Economics in the hellenistic world

1. Western Civilization University High School 2011-2012 Economics in the hellenistic world

2. Commerce • Wealth created new cities, harbors, roads • More geographical knowledge of East • Greeks spread Hellenic law and business practices - standardization • Development of long overland trade routes • Caravans with camels • Luxury goods from East, manufactured goods from West • Ideas and knowledge • Slave trade • The Silk Road

4. Industry & Agriculture • Little development  manpower over machinery • More elaborate pottery  made locally • Agriculture still mainstay of economy & production

5. Western Civilization University High School 2011-2012 Religion in the Hellenistic World

6. Spread of Greek Religion • Familiar Greek religious cults spread throughout Near East & Egypt • Means of spreading Greek culture • Focus on rituals, festivals • Did not satisfy spiritual yearnings • Tyche Fate, doom, chance • Some turned to philosophy, superstition, magic

7. Mystery Religions • Ritual & practice secret to initiates • Incorporated aspects of Greek & Eastern religions • Appealed to those looking for immortality • Main concept: initiates become united with male god • Raised from the dead • Sacrifice and resurrection of god saved devotee from eternal death

8. Cult of Serapis • Serapis  combination of Osiris and Zeus • Created by King Ptolemy • Judge of souls  rewarded people with immortality

9. Cult of Isis • Wider appeal than Serapis • Most important goddess of Hellenistic world • Marriage, conception, childbirth

10. Western Civilization University High School 2011-12 Greek Philosophy

11. Ancient Greek Philosophers • “seekers of wisdom” who tried to study the world in a systematic way • believed people could understand the world through reason & logic • vs. religious myths, authority of others

12. Ancient Greek Philosophers • earliest philosophical questions: What is the world made of? What holds the world up?

13. The Pythagoreans • school of thinkers founded by Pythagoras (570 – 497 BCE) • tried to unite philosophy & mathematics • believed that universe has order to it, which can be expressed through math

14. Ancient Greek Philosophers • one of the earliest groups = sophists(“men of wisdom”) • Sophists’ main concerns = political & social success • many were teachers for children of the wealthy

15. Socrates • 470 – 399 BCE • born & lived in Athens • believed what we need to know is how to conduct ourselves • Important Questions: • What is good? • What is right? • What is just?

16. Socrates • apply terms like “just” to people, laws, situations, etc.  “justice” emerges as common trend • can discover justice through rigorous discussion, careful questioning & examination of beliefs

17. Socrates • developed the Socratic Method: a question & answer technique of studying issues • designed to make people examine their beliefs • BOTTOM LINE: No one knowingly does wrong. If we know the answer to “What is Justice?”,we will be obliged to act in just ways. • tried to involve & teach others

18. Plato • 424 – 348 BCE • a student of Socrates • first written philosophy: The Dialogues • early dialogues: records of Socrates’ teachings • later dialogues included Plato’s own ideas

19. Plato • one of his most famous dialogues: The Republic • outlined his ideal society • believed no one would have wealth/luxury, everyone do what they are best suited to do • included the Theory of Forms

20. Plato’s Theory of Forms • all things in the world are versions of their original Forms (archetypes) • the Forms are ideal; highest & most fundamental version of reality • studying the Forms is the only path to “true” knowledge • e.g. human body = glimpse of true human Form (soul) • basis of the Allegory of the Cave

22. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave • prisoners chained to chairs; shadows projected on wall • reality for prisoners = shadows • Plato: philosophers’ job = “free” the prisoners to see the Forms • “rehearsing to be dead”

23. Aristotle • 384 – 322 BCE • a student of Plato’s Academy in Athens • later established his own school (the Lyceum: the world’s first scientific institute)

24. Aristotle • considered one of the great thinkers of modern world • wrote about: physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, zoology, economics, optics, and more… • Dante: “the teacher of those who know”

25. Aristotle: The Nature of Being • all things have 2 aspects: • 1. Matter: constituent materials; the stuff out of which things are made • 2. Form: the way that matter is organized • things are different from each other because they have different Forms • no “turtle stuff”  instead, matter (stuff) arranged into turtle Form • Human beings = body (matter) + soul (form)

26. Aristotle: The Nature of Being • believed that reason was the highest good • praised the virtues of self-reliance and self-control • allowed insight into “true” human nature (form! soul!)

27. Hellenistic Philosophy • Philosophy attractive to more people • Less elitist • Absence of politics/religion  believe in philosophy • New schools of philosophical thought • Agreed on necessity of making people self-sufficient

28. Epicureanism • Practical philosophy of serenity • Epicurus (340-270 BCE) • Based on scientific theories • Naturalistic view of universe  gods had no real effect on human life • Principle good is pleasure  absence of pain • Ignore politics • People could attain peace & serenity by ignoring outside world  focus on their own feelings & reactions

29. Stoicism • Zeno from Cyprus (335-262 BCE) • Nature an expression of divine will • People happy when they live in accordance with nature • Unity of man & the universe • Most popular Hellenistic philosophy • People should participate in politics • Key Question: Achievements don’t matter, did you live a virtuous life?

30. Stoicism • Evolved the concept of world order • People should do their duty to the state in which they find themselves • Natural Law  a natural order of life, right and wrong, governed everyone • Valuable concept for the Romans!

31. Western Civilization University High School 2011-12 Hellenistic science & medicine

32. Hellenistic Science: Astronomy • Aristarchus • 310 – 230 BCE • educated in the Lyceum (Aristotle’s school)

33. Aristarchus • promoted heliocentric theory: Earth and planets revolve around the sun • went against Aristotle’s geocentric theory (everything revolves around Earth) • no telescopes! • heliocentric theory pushed aside until Copernicus (16th century CE)

34. Hellenistic Science: Astronomy • Eratosthenes • used math to calculate circumference of the Earth • his guess = 24,675 miles • actually = 24,860 miles • also studied geography using math • argued that you could reach India from Spain by sailing south (around Africa) or west

35. Hellenistic Science: Geometry • Euclid • mathematician from Alexandria • wrote “The Elements of Geometry”

36. Archimedes • 287 – 212 BCE • from Syracuse • interested in math and mechanics • very accurate approximation of pi • principle of a lever • water displacement

38. Archimedes’ Screw

39. Archimedes’ Weapons of War (real??) • The Claw of Archimedes • weapon that supposedly protected Syracuse • metal grappling hook on long arm over water • lift ship out of water, drop it back down

41. Archimedes’ Death Ray • series of mirrors set up to reflect sunlight to a single point • set ships on fire?

42. The Results of All This Science… • major effect on military, warfare • theories of mechanics  “siege machines” in war • catapults (rocks, burning bundles) • siege towers • Philip II of Macedonia, Alexander the Great

44. The Results of All This Science… • War was no longer between soldiers on battlefield • Now, between populations… • civilian casualties (murder, rape, slavery) • Sense of unease among Greek people  cities falling to new machines/weapons