Classical Greece E Ancient Greeks were a seafaring people who learned about civilization from their neighbors (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Phoenicians). Greeks exported valuable goods (olive oil, wine) and traded across the Mediterranean Sea. P Classical Greece was divided into independent city states, each known as a polis. Politics is the art of governing a polis. Usually they were not a monarchy. Instead, most poleis were governed by an oligarchy (government by a small class of wealthy people). Some poleis were democratic. Their democracy meant rule by all free, native male citizens. Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from active citizenship. Citizens had to serve on juries, debate and vote on laws, and serve as soldiers. War was common among the poleis. Greek citizen soldiers always had to train, which helps explain the importance of exercise and athletics in classical Greece. Sep 11 6:30 AM 1
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S Early in Greek history, many Greeks migrated and settled in colonies all around the Mediterranean. Colonies traded with other Greek cities and retained their Greek identity. Greek hierarchy: wealthy landowners, other free citizens, resident foreigners, and slaves. Slavery was very common in ancient Greece. Slaves were considered property, and they carried out most types of physical labor. Usually, debtors and prisoners of war were enslaved. There was no racial element to slavery. Freedom was an option; it was normal for a master to free a slave, or for a slave to purchase his/her freedom. Gender: Free women were not allowed to play any public role, and they were confined to the home and managing the household. Marriages were arranged by fathers between their teenaged daughters and older men. Women did not participate in sports or witness sporting events. R The Greeks were polytheistic. Their gods represented forces of nature or aspects of life. Homer's epic poems ( the Iliad and the Odyssey) are the most important sources for Greek mythology. Greek gods looked like ideal people, and were often depicted nude. They also acted like people. There was no moral difference between the gods and humanity, but the gods were beautiful and immortal. Sep 9 8:38 AM 4
Worship of a god involved sacrificing an animal in return for favors. Oracles were people who received messages from the gods and foretold the future. Sep 9 8:50 AM 5
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I The Olympic Games were one of the few things Greeks held in common (so was Homer). Every four years, athletes from each polis would gather in Olympia and compete. The ancient Greek calendar was based on the Olympiad (the first beginning in 776 BC). Poleis would refrain from war during the Games. Athletes competed naked as individuals; there were no team sports. The only reward for winning was fame and honor. Sep 9 8:54 AM 7
Art: Their favorite subject was the human body, often shown naked. They made extremely realistic depictions of the body, often including action and emotion. Sep 9 8:59 AM 8
Greeks developed drama as a literary form. Their plays often had mythological subjects and were either tragedies or comedies. Greek philosophers believed the rational human mind was capable of understanding nature and figuring out philosophical questions. Their empirical, rational, logical approach led to discoveries in math, astronomy, and medicine. Greek architecture is famous for its perfection and proportionality. Sep 9 9:04 AM 9
Classical Greek History Persian Wars (490 BC 479 BC) An alliance of Greek poleis defeated an invasion from the Persian Empire, the largest in the world. In the century after this impressive victory Greece reached a cultural pinnacle. This is when its greatest playwrights, architects, and sculptors created their masterpieces, and when the Parthenon was built. Athens began to dominate the other poleis in wealth and power. The other poleis eventually formed an alliance against Athens, led by Sparta. Sparta was famous for its powerful military and strict training for its citizen soldiers. Peloponnesian War (431 BC 404 BC) Athens vs. Sparta. Sparta eventually won, but the war was devastating for both sides. The poleis remained weak and vulnerable after it ended. Philip II, King of Macedonia (r. 359 BC 336 BC) took advantage of their weakness. his ambition was to conquer all of Greece and create a Greek kingdom. After his murder, he was succeeded by his teenaged son Alexander "the Great." Alexander's ambition was to conquer the entire civilized world and to forge a new civilization. Alexander and his Greek / Macedonian army conquered Asia Minor, Israel, Syria, Egypt (he was made pharaoh), Mesopotamia, Persia (he conquered the entire Persian Empire), and India Sep 9 9:15 AM 10
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APWH chapter 4.notebook Alexander tried to create a synthesis between Greek and eastern cultures. He adopted Persian dress, made Babylon his capital, married local women, and established cities across his empire which were settled by his soldiers. His soldiers were also made to marry local women. Alexander died young in 323 BC. After his death there was no clear succession in place. His generals ended up dividing the empire among themselves. Examples: Ptolemy and his descendants ruled Egypt, and the Seleucid kingdom was established in the Middle East. Some of the Greek poleis regained their independence. Sep 14 9:42 AM 12
Hellenistic period (323 BC 30 BC) Asia Minor, the Middle east, and Egypt were all ruled by Greeks. These areas also contained important cities settled by Greeks. Greek culture became a pervasive influence, and the Greek language was widely spoken. Hellenism refers to this time of Greek influence in the East and to the blended cultures of this region. Hellenistic culture arose because of the conquests of Alexander. Alexandria, Egypt became the largest Greek speaking city, and Egypt's capital under the Ptolemaic dynasty. It became a major center of trade and culture. Important discoveries in geometry, astronomy, and anatomy were made there. It had a famous library and Museum. Sep 14 9:50 AM 13
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