Ancient Greece: City-States and Sparta

Cleisthenes

• Wealthy Athenian leader who relinquished power to the people.

Greek City-States

• Formed due to Greece's mountainous terrain.
• City-states (poleis) were independent, self-governing centers of political, economic, and cultural life.

Structure of City-States

• Polis: Greek word for city, often built around a fortified hilltop.

• Acropolis: Fortified hilltop, high city, refuge during attacks.

• Agora: Marketplace, downtown area.

Sparta

• Helots: Conquered slaves, vastly outnumbered Spartans.
• Military Society: Rigorous training for both men and women emphasized physical fitness and military prowess.
• Spartan Children: Boys removed from homes at age 7, trained in warfare, stealth, hunting, and athletics. Abandoned infants with disabilities.
• Spartan Women: Relatively free; attended schools, owned property (40% of land, according to Aristotle), and participated in the Olympics.
• Decline: Population decline, economic hardship, reliance on close-quarters combat, defeat at Leuctra by Thebes.

Persian Empire

• Founded by Cyrus the Great, creating the world's first superpower.
• Darius the Great succeeded Cyrus.

Marathon & Thermopylae

• Battle of Marathon: Athenian victory over Persian forces.

• Battle of Thermopylae: Persian defeat of the Spartans at Thermopylae.

Peloponnesian War

• Athens + Delian League (Navy): vs. Sparta + Peloponnesian League (Army).
• Fall of Athens: Overcrowding during the war led to disease, weakening Athens. Pericles died.

King Philip II & Alexander the Great of Macedonia

• King Philip II: Stabilized and expanded Macedonian power. Formed the League of Corinth.

• Alexander the Great: Conquered the Persian Empire, expanding Macedonian territory extensively. Undefeated in battle.

Hellenistic Age

• Alexander's death fragmented his vast empire into three kingdoms. Spread of Greek language, culture, literature, customs, and ideas throughout the Middle East.

Library of Alexandria

• A significant library (the Great Library), burned, a devastating loss of knowledge.

The Roman Republic

• Romulus & Remus: Mythical founders of Rome; Romulus killed Remus.

• Early Rome: Gained strength through trade and adopted aspects of Greek culture (religion, architecture, military tactics).

• Republic Structure: Power held by citizens electing leaders.

  • Patricians: Wealthy landowners, held power.
  • Plebeians: Common people, gradually gained more rights.
  • Consuls: Two patrician leaders, running government and army.
  • Senate: Powerful council of patricians.
  • Assembly: Representatives of plebeians, gained legislative power.
  • Twelve Tables: Written Roman law, protecting plebeians.

Punic Wars

• Carthage: Powerful civilization, rival of Rome.

• First Punic War: Primarily over Sicily, Rome gained Sicily after a victory.

• Second Punic War: Hannibal's invasion of Italy, Battle of Cannae (major Carthaginian victory), Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal at Zama.

• Third Punic War: Rome destroyed Carthage completely.

Decline of the Republic

• Farm debts, unemployment, and slave revolts (Spartacus) weakened the Republic.

Julius Caesar

• Military conquests in Gaul, became a powerful general, dictator for life, assassinated by senators (Ides of March).

Second Triumvirate

• Power struggle among Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian.

Cleopatra

• Last Pharaoh of Egypt, mistress of Julius Caesar, alliance with Mark Antony.

Octavian (Caesar Augustus)

• First Roman Emperor. Established the Roman Empire. Introduced "Pax Romana."

Christianity in Rome

• Nero: Blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome.
• Diocletian: Persecuted Christians extensively.
• Constantine: Issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom.

Saint Sebastian

• Christian martyr, patron saint of athletes and archers, survived several attempts before death by being beaten.