Ancient Greek Warfare and Innovations

Sparta's fear of Athenian power and influence, fueled by Athenian imperialism, was the main driver of the war.

Ancient Athens' system of direct democracy, where adult male citizens participated in decision-making.

Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon were prominent Greek historians who recorded historical events and analyzed their causes through the lens of human nature and political motivations.

The Peloponnesian War involved Spartan ground invasions and Athenian naval raids, and significant events such as the Peace of Nicias/Sicilian Expedition.

Weakened Greek unity due to internal conflicts during the Peloponnesian War allowed Macedonia to conquer Greece.

Many words in fields like science, philosophy, and geography are derived from Greek.

Hippocrates emphasized observation and logic in diagnosing and treating diseases, marking a significant step towards evidence-based medicine.

Greeks systematically studied diseases and treatments, forming the basis for modern scientific medicine.

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are epic poems exploring heroism, fate, and the human condition, shaping Western literature.

Herodotus and Thucydides documented events critically, showing a desire to understand the past objectively.

Greek mythology includes stories like the trials of Hercules, the Trojan War, or the adventures of Odysseus. These stories had cultural and moral lessons.

Words like 'ethics,' 'logic,' and 'academy' originated from Greek philosophical thought.

Greek works such as The Iliad, The Odyssey, or Sappho's love poems impacted literature and culture for centuries.

A naval battle where Greek strategy triumphed over the larger Persian force, securing Greek independence.

After Troy, Odysseus and his men attacked the Cicones, but their victory turned to disaster due to overindulgence.

A group that tempted Odysseus's men with a flower making them forget their journey.

A one-eyed monster Odysseus outsmarted and blinded, causing Poseidon's wrath.

A sorceress who turned Odysseus's men into animals, but Odysseus outsmarted her with Hermes' help.

Odysseus journeyed to the underworld to consult the prophet Tiresias for guidance.

Two dangerous sea monsters Odysseus had to navigate between, forcing him to make a difficult choice.

Odysseus returns home disguised as a beggar and observes the events in his kingdom.

The three major kingdoms that arose after Alexander the Great's death: the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the Seleucid Empire, and the Antigonid Kingdom.

The Greek city-states were eventually absorbed by Hellenistic kingdoms like the Antigonid Kingdom or formed leagues like the Achaean and Aetolian Leagues, eventually falling under Roman rule.

Hellenistic art emphasized realism and emotional expression, moving away from the idealized forms of classical Greek art.

The Hellenistic period saw a shift towards monumental architecture, as shown by the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Altar of Zeus in Pergamon.

Two major schools: Stoicism, emphasizing virtue and harmony with nature, and Epicureanism, advocating seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

After Peisistratos died, his sons took over but were overthrown by Athenian aristocrats who sought to restore power after convincing Sparta to invade Athens in 510 BCE.

Cleisthenes introduced a new form of government called democracy, replacing the aristocracy with a system that encouraged active citizen participation in lawmaking.

Cleisthenes established democracy in 508 BCE, giving power to the people by organizing Athens into 10 tribes, establishing the Council of 500 for lawmaking, and opening the Assembly to all male citizens.

Cleisthenes's democracy differed from earlier Athenian governments by shifting power from a small group of aristocrats to the population, promoting equality and reducing reliance on lineage.

Only adult males who were free, born in Athens to parents who had completed military training could be citizens in Athenian democracy.

Women, children, immigrants, and enslaved people were excluded from citizenship in Athenian democracy, meaning they couldn't participate in the government.

The Assembly was the central decision-making body in Athenian democracy. Open to all male citizens, it voted on laws, policies, and major decisions like war and alliances.

Assembly sessions involved discussion, followed by a vote by raising hands for or against proposals. Majority vote made the plan a law, giving power to the population to shape laws and rules.

In ancient Athens, citizens were chosen randomly to serve on juries. They decided guilt or innocence, and even the punishment if the defendant was found guilty. No lawyers were involved.

Pericles introduced pay for jury service and social work in Athens. This helped ensure participation by all citizens, regardless of their financial situation.

Athens lost its independent democracy in 338 BCE when Macedonia conquered the city-state.

After Alexander the Great's conquest, Athens remained democratic but lost its full independence. Macedonian kings had a say in Athenian laws.

Direct democracy means citizens directly vote on laws and policies. In representative democracy, people choose representatives to make decisions for them.

Athens could use direct democracy because it had a small population, allowing everyone to gather in one place for discussions and voting.

Peisistratos' rule as a tyrant is credited with paving the way for Athenian democracy. He improved the lives of ordinary citizens and boosted the economy.

The Hellenistic period lasted from 323 BCE (Alexander's death) to 31 BCE (Cleopatra's defeat). It was characterized by Greek culture spreading throughout new kingdoms.