Ancient Greek History Class Notes PDF

FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION ANCIENT GREEK HISTORY CHRONOLOGY   6000 – 2900 BCE Neolithic Period   2900 – 2000 Early Bronze Age   2000 – 1400 Minoan Age = Minos   1600 – 1100 Mycenaean Age = Miken   1100 –...

FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION ANCIENT GREEK HISTORY CHRONOLOGY   6000 – 2900 BCE Neolithic Period   2900 – 2000 Early Bronze Age   2000 – 1400 Minoan Age = Minos   1600 – 1100 Mycenaean Age = Miken   1100 – 750 The Dark Ages   750 – 500 Archaic Period Hellenic Age   500 – 336 Classical Period   336 – 146 Hellenistic Period * 800-323 à Hellenic Age BRIEF OVERVIEW   Early civilizations of the Near East & Egypt took shape in river valleys (MesopotamiaàTigris and Euphrates, EgyptiansàNile) the GreeksFırat   The civilization ofDicle and Aegean islands was centered on the sea   The history of Greece can be traced back to Stone Age hunters. Later came early farmers and the civilizations of the Minoan and Mycenaean kings.   This was followed by a period of wars and invasions, known as the Dark Ages. In about 1100 BCE, a people called the Dorians invaded from the north and spread down the west coast. In the period from 500-336 BCE Greece was divided into small city states, each of which consisted of a city and its surrounding countryside.   The Greeks lived in small, independent city-states   City-stateà an independent state consisting of a city and the surrounding territory.   At first city-states were ruled by kings, later they were governed by nobles. Gradually the democracy Greeks of some city-states came to govern themselves and choose their own leaders.   The Greeks had a lasting influence on Western civilization in developing the idea of government by the people.   Greek city-states were often at war with one another   They joined forces to defeat the Persian Empire, but they were weakened by a war between Sparta and Athens (the leading city-states). = Peloponnesian War   338BCE àthe city-states were conquered by Philip of Macedonia. Alexander (Philip’s son) built an empire and promoted the spread of Greek ideas.  bronze,gold, writing system, Girit palace Knossos, MINOAN CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS ON CRETE middle bronze age seafaring trade   Centuries before civilization developed in Greece itself, an early civilization grew up on the island of Crete   Named the Minoan Civilizationà after a legendary king Minos   2600 à these people were working with bronze and gold and developing a system of writing = bronze age   1700-1450 à this civilization was at its height. Crete dominated the lands around the Aegean   Minoans built magnificent palaces for royal families, priests and government officials   Knossos à a palace at Knossos was like a small city (800 rooms, workshops, decorated...) The palace was destroyed around 1400   Minoans were seafaring traders, exporting wine, honey and olive oil to Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria and Greece denizcilik   1450 à Minoan civilization began to decline (possibly due to an earthquake or volcano eruption)   The Minoans seem to have been taken over by the Mycenaeans from the Greek mainland Greek-speaking Indo-European invadevers, traders, took seafaring trade from Minoans, THE MYCENAEANS RULE CRETE & MAINLAND GREECE warrior aristocracy, Achaeans(united kingdoms)   The invaders of Crete were Greek-speaking Indo-European tribes who had moved into the hint avrupa mountainous Greek peninsula (1900BCE). They mixed with the local population and settled throughout theyarımada peninsula   Their civilization was called Mycenae after their capital Mycenae   Although they were traders, the Mycenaeans were also warriors and often gained territories through conquest   Mycenaean civ. was dominated by a warrior aristocracy   Warrior kings ruled walled cities built around their palaces at Mycenae, Thebes and other places in southern Greece   Mycenaeans borrowed a lot from the Minoan civ.: their pottery and jewelry were decorated in Minoan style; Minoan artisans were employed; writing was borrowed from Crete; they took over Minoan’s sea trade   Rival Mycenaean kingdoms were often at war with each other   1300àthe ruler of Mycenae may have brought several kingdoms together in an empire. Writers of the time refer to the people of these kingdoms as Achaeans GREECE ENTERS THE DARK AGES wars between Mycenaean civilizaiton -> decreasing population, lost literacy, trade,farming,arts were disrupted   After 1200 à decline in Mycenaean civilization because of frequent warfare among the kingdoms.   Mycenaean palaces were destroyed and many Mycenaeans moved   1100 à the Mycenaean civ. collapsed (perhaps due to Dorian invasion) and the region entered the Dark Ages.   During this period (1100-750) à *Greece experienced decreasing population *lost their literacy okuryazarlık *wars were common *trade, farming, the arts were disrupted  800-323, trade-> Phoenician alphabet, Lydian coin, Egypt geometry religion developed, mythology, Olympic games, HELLENIC CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS Homer, city-states -> Athenas, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth polis= city state+ fortres + people, agora = market place   Not all accomplishments were forgotten. (Especially among the Greeks who had moved to Asia Minor and central Greece)   By 800 à the great age of Greek civilization began to take shape   Hellenic Age (800-323) à from Hellas, the Greek name for their country   Hellenic Greeks à * From their Mycenaean ancestors they inherited skills such as pottery making and metal working * They followed some of the same religious practices * Told many of the same myths and legends   Most Greeks were farmers (wheat, barley, olive trees, grape vine) & they raised sheep and goats arpa üzüm asması   Greek artisans à small workshops, hand tools, woolen textiles, pottery, weapons   Greek fishermen & traders à coastline had excellent harbors, they shipped wool, wine, mermer marble, pottery and olive oil. They imported grain from Egypt and Italy, fruit from fenike Phoenicia, cooper from Cyprus, tin from England, ivory from Africa...   Trade à kalay fil dişi * brought new ideas * they adopted the Phoenician alphabet for writing * learned Lydian practice of using coins * gained knowledge of geometry from Egyptians In this period the basic ideas of the ancient Greek religion developed Like farming peoples in the Near East, the Greeks turned to religion for an explanation of changes in nature and as a means of gaining good fortune or a rich harvest. For advice they sometimes seer, prophet consulted oracles à special temples with priests and priestesses who gave hints about the future. The Oracle of Delphi was the most important oracle. Greek Mythology   Greek religious beliefs were different from those of the Near East and Egypt   They had many gods who lived on Mt. Olympus   They were not terrifying or all-powerful   They experienced joy & sorrow like humans (unlike Egyptian gods)   Myths showed the gods living like wealthy Greeks lived and often taking part in the everyday lives of Greeks   These myths were told & retold in poems & plays   Greeks built temples to the gods & honored them with many festivals (Dionysia)   Musicians & poets presented their best songs & athletes tried to give their best performances Arete: ideal of excellence, develop mind, body, soul, to be well rounded person humanizm of renaissance akin to arete  The Olympic Games (776 – 394 BCE)   The most important of these athletic contests were the Olympic games which were held every 4 years to honor Zeus   The Games were held in Olympia in southwest Greece, in the state of Elis. The stadium at Olympia could hold 40,000 spectators = how significant it was   The best athletes from all over Greece competed in foot racing, jumping, throwing discus and javelin, wrestling, boxing... çelenk   Winners were honored with a ceremony and wreath of olive leaves   394 CE àEmperor Theodosius of Rome officially abolished the Games. He was Christian, and wanted to put an end to pagan festivals   The stadium was buried by an earthquake   1875 à the ruins were discovered; they gave a French educator the idea for modern Olympic games which began in 1896 HOMER   Homer will always remain the greatest and most typical name not only in ancient poetry, but in ancient art as a whole. Whatever conclusions modern scholars have arrived at concerning the origin of the Homeric poems, there is no doubt that he was one of the most important influences on Greek religion and thought.   Not much is known about his life. According to tradition he was a blind poet who lived in Asia Minor around the 9th century BCE.   Homer is the principal factor in the intellectual development of Greece, the type and model of Greek art and character.   In his theology Homer most perfectly sums up the thought of the age, which he puts into the shape which most powerfully influenced the thought of future generations. We see the göz ardı edilen hera: goddess of gods, older deities--earth, sun, sea, night, superseded by the later and perfectly human types-- women Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Poseidon--in which the Greeks figured the Deity. To apollo: god of sun, these deities, Homer gives the distinctive character and position and function in the medicine, arts Pantheon which they retain throughout the Greek system. The gods become men and women of stronger passions and larger powers, but differing from men and women only in degree. And although these supernatural beings take part in the action of Homeric story, and interfere with the course of natural events, their action and interference are so defined and limited, that the story preserves its natural interest, and the men and women gain rather than lose by the presence of the superhuman.   Homer is a key to the Greek view of life and of the world. The human ideal of religion and morality which we find in him dominates their whole conception. The gods are greater men, perfect in those personal qualities which were prized as virtues--strength, beauty, and wisdom.   Iliad & Odyssey à epic poetry àthey contain, in detail, some of the noblest and purest poetry in the world.   They helped to shape the Greek outlook and character.    For centuries Greek children grew up reciting Homer’s works and learning about the deeds of legendary heroes.   The stories told in Homer’s epics take place near the end of the Trojan War.   They are works of poetry, not history. Yet both works provide insight into the ways of life and values of the early Greeks.   In the Iliad and Odyssey we are presented with a picture of every type of human character and every phase of human life possible in an early military society. All these are drawn not with a subtle psychological analysis, but in clear characteristic strokes, marking out types true to all time. And, though typical, none of Homer's characters are ideal, but purely *Agamemnon: human. chief commandar,   We have bravery typified in many forms--commanding in Agamemnon; generous in killed by his wife Menelaus; high-spirited in Achilles. In Nestor we have the counselor, wise with years; in and her lover, Odysseus, the man of cunning word and scheme; Andromache is the tender wife, fearful he sacrificed of her husband's danger; Hector, the loving husband--loving honor more; Penelope, the his daughter before Trojan matron and constant wife, faithful against time; Achilles, the devoted friend, tortured even at night by the loss of his companion. And in their subordinate spheres are warriors, halk ozanı minstrels, children, slaves, clearly and truly drawn to life. domain, alan   The morality of Homer is indicated by the types of characters which are held up to admiration--the brave warrior, the clever counselor, the liberal host, the faithful friend, the lanetleme, ayıplama constant wife; and by those which are held up to reprobation--the coward, the greedy and arrogant man. No general principles are appealed to; but the loyal observance of particular ties, and especially those of a relative or a friend, is recognized as a duty. Women--as heads of households--enjoy a high degree of freedom and respect.   In the Iliad, for example, Homer spoke of the deeds of noble warriors who were not only brave and skillful in battle, but also concerned about honor and pride. rhetoric,   For Homer à a hero was more than just a brave warrior. He was “a speaker of words andtalk at the right time conviction, a doer of deeds.” He combined courage with intelligence. person of action,   Developing these characteristics became the ideal goal of Greek education. brave The supreme greatness of the Homeric poems is learnt in the history of the Greeks and in the analysis of Greek thought. In the first place, Homer was the one common possession of all the Greeks. Their actual life was broken up by innumerable feuds and jealousies; in Homer, more than in any historical event--more even than in Marathon and Salamis--they had a meeting-ground in the record of a united and disinterested action. It is the charter of Greek unity. COLONIES SPREAD HELLENIC CULTURE   800 – 750 à Greeks began to establish colonies à a settlement of people in a territory outside their homeland, but still bound to the parent country by government, trade or culture.   These colonies were independent of Greece but maintained close ties with the Greek homeland through trade & culture.   200 year period à Greeks set up colonies in à Asia Minor, North Africa, islands in the Aegean, Sicily, southern Europe and the coast of the Black Sea. Thus the Hellenic culture spread.  GREEK CITY-STATES DEVELOP   As the Hellenic Age began à independent city-states developed in Greece. They grew out of earlier villages that had been built in mountains and on scattered islands.   In this way the geography of Greece encouraged the development of small and separated communities.   City-stateà an independent state consisting of a city and the surrounding territory.   The Hellenic period was a time of frequent wars. Thus, Greeks built forts on hills or mountains for protection. A city-state or polis grew around such a fort. metropolis,   Polis à referred to the city-state, the fortress, and the people. (It is related to the English politics comes from polis words politics and metropolitan.) hisar, kale   The Greek city-states were alike in many ways. Most had a population fewer than 10,000, most of whom were slaves and other non-citizens. Only free adult males had citizenship rights. iç kale   In most city-states the original fort was built on an acropolis, or hill. Temples and other public buildings also stood on the acropolis. Each city-state had an agora, or marketplace. The agora also served as the main public meeting place. kent alanı   The polis gave ancient Greeks a sense of identity. Greek citizens believed that they owed loyalty to their polis. They loved their city-state and often were willing to die for it. -> patriotism = vatanseverlik   Each polis cherished à * its independence * its self-sufficiency * its own way of life   The Greeks placed great value on the political independence of each polis. Each city-state formed its own kind of government and laws. (They had different calendars, money, measurement systems...)   Thus, ancient Greece was not a single unified nation, but a collection of Greek city-states and colonies concentrated in mainland Greece, but spread throughout the Aegean Sea, Asia Minor, and Italy. However, they shared a common language, religion and culture. Great festivals also brought Greeks together.   Of the hundreds of city-states some of the most important were; Athens, Sparta, Corinth and Thebes.   Athens & Sparta à the two leading city-states developed in different ways ; they also developed a rivalry that dominated Greek politics for generations.  ATHENS & SPARTA helots = farm laborer, outnurmbered Spartan-> miltray developed bc of the fear of a revolt, militray training-> 7-30-> Agoge, Laconic = speaking to the point, 2 kings = monarchy, 5 Ephors = elected, democracy, 30 Council = from aristocratic families, oligarchy SPARTA women more free = their men are not at home   Sparta was settled by Dorians who occupied part of the southern peninsula of Greeceà the Peloponnesus   8th century BCE à Spartans conquered nearby regions and forced many of the people to work as farm laborers   These slaves were called helotsà * worked for the polis (not for individual owners) on the farms of Spartans * they outnumbered the Spartan 10 to 1 * Spartans lived in constant fear of a revolt and established a strong military government to maintain order uprising   The state gave each family land and helots to farm it   Spartans were expected to marry but the polis was more important than the family TRAINING   As soon as a child was born in Sparta, the mother would wash it with wine, in order to make sure that it was strong.   Later it was inspected by the elders. If they found that the child was deformed or weakly, it was left in the hills to die.   When a male Spartan was 7, he was taken from his mother and sent to live in special military barracks until he became a full citizen at the age of 30. In these barracks they were endurance taught discipline, athletics, survival skills, hunting, weapons training and how to endure resilience pain, hardship, hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue and lack of sleep. This rigorous military training was called AGOGE. through   They walked without shoes and were dressed winter and summer, with the same piece of cloth, which the state gave them once a year.   As for proper education, they were taught only the basics of how to read and write and to waste no words, but speaking to the point (Laconic). They also learned military poems, war songs, how to dance and recited Homer.   Others admired the Spartans’ courage, strength, simplicity and the order of Spartan life, but criticized the one-sidedness of Spartan training   They felt that an “excellent man” did not neglect his mind à art, music, poetry...   Athens followed a very different ideal à they valued the development of many abilities   Sparta did not produce any great scientists or philosophers because they put little effort into these fields. SPARTAN GOVERNMENT ayrıcaklı grup başta   The Spartan government was a mixture of a monarchy, an oligarchy, and democracy   2 Kings – Sparta had two kings, who came from two different families. Their main job was to be military leaders. These monarchs did not have absolute power. They shared power with each other, and they also had to answer to the council of elders (monarchical)  barış yargıcı   5 Ephors – The most important men in Spartan government. They were elected every year. Functionsà to control the conduct of the kings, negotiate foreign treaties, and do much everyday state business   30 Council – Kings and 28 elders chosen from aristocratic families (60 years old or older). They made the laws. Members of the council were all male citizens over the age of sixty and chosen from aristocratic families. These elders were elected and they served for life (oligarchic) akin to   parliament = Assembly - All male citizens over the age of 30. They elected Ephors and council members, but they could not initiate legislation (democratic) yasa, mevzuat WOMEN IN SPARTA   Paradoxically, this militaristic society was the most liberal in regards to the status of women.   While women did not go through military training, they were required to be educated along similar lines. The Spartans were the only Greeks to take the education of women seriously. They instituted it as a state policy. This education was not an academic education, it was physical training and gymnastics.   Womenà responsibilities of managing their farms and household   In most Greek states, women were required to stay indoors; Spartan women, however, were free to move about, and had an unusual amount of domestic freedom (after all their husbands did not live at home.) ships, navy powerful, Archons = nobles, Draco = first written laws, Solon = decreased the power of nobles & gave power to merchants, ATHENS Pisistratus = first tyrtant, encouraged cultural development, supoort of poor, Clehistenes = against tyrany, ostrakon, demes, 50 men from demes as council member   Athens became the commercial and cultural center of Greece   They were proud of their political freedom, artists, playwrights, poets and thinkers   IDEAL à Unlike Spartans they believed that a man’s life was empty if he failed to use his mind and develop all his talents (this did not include women, they were educated only in skills to run a household) The Athenians Develop New Ideas of Government   In Egypt & Mesopotamia à people were ruled by kings. These kings were regarded as gods or a representative chosen by gods.   Greeks à were the first people in history to establish a government in which free citizens ruled themselves. democracy   Athens à took the lead in the creation of democracy à which comes from the Greek word meaning rule by the people.   Athens was not the only polis where this change occurred.   It took several centuries for Athens to develop into a democracy.   First à like other city-states, it was ruled by a king   800 BC à the richest landowners, nobles became powerful & they chose a group of officials known as archons to rule the city-state. = close to oligarchy   Archons à were nobles and tended to favor the upper-class.   Merchants, artisans and farmers began to protest against their rule.  düzenlemek DRACO (7th c. BCE) à who was an aristocrat, drew up the first written code of laws for Athens in 621   Greek laws were harsh and Draco’s codes didn’t change them but once laws were put into writing people could know clearly what they said. Before à archons who served as judges could interpret the laws as they pleased.   Even today harsh laws are called Draconian laws *draconian: very harsh, very strict SOLON (638-558 BCE) à was a statesman, poet, merchant and was regarded as wise and just -> sport of merchants(will become bourgeoisie)   Discontent in Athens continued (especially among farmers) nobles owned most of the farmlands and many peasant farmers were in debt to them. Those who could not pay lost their land and some became slaves to payback their debt. As the number of slaves increased, it became difficult for free farmers to find work.   594 à aristocrats turned the problem over to Solon. He was made an archon and asked to reform the laws.   Changes he made à - canceled the debts of the poor - freed those enslaved because of debts - made slavery for debt illegal - withdrew many of Draco’s laws   The political reforms that Solon made à decreased the power of nobles   Athenians were divided into 4 classes based on wealth, not noble birth. Citizens in the 3 highest could hold public office. This gave merchants a voice in government.   All male citizens could become members of the Assembly à the law-making body and could serve on juries.   To improve farmers’ prosperity, Solon encouraged them to grow new crops (olive & grapes). Both oil and wine were exported and Athens’ trade grew quickly.   He ordered all citizens to teach their sons a skill or trade   Solon’s reform didn’t completely satisfy nobles or lower classes   Solon is considered to have laid the foundations of Athenian democracy. PISISTRATUS (6th c. BCE)   Pisistratus was a politician who gained the support of the poor.   By 546 à he was in control as the ruler of Athens, and became the first tyrant of Athens.   In ancient Greece the sole ruler of a polis was called a tyrant. Most came to power by force. The tyrant gave himself absolute power. How fairly the tyrant used his new power depended on his character. Some used oppressive measures and the word later came to mean a person who rules harshly.   Pisistratus was a tyrant but his rule generally benefited Athens. resident   He had support among city dwellers and farmers (many nobles objected to rule by tyrants).   Pisistratus à - gave more land to farmers - granted them loans for growing crops and trade - improved water supply - built temples and fountains    Pisistratus also promoted Athenian cultural lifeà he encouraged sculptors and painters, sponsored drama festivals...   He had Homer’s epics collected commissioned permanent copying of the Iliad & Odyssey   His promotion of the arts laid the foundation for Athens to become the cultural center of Greece. CLEISTHENES   Since Solon, Athens had been moving toward a more democratic government.   510 à Cleisthenes became the head of a political party opposed to tyrants.   He consulted the Assembly and reformed the political systemà - he divided Athens into 10 areas (demes) - 50 men from each deme served on an advisory council - To safe guard the new democratic government he started a new practice à once a year the Athenians were given a chance to point out anyone they believed was a threat to Athens (example: someone who wished to become a tyrant.) If 6,000 votes were cast against someone, he was forced to leave Athens for 10 years. Votes were written on a piece of broken pottery called ostrakon à this practice became known as ostracism (which today also means to exclude by general consent, banish, exile). Few were actually ostracized but still this gave citizens more power. On the whole à political development in Greece followed a pattern First the rule of Then a feudal Finally varying kings à period à degrees (as with Mycenaeans) (the oligarchy of noble landowners) democracy monarchy   Although democratic Athens & military Sparta developed differently, Greek city-states had many things in common à (language, Gods, Homeric epics, athletics contests...)   Greeks à considered themselves superior to all non-Greeks, which they called barbarians   The Greeks had never been politically united. They were loyal to their own polis and many were often at war with one another   Only the threat of conquest by the Persian Empire made the Greeks set aside quarrels & UNITE Athens: Sparta: - largest city-state in population -largest city-state in size -committed to the arts & sciences -harsh, militaristic society -government-> democracy -goverment-> a monarchial oligarchy, included elements of democracy -slaves-> were those in debt -slaves->were captured during war -goal of education-> strong citizen(including mind) -goal of education-> strong, fearless warriors  THE PERSIAN EMPIRE   547 à led by Cyrus the Persians began to build the vast Persian empire   521-486 à King Darius extended the conquests to northern India. His only failure was his invasion of Greece. His son Xerxes also failed THE PERSIAN WARS (490 – 479 BCE)   Ionian Revolt (499 – 493) Darius restored control   Battle of Marathon (490) à Darius Greeks won   Battle of Thermopylae (480) à Xerxes 300 Spartans, Greeks lost   Battle of Salamis (480) Greeks won thanks to Athens navy   Battle of Plataea (479) Greeks won The Persian Wars were a series of wars fought by the Greek city-states & Persia. Although the Persian Empire was at the peak of its strength, the collective strength of Greeks and their navy allowed the Greeks to defeat the Persians. deniz kuvetleri IONIAN REVOLT (499-493)   There were a number of Greek settlements in Asia Minor (Ionia) occupied by Persia   499 à some Greek colonists in Asia Minor rebelled against the rule of King Darius   The Greek cities joined in the revolt asked Athens for military support (Athens sent 20 ships)   The Athenians conquered and burned Sardis   By 495 à Darius restored control of the colonies   But Darius embarked on a plan to conquer Greece - he wanted to prevent future revolt and interference from mainland Greeks - he wanted to punish Athens for the helping with the revolt Battle of Marathon   490 à The Persians landed at Marathon (25 miles from Athens)   The Athenian army defeated the Persians who had an army twice their size   Beaten at Marathon the Persians sailed toward Athens, hoping to take it before the Athenian army could return to protect it. The Athenians were quick, they met the Persians at Athens’ coast   The Persians abandoned their campaign and returned home   According to legend à After the battle Athens sent their swiftest runner, Phidippides (who had just returned from a trip to Sparta 150 miles away) to announce Greek victory. When he reached the city he cried out the message à “Rejoice, we are victorious!” and then collapsed and died.   The modern Marathonà a race of 26 miles (the distance between Marathon and Athens) is named in memory of the Greek victory at Marathon and honors the runner. Battle of Thermopylae   The Persians were unwilling to accept defeat and determined to conquer Greece   480 à 10 years later Xerxes gathered an army of 150,000 men and a massive fleet of Persian ships (one of the largest ancient armies ever seen) Çanakkale   This huge army crossed the Hellespont and made their way through northern Greece   At the narrow mountain pass of Thermopylae they clashed with the Greek army   Led by Leonidas (king of Sparta) à 300 Spartans and hundreds of Greeks fought to delay the Persians and give Greek forces time to retreat and prepare for battle   The small Greek force held of the much larger Persian army for 3 days   But a Greek local betrayed them and showed the Persians a path that led around the pass.   The Spartans dismissed most of their allies and fought until the last Greek fell. Battle of Salamis   Thermopylae fell, the Persians had an open route to Athens and when they reaches it they sacked and burned the city.   Most of the Athenians had already escaped to Salamis   The Athenians had built a strong navy and their ships now gathered around Salamis   At Salamis the Greek navy battled the much larger Persian fleet and drove it into retreat Battle at Plataea (479)   Spartans defeated the Persians at Plataea forcing them to withdraw from Greece OVERVIEW milestone   The Persian wars à watershed event in Greek history   The Greeks united against a common enemy. A remote and disorganized collection of city- states arose to defeat the invasion of a far larger empire.   These battles and some of the stories and personalities associated with them, are among the most famous and inspirational in the history of warfare.   The Greeks saw that the Persians could be beaten and they saw the importance of resistance.   Spartans were principally responsible for the victory. The Athenian fleet was the most important component of that victory.   Victory à left Athens the most powerful fleet in the Aegean à marks the beginning of a golden age for Athens Victory Brings a “Golden Age” to Athens   The defeat of the Persians stopped their attempts to expand their Empire into Europe   It gave the Greeks the freedom to develop political & artistic ideas àthe center of these developments was Athens   Athens à Greek democracy and culture reached their height in a Golden Age during the 50 years after Persia’s defeat  THE GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY ATHENS BUILDS AN EMPIREà Delian League, Pericles -> promotion of democracy   Even after Persia’s defeat Greeks did not feel safe   Old rivalries among city-states broke out again after the wars   For protection à Sparta & Athens made agreements/alliances with other city-states   478 à Athenians formed an alliance with more than 150 other city-states called the Delian League   Each city-state contributed ships, soldiers and money. Athens was the most powerful and soon came to dominate. The Delian League turned into an Athenian empire. THE AGE OF PERICLES 460-429 promoted democracy   Pericles was a statesman & a leader   He had the city of Athens rebuilt and strengthened its defenses and promoted democracy   He was a firm believer in people’s participation in government   Government jobs were open to all classes   Government officials were paid salaries   He said that the government of Athens “is in the hands of the many and not of the few”   Athenians cherished freedom of speech & thought   Citizens could criticize the leaders   The poorest had as much right to speak and vote as the rich representative   The number of Athenian citizens was small enough for them to govern themselves in a democracy direct democracy. There was no need to elect representatives   40 times a year à all citizens met in the Assembly and debated, voted and made laws. They decided themselves, ordinary citizens performed all the duties   Officials were not elected, but chosen by lot and served for 1 year onlyà this gave every male citizen a chance   Athenians believed that every citizen should take part in government   The most active politicians and military leaders came from noble families. This was due to practical reasons à they had more time & education   In time wealthy merchants began to take a greater role Athenians Value Education   Boys were enrolled in private schools or taught at home by tutors   They learned à reading, arithmetic, and works of Homer and other great poets. They studied public speaking, geometry, astronomy... They were encouraged to discuss their ideas about art, politics...   Greeks cherished learning, they also valued physical strength and health. Athletics was encouraged and they also studied singing, dancing and playing a lyre   It was important to understand and appreciate beauty & artistry   At 18 à men began 2 years military training, then became citizens   Democracy had its limitations à only adult men (10% of the population) were full citizens    Women, slaves, foreigners à were excluded from public life   Women did not have the same rights as men. Most Greeks agreed with Aristotle à “The male is by nature superior and the female inferior, and... the one rules and the other is ruled.”   Women could not à take part in political life - compete in sports - attend dramatic performances (debated) - receive formal education   Slaves made up ¼ of the population à foreign prisoners of war à Greeks captured in wars à Household slaves, tutors, servants were often looked on as members of the family CITY-STATES FALL TO CONQUERORS   50 years after the Persian Wars the city-states reached the height of their civilization. It was a period of glory & prosperity   This did not last however, the city-states began to quarrel among themselves   They were so weakened as a result à they could not resist a threat from an enemy north of Greece THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR 431 – 404 women stopped war by boycotting sex = comic story   Athens X Sparta (27years) The Trojan Woman/ Euripides   Athens had allies and to resist Sparta found allies among city-states in the Peloponnesus   431à war broke out and Sparta invaded the countryside near Athens   Knowing Spartans were better fighters on land, Pericles brought Athenians inside the walls of the city   He sent the Athenian navy to attack Sparta by sea   Disaster struck Athens à disease killed thousands (Pericles too)   Sparta continued to win both land & sea battles and forced Athens to make peace in 404   The war involved many other city-states. It was a tragedy for Greece   The war caused à destruction, loss of life, political unrest   Democracy declined even in Athens. A group of nobles ran the city   A new kingdom was arising in Macedonia (north)   359à Philip became king & built a strong army and won the support of some city-states that opposed Athens kavgacı   The quarrelsome city-states could not unite soon enough against the invaders   338à at Chaeronea Philip’s forces crushed the Greek alliance. Greek city-states lost what they loved most à their independence   336 àPhilip was assassinated and his 21 years old son Alexander became ruler  ALEXANDER THE GREAT = Büyük İskender - Was daring and intelligent, great leadership abilities - He became one of the greatest military leaders in history - A desire to conquer the Persian Empire his tutor was Aristotle, from him Alexander learned scientific curiosity, a love for Greek culture, the heroic tales of Homer (Alexander dreamed of matching the deeds of heroes of the Iliad & Odyssey) çanakkale   334à he crossed the Hellespont and freed the Greek colonies in Asia Minor   331 à Mesopotamia came under his rule   He defeated Persia and pushed to northwestern India   334 - 326 à His armies conquered the lands from Egypt to India without losing a single battle ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE BREAKS APART   323 à Alexander died of a fever ( 32 years old)   His death ended the unity that had brought together Greece and the Near East   Generals couldn’t control the vast empireà broke into 3 kingdoms   Though the empire broke apart, Alexander had encouraged Greek soldiers, merchants... to settle in conquered lands. This contactà spread of Greek culture (language, literature, customs, ideas) The spread of Greek culture marked the beginning of the Hellenistic Age (323 - 100) HELLENIC AGE 800 – 323 HELLENISTIC AGE 323 - 100 Greeks had divided people into The distinction between Greeks X Barbarians Greeks and non-Greeks lessened Greek felt superior to all non-Greeks This period is when Alexander ruled Saw the rise and fall of the polis and Greek culture spread