Mediterranean Classical Civilization

1. Mediterranean Classical Civilization GREEKS AND ROMANS

2. Vocab • Alexander the Great • Extended Greek Empire into Persia and India • Hellenistic Period (After ATG died) • Greek culture merged with ME. Alexandria becomes important • Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) • Between Roman republic and Phoenicians in Carthage • Hannibal defeated and Rome take N Africa and Greece • Julius Caesar • Dictator of Roman Republic who made it an empire • Constantine • End of Roman empire moves capital allows Christianity to flourish • Greek city-states • “Polis” in Greek means city-state. United in language and religion but not gov • Socrates • Philosopher Encouraged students to challenge conventional wisdom • Plato • Socrates pupil Thought people could approach perfect forms of truth, beauty and goodness • Aristotle • Student of Plato developed logic and reasoning in Western sense stressed moderation

3. Iliad (Homer) • Greek poem about the Trojan Wars • Doric, Ionic, Corinthian • Types of columns • Battle of Marathon • Persians invaded Greece and were defeated at Marathon • King Xerxes • Persian king that invaded Greece ultimately defeated • Battle of Thermopylae • Spartan King Leonidas and 300 take on Persian army Defeated but bought time for Greeks • Zoroastrianism • Persian religion developed by Zoroaster (600 BCE) Taught life is struggle good vs evil Humans choose • Olympic Games • Held at Olympia in honor of Zeus • Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE) • Athens vs Sparta Sparta wins but Greek city-states are weakened • Alexandria • Seaport in Egypt founded by Alexander Center of Hellenistic culture

4. Carthage • Ancient Phoenician city-state N Africa (Tunisia) Rome defeats • Hannibal • Carthaginian general led troops into Italy 2nd Punic War Lost • Augustus Caesar (63 BCE-14 BCE) • Grandnephew of Julius Caesar Restored order to Rome 1st emperor • Polis • Greek word for city-state • Herodotus • Greek historian called the “Father of History” wrote of Persian Wars • Pythagoras • Hellenistic mathematician basic geometric theorems still used today • Euclid • Hellenistic mathematician “Father of Geometry” • Ptolemy • Hellenistic astronomer dealing with geocentric theory • Vergil (Virgil) • Roman poet wrote the Aeneid

6. Indo-Europeans • Same as the Aryans • Move into Greek islands (particularly Crete) • Influenced by Nile and T&E Civilizations • Eventually the Mycenae Kingdom emerges (1400 BCE) • Trojan Wars (depicted by Homer) • Iliad is about the last year • Eventually destroyed by invaders

11. Aeneas escaping Troy Helps found Rome

12. Persia • Modern day Iran • Major influence • Had absorbed many Mesopotamian traits • Cyrus the Great (550 BCE) • Established an large empire • Tolerant of local customs • Advanced iron technology • Developed Zoroastrianism • Good vs evil and man must choose • Art celebrating their rulers • Ultimately had little influence on Med coast but Persian language and culture lasted in area of Iran until today • Conquered by Alexander the Great

15. Rise of Greek Civilization • 800-600 BCE • 1. Strong city-states (why could this be a problem?) • Gov worked well b/c of mountains and terrain • 2. Trade developed • 3. Common language (From Phoenician alphabet) • 4. Common culture (including gods) • 5. Olympic Games (Why?) • Sparta and Athens emerge as the most powerful

17. Olympic Games • Started in 776 BC • Running (originally the only sport) • Jumping • Discus • Boxing • Equestrian • Pankration

18. Athens vs Sparta • 2 leading city-states • Worked together to defeat the Persians • Spread culture to S Italy and Turkey • Athens • Diverse commercial state with slaves • Art, architecture and intellectual advances • Leadership was direct democracy • Sparta • Strong military aristocracy with slaves

19. Architecture

22. Athens • Pericles (most famous politician) • Aristocrat that ruled by influence and negotiation • Allowed each citizen to participate • Assemblies to • 1. select officials • 2. pass laws • Restrained some Athenians trying to expand • Couldn’t ultimately stop them

23. Peloponnesian War • 431-404 BCE • Athens vs Sparta (Sparta wins) • Philip II of Macedon • Eventually conquered those cities in 338 BCE • Alexander the Great takes over • Extends empire to • 1. ME • 2. India • 3. Egypt • Dies at age 33 and empire is split • Start of Hellenistic Period

30. Hellenistic Period • Comes from Hellenes (AKA Greek) • 1. Not much political innovation but consolidates Greek Civ • 2. Trade flourished • 3. Scientific study increase • 4. Alexandria becomes educational center

32. ROME • Final phase of classical Mediterranean civilization • Subjugated Greek and Hellenistic Kingdoms (1st century) • Began in 800 BCE • Etruscans (616 BCE) • Introduced the arch • Built 1st sewers and walls • Introduced gladiator games and chariot races • Overthrown by Roman aristocrats (509 BCE) • Establish more elaborate political institutions for city-state • Begins Roman Republic

33. Roman Republic • Extends over the Italian Peninsula • Social class • 1. Patricians • 2. Plebeians • Cincinnatus (519-430 BCE) • Early roman hero • Patrician becomes dictator during war • Wins the war gives up power and returns to his farm • Serve for greater good

34. Punic Wars • 264-146 BCE • Fought Carthage (Phoenician city) • Hannibal invades Italy (Over the Alps) • Wins and controls much of Roman area for 15 years • Eventually defeated by Scipio Africanus • Carthage is destroyed • Spread salt around the city WHY? • Rome now controls Northern Africa and Greece

38. Roman Republic End • Government becomes unstable • Victorious generals want more power • Poor rebel • 60 BCE • Caesar, Crassus and Pompey (1st Triumvirate) • Crassus dies and Pompey aligns with Senate • Caesar wins Gallic Wars (51 BCE) • Gives Rome present day Belgium and France • Caesar invades Britain • Ordered to step down but crosses the Rubicon instead • Leads to Civil War • Caesar wins but is murdered Ides of March (15th 44 BCE)

39. 2nd Triumvirate • Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son and heir) • Joins with Mark Anthony and Marcus Lepidus • Defeat Caesars assassins • In fighting leads to: • Lepidus being exiled • Mark Anthony commits suicide after being defeated • Cleopatra commits suicide soon after • Her son (Julius Caesar’s son) was executed • Ptolemaic Dynasty ends • Octavian becomes Augustus Caesar 27 BCE

41. Roman Empire • Government • 1. Kept Senate but now mostly for show • 2. Larger organizational capacity than city-states • 3. Tolerance of local rule, customs and religion WHY? • 4. Military held tremendous power • 5. Law based on • 1. objective judges not personal whim • 2. promoted fairness based on commonsense • Story of slave being shaved

42. Roman Empire • Built vast public works • Built to entertain and distract • Colosseum (FlavianAmphiteater) • Gladiator games etc • Circus Maximus • “bread and circus” • Public baths • Theaters • Built for military and trade • Roads • Harbors

49. Roman Religion • Didn’t create a significant world class religion • Christianity did arise from the Roman Empire • Belief in spirits and gods and goddesses that regulate life • Provided stories on how the world came to be but not how to behave/act ethically

50. Roman Religion • Official religion • Allowed other religions as long as it didn’t interfere with loyalty to the state • What religion was persecuted at times? Why? • Public ceremonies • Jupiter (Zeus) Faun • Apollo Flora • Neptune Bacchus • Mars Ceres • Venus Cupid