Mediterranean World Overview

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Questions and Answers

What were the primary forms of self-government in ancient Greek city-states?

  • Feudalism, Socialism, Capitalism
  • Republic, Empire, Dictatorship
  • Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy
  • Tyranny, Oligarchy, Democracy (correct)

The Athenian-led alliance of city-states fought against the Persians in the late fifth century BCE.

False (B)

What was the major conflict between Athens and Sparta?

Peloponnesian War

The Greek word for city-state is ______.

<p>polis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions.

<p>Tyranny = Rule by a few Oligarchy = Rule by all free adult males Democracy = Rule by a single individual approved by the people Phalanx = A military formation where soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with spears</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these were NOT used as slaves in early city-states?

<p>Nobility (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Greek art initially focused on idealized depictions of humans, especially the nude.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given by the Greeks to foreigners unable to speak their language?

<p>Barbarians</p> Signup and view all the answers

The philosopher ____ advocated for honor and integrity over wealth and power in an ideal state.

<p>Socrates</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the Greek philosopher with their key contribution:

<p>Thales = Developed the concept of atoms Xenophanes = Criticized traditional religious beliefs Democritus = Proposed the idea of a perfect city-state in 'The Republic' Pythagoras = Focused on the importance of facts for understanding Socrates = Believed that the cosmos could be explained rationally Plato = Emphasized the value of honor and integrity over wealth Aristotle = Founded the first school of philosophy in the Western world</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

City-States

Independent, self-governing entities in ancient Greece.

Polis

Greek term for city-state, emphasizing civic identity.

Forms of Self-Government

Types include tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy.

Peloponnesian War

431–404 BCE conflict between Athens and Sparta.

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Phalanx

A military formation used by Greek city-states.

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Chattel Slavery

System where individuals are bought and sold as property.

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Economic Innovations

Development of market economies and money-based exchanges.

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Colonial Communities

Independent settlements created by city-states across regions.

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Role of Slaves in City-States

Slaves, mainly war captives, were essential for labor in city-states.

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Common Name for Foreigners

Greeks referred to non-Greek speakers as 'barbarians'.

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Naturalistic Art

Art that reflected realistic views of humans and nature.

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Socratic Philosophy

Socrates emphasized honor and integrity over wealth and power.

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Plato's Ideal State

Plato's 'The Republic' outlined a vision for a perfect city.

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Study Notes

The Mediterranean World

  • Political, economic, and social changes led to new societal structures in the second generation of societies.
  • Violent upheavals freed many people from the control of Assyria and Persia.
  • New ideas and societies emerged on the margins.
  • Trade and ideas about city-states were exchanged.

Formation of New City-States

  • Independent and self-governing city-states were established in the ninth and eighth centuries BCE.
  • City-states were governed by their citizens.
  • Notable city-states included Corinth, Thebes, Sparta, and Athens.
  • Athens led an alliance against the Persians in the early fifth century BCE.

Self-Government and Democracy

  • City-states were known as polis in Greek.
  • Self-governance took various forms:
    • Tyranny: rule by an individual chosen by the people.
    • Oligarchy: rule by a few people.
    • Democracy: rule by all free adult males.
  • City-states included adult male citizens, free people, foreign immigrants, and enslaved individuals.

Families as Foundational Units

  • Small families were important social units within city-states.
  • Only adult free males held full citizenship rights.
  • Women of free birth had limited standing, expected to remain in the private sphere of the family.
  • Lower-class women often worked outside the home as laborers or vendors.

Competition and Armed War

  • City-states were often in competition with each other over land, resources, trade, and religion.
  • Frequent wars arose from these competitions.
  • Military equipment and battle tactics, including the phalanx, developed and changed.
  • The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) was a significant conflict between Athens and Sparta.
  • Despite wars, innovation and trade flourished throughout the Mediterranean.

Economic Innovations and Population Movement

  • Free markets and money-based economies developed open trading markets with systems of money to ease exchanges.
  • Barter and gift exchange systems were replaced by coin usage.
  • Finding commodities and resources led to widespread trade.
  • City-states established independent colonial communities along the western Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Chattel Slavery & Outside Encounters

  • Human beings were bought and sold in a system of chattel slavery.
  • Enslaved people were used for labor, including dangerous and demanding tasks.
  • War captives often became slaves, playing a vital role in new city-states.
  • Peoples from northern and central Europe were integrated into the city-state system.
  • Greeks called foreigners "barbarians" who did not speak their language.
  • Frontier peoples were often enslaved as Mediterranean empires grew more powerful.

New Ideas

  • With the removal of monarchical and other forms of authority, ideas and beliefs circulated more freely.
  • Art reflected naturalistic views of humans and their relationship with the universe.
  • Early art depicted realities as artists saw them.
  • Later art frequently depicted people in an idealized way, particularly the nude, which is a prominent feature of Greek art.
  • Artists started to sign their artwork.
  • Artists and thinkers included vase painter Exekias; sculptor Praxiteles; and poet Sappho, among others.

New Thinking and Greek Philosophers

  • Philosophers sought to explain the cosmos with increasingly radical ideas.
  • Prominent philosophers included Thales, Xenophanes, Democritus, and Pythagoras.
  • Fifth-century BCE debates focused on humanity's place in society.
  • Notable thinkers explored how to create an ideal state.
  • Socrates (469-399 BCE) emphasized honor, integrity, and rejected wealth as the only source of power.
  • Plato (427-347 BCE) outlined an ideal state in his work, The Republic.
  • Aristotle (384-322 BCE) promoted studying facts to understand and comprehend.

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