Early People of the Aegean

Early People of the Aegean

Minoans Island of Crete Height of Civilization is 1600-1500 BC Based on trade not conquest Trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia 1400 BC they disappear

Palace at Knossos

Mycenaeans 1400-1200 BC First Greek speaking people we have record of Sea traders; Sicily, Egypt, Mesopotamia City-states on mainland; warrior-king Trojan War 1250 BC

Attack from the north Mycenaean s already in decline 750 BC-Homer Illiad-gods, goddesses, talking horse, Trojan War, and Achilles Odessey-Odysseus going home to Penelope Dorian Greeks

Geography of Greece Balkan Peninsula Mediterranean Sea Mountains divide land into isolated valleys Rugged coastline Rocky islands

City-States Not a large empire; small, isolated citystates Trade and make war on each other Seas link them to outside world Trade olive oil, wine for grain, metals, and ideas Phoenician Alphabet

Major city or town and surrounding countryside Small population Citizens had rights/responsibilities Rights unequal; male land holders have power Monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy Polis

Greek Unity Sparta-warrior Athens-democracy What holds them together? Religion-polytheistic Mt. Olympus Zeus, the King of the gods

Around the Mediterranean Trade brings contact with people like the Phoenicians and Egyptians Greeks see these people as barbarians Feel superior and unique

Persian Wars 499 BC-Ionian Greeks rebel against Persian rule Athens sends ships to help Persians crush rebellion Darius wants to punish Athens

Victory-Round One They land near Marathon in 490 BC Athens asks for help Outnumbered, they beat the Persians

Darius dies 480 BC-his son Xerxes sends a large force Sparta agrees to help Athens Thermopylae Persians march south; burn Athens Warships sink Xerxes fleet This Is Sparta

The Delian League Athens most powerful city-state Start league as a defensive alliance Athens dominates it Uses league money to rebuild the city Uses force to keep other members from leaving

Golden Age 460-429 BC Athens Pericles Direct democracy All citizens participate Trial by jury

Peloponnesian War Sparta and Athens other enemies form a counter to the Delian League 431 BC Athens and Sparta go to war Lasts 27 years Sparta wins; ends Athens domination of the Greek world

The Age of Philosophers Math; music; logic Reason and observation Ethics and morality Sophists-success is more important than rhetoric There is no one truth Nothing Exists. If anything existed, it could not be known. If anything did exist, and could be known, it could not be communicated. Gorgias of Leontini (483-378 BC)

Critic of the Sophists Socratic method: Question everything Know thyself; only the pursuit of good brings happiness Seen as a threat to values and tradition At 70 he s put on trial for corrupting youth Socrates

Student of Socrates Rational thought and ethical values Distrusts democracy; rejects Athens version of it The Republic-ideal state Workers; soldiers; philosopher-king Plato

Aristotle Plato s student Logic; scientific method The Golden Mean: Everything in moderation The Lyceum

History Herodotus-Father of History; traveled the world interviewing people Wrote The Persian Wars Thucydides Wrote The Peloponnesian War

The Hellenistic Age 338 BC Athens falls to Macedonian army; other city-states follow Phillip II 359 BC unites the Greeks Wants to conquer Persia Assassinated; son Alexander takes over

Alexander the Great Takes Persia; moves through Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt 331 BC-he takes Babylon Crosses Hindu Kush At 32 he gets a fever and dies Empire divided

Alexander s Empire

Alexander in Persia

Alexander s Legacy New cities-alexandria Greek Temples Spreads Greek culture New culture blends Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian elements-hellenistic The Lighthouse at Alexandria