis. These types of government included democracy, oligarchy, and tyranny.
Spartan Hoplite (p. 119)
1. How does this sculpture reflect key elements of Spartan identity?
(Answer: Not only is the hoplite represented here muscular, dressed in armor and carrying a shield and probably a (missing) spear, he is poised to strike a blow at the enemy. He represents the Spartan values of military prowess and physical training. )
2. How is the form of power embodied in this sculpture different from the forms of power exemplified by the pillar showing Hammurabi receiving the scepter of authority from the god Shamash (p. 44) and the Gandharan image of the Buddha (p. 78)?
(Answer: The statue of the hoplite exhibits the power of the warrior whose authority rests on military prowess and conquest, the pillar of Hammurabi represents the power of the monarch whose power is granted by a god, and the frieze of the Buddha exemplifies spiritual power that derives from meditation, self-mastery, and selflessness. These differences parallel differences in the central virtues of Spartan, Mesopotamian, and Indian cultures. In the Spartan political system warriors shared power – the hoplite sculpture does not represent kingship or priestly/spiritual authority. )
3. One of the changes in military tactics connected to the rise of the Greek polis was the new ability of infantry to defeat cavalry. This in turn was due in part to the spread of large-scale, relatively cheap production of iron, which was harder than bronze and made for more effective weapons. Can you connect this development to the sculpture of the hoplite?
(Answer: The Spartan warrior carries a shield, probably iron, and wears a full iron helmet and body armor. Hoplite forces consisted of relatively numerous infantry – hence the sculpture reflects the greater availability of iron by the middle of the first millenium B.C.E. )
II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age, ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
A. Greece’s Overseas Expansion
1. Greek colonies were established in the Aegean, Black, and Mediterranean Seas, creating a widespread Greek culture.
II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age, ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
B. The Growth of Sparta
1. Under intense pressure from non-nobles, the aristocrats of Sparta instituted the Lycurgan regimen, which gave equal rights to all Spartan citizens. The Lycurgan system had the citizens aligning with the Spartan city-state.
2. Military training became an important aspect of the Spartan identity. Through their training Spartan men were instilled with the values of doing with little and liking it.
II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age, ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
C. The Evolution of Athens
1. Draco published the first Athenian law code in an effort to establish a law for all citizens. His harsh code is the origin of the term draconian.
2. Solon wrote poems about injustices and gained the trust of the common people.
3. The ideas and efforts of Solon influenced the transition of Athenian government into a democracy, though this democracy did not include women, slaves, or outsiders.
III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period, 500–338 B.C.E.
A. The Deadly Conflicts, 499–404 B.C.E.
1. Confrontations began between the Persian Empire and Greek city-states along the Ionian coast. The Greeks defeated the Persians at the battle of Marathon. Later, the Persian king Xerxes led a massive invasion of Greece. Although the Persians occupied Athens, they were defeated in the battle of Salamis by the Greek navy and at Plataea by the Greek army.
2. Although Sparta and Athens were unified in defeating Persia, the two city-states fought each other during the Peloponnesian War. The bloody conflict left both city-states weak and vulnerable.
III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period, 500–338 B.C.E.
C. Daily Life and Social Conditions in Athens
1. The Greek family included the dominant male of the household. Women had little involvement in public affairs, and their status was restricted by law.
2. Prostitution was legal in Athens. Sophisticated escorts known as hetaerae served men as social and sexual partners. Same-sex relations were accepted throughout the Greek city-states. Relationships between young males and their older tutors were celebrated throughout the arts. Sexual desire and procreation, though important, were not necessarily linked together.
D. Greek Religion in the Classical Period
1. The Greeks were polytheists, worshiping deities who acted like mortals. According to their beliefs, the gods lived on Mount Olympus and included Zeus, Hera, Apollo, and many others. There were no religious texts or ethical guidelines.
2. Religious festivities included athletic contests at Olympia that inspired the modern Olympic games and other contests that featured musical and literary competitions.
IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
A. From Polis to Monarch, 404–200 B.C.E.
1. The Peloponnesian War left the Greek city-states weak and vulnerable. Philip II of Macedonia won control of Greece and united the Greek states with his kingdom. Following Philip’s assassination, Philip’s son Alexander took charge of his father’s kingdom.
2. Alexander set out to conquer the rest of Asia, eventually pushing into the territories of the Indus River valley of India. He continued into Arab regions and died in Babylon. Several of Alexander’s generals then fought to control the empire, which was eventually divided into thirds.
IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
B. Building a Shared Society
1. The most significant outcome of Alexander’s empire was the spread of Greek culture and ideas. Greek traditions blended with other cultures, creating a society in which Greek cities granted citizenship to Hellenized natives.
2. Alexander’s former empire was drawn into three independent Hellenized kingdoms. The Seleucid kings ruled in Asia Minor. The Antigonids controlled the Macedonian kingdom in Europe. The Ptolemaic kings ruled Egypt.
Metal Plate from Ay Khanoum (p. 133)
1. Although the city of Ay Khanoum was situated very from the original cultural centers of Classical Greece, on the present-day border between Russian and Afghanistan, its Hellenistic rulers brought with them elements of Greek culture. Can you find any evidence of such elements in the image on the plate?
(Answer: For one thing, the head of the sun-god resembles the heads of classical Greek statuary. For a second, the clothing of the goddess Cybele and her attendants resembles the depiction of clothing, with draped folds, in classical Greek sculpture. )
2. The culture of the Hellenistic kingdom of Bactria, wherein Ay Khanoum was located, was a syncretism of Greek and other “Eastern” (Indian, Persian, etc.) cultures. Can you locate any elements or patterns in the image that seem to be of non-Greek origin?
(Answer: The prominent location of the sun-god above Cybele and the worshipping masses could show influence of cultures other than Greek. The head of the Greek pantheon was not the sun-god Helios but the god Zeus. )
3. How might the image on this plate reflect the change in Greek/Hellenistic political structures from democracy centered on the polis to monarchies of greater territorial extent integrating a number of different cities?
(Answer: The goddess Cybele, who is being worshipped, was not the goddess of a particular polis, but an earth/mother divinity. Also, the figure standing on the right, could be a monarch. This figure is positioned high above the worshipping masses and appears ready to receive the goddess. The plate does not seem to represent a polis in which all citizens (the term “citizens,” as the text explains, did not include women, slaves, or foreigners) share in rule, but a political system dominated by a single figure. )
IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
C. The Growth of Trade and Commerce
1. The vast territory once under the control of Alexander was linked together by routes conducive to caravan trade. The trade spawned economic growth.
2. Traditional commodities, agricultural goods, and raw materials were transported on the overland routes reaching into new territories. New goods such as silk were included in the economic trade. Not all economic opportunities were positive; piracy became a constant threat to caravans.
V. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy, and Science
A. Religion in the Hellenistic World
1. Religious thought also traveled the overland trail routes. As the traditional Greek religions confronted Eastern religions, aspects of both were incorporated into the so-called mystery religions.
2. Egyptian mythology became popular in the Hellenistic world. Isis became the most important goddess of the Hellenistic world.
B. Philosophy and Its Guidance for Life
1. Greek and Eastern ideas influenced the philosophy of Epicureanism, which sought peace in a tumultuous world.
2. Stoicism was the most popular of the Hellenistic philosophies. The Stoics believed that living a virtuous life was the most important thing and that people could achieve happiness only when living in accordance with nature.
V. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy, and Science
C. Hellenistic Science and Medicine
1. Euclid compiled the textbook The Elements of Geometry.
2. Archimedes devised new military technology and engineered numerous types of tools.
3. Herophilus dissected corpses and documented his observations. He discovered the nervous system and also studied the brain, liver, lungs, and uterus.
