Western Civilization I HIS-101

1. Western Civilization IHIS-101 Unit 3 - Archaic and Early Classical Greece (1150-400 BCE)

2. Greek Dark Age (c. 1150-800 BCE) • After the fall of the Mycenaean kingdoms, Greece went into a period known as the Greek “Dark Ages” • It lasted roughly from 1150-800 BCE • This was a period of characterized by: • Instability due to the effects of the Sea People not only in Greece but in the entire eastern Mediterranean • Failing food supplies • Large migrations both within Greece and out of it • The population of Greek declined by up to 90% during this period • Many moved to Asia Minor and islands in the Aegean Sea • Those who remained in Greece moved inland as it was safer to be away from the coast

3. Greek Dark Age (c. 1150-800 BCE) • The Greek religion began to reflect new attitudes • The gods were no longer viewed in positive light with the same faults as humans • They were considered to be moody and petty and liked to interfere in the lives of humans • To the Greeks, the gods were to be humored and placated but never trusted • By 1000 BCE, other groups from around the Near East began to increase their contact with the Greeks • Greek pottery was in huge demand so trade was opened up with them

4. Greek Dark Age (c. 1150-800 BCE) • One of the first groups that the Greeks came into contact with was the Phoenicians • The Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet and modified it to fit their language better • They also adopted the Phoenician boat designs for merchant sea vessels • As their economy grew so did their movement throughout the region • Many traveled between the mainland, the islands, and Asia Minor, coming into greater contact with other Greeks • There was also migration into the cities • By 800 BCE, the “Dark Age” ended

5. Greece c. 750 BCE

6. Archaic Greece (800-480 BCE) • Greek civilization flourished during this period • Life centered around the polis as the main institution • The Polis (pl. poleis) is a small but autonomous political unit • It centered on a city or town and its surrounding countryside • All major political, social, and religious activities were held in one central location • The actual origins of the polis started with synoecism • This is the process of conquering and absorbing, and/or working together with neighboring communities • Not all poleis were the same • They varied in size and population • Each polis also had its own patron deity • Rivalries and animosity between poleis would eventually lead to the ruin of Greece

7. Archaic Greece (800-480 BCE) • Greek colonization began during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE • By the 6th century Greek colonization spread from the Black Sea to the western Mediterranean • What were the reasons behind Greek colonization? • Overpopulation • Shortage of land • Establishment of trade routes • Impacts • Colonization also helped spread Greek culture • There was also the creation of a new group of wealthy elites • They acquired their wealth through trade • They wanted political privileges proportionate to their wealth

9. Homer • (c. 8th c. BCE)

10. The Heroic Tradition • In Archaic Greece, wealth as well as trade became important in Greek society • A small group of aristocrats (aristoi) began to emerge • They saw their wealth as proof of their superiority • But wealth was not the only thing the aristocracy strived for • Rise of the “heroic tradition” • They needed to be “heroes” as well: they needed to win battles, travel to distant lands, be courageous, strong, and wise • Overall, they must be favored by the gods • This was best illustrated in the works of Homer (8th century BCE)

11. The Heroic Tradition • His two main works were the Iliad and the Odyssey • Writing in the 8th century BCE but were about events that occurred during the Mycenaean period • They reflect social conditions of 8th century BCE • Both stories illustrate courage, acts of bravery, and battles; the foundations of the Heroic Tradition • These stories may have originated as oral traditions • Homer’s poems were treated as historical facts • They were used as educational texts on how to be a proper aristocrat

12. Hoplites

13. Rise of the Hoplites • During the Dark Age, fighting occurred on horseback amongst aristocrat-warriors • As the dominant military force, they were able to hold political and social power • During the 7th century BCE, a new military order emerged: hoplite warrior • Heavily armed infantrymen • Wore basic equipment: helmets, breastplates, and greaves • They carried a round shield, a short sword, and an 8-10 foot long thrusting spear • To become a hoplite, all you had to do was provide your own armor

14. Rise of the Hoplites • New battle formation: phalanx • Stand shoulder to shoulder in tight formation, eight ranks deep • They would carry their large shields to protect the man next to him and a large spear • As long as they did not break their formation or were outflanked they were nearly unbeatable • Origins of hoplite warfare • Unknown but may have learned it from the Assyrians • It was quickly became a standard military tactic • The aristocratic cavalry was now outdated • As a result, the aristocracy was no longer the dominant military power • Hoplites began demanding political power

15. The Greek Symposium

16. Archaic Greek Society • Society was based not only on wealth but status • King was at the top • Warrior-aristocracy dominated the poleis in both wealth and political power • Everybody else was at the bottom • Roles of men and women reflected the heroic tradition • Men were to be the heroes • Women helped their men live up to their roles • The aristocrats developed a very distinct culture and lifestyle • Holding office in the polis • The symposium • Pederasty

17. The erastes (lover) fondling the genitals of the eromenos (beloved)

18. Rise of Greek Tyranny • Not all aristocrats enjoyed power • Small oligarchies controlled the politics in the cities • Others were left feeling alienated • Some aristocrats turned to hoplites as allies • Both groups felt excluded from politics • With military backing, these aristocrats could now take power through force • Rise of Tyranny (7th century BCE) • Old oligarchies were overthrown via coup d'état • Those who took control became known tyrants • Lydian term tyrannos - someone who seized power illegally • They gave the hoplites legal and economic rights and even in some cases political rights

19. Rise of Greek Tyranny • The term “tyrant” did not originally have a negative connotation • Because they had taken power illegally, they had to “justify” their rule • Their heirs were corrupt and tended to be cruel and unjust rulers • By the end of the 6th century, tyranny was largely eliminated in Greece • It did have a number of long lasting effects: • Ended the rule of aristocratic oligarchies • Opened the door for greater participation in government • Led to the rise of democracy in some poleis and extended oligarchies in others

20. The Greek World

21. The Archaic Poleis • During the Archaic period, the various Greek poleis developed in unique and very different ways • The diversity is seen in three different Greek poleis: Athens, Sparta, and Miletus • None of these should be seen as “typical” because of the level of diversity • These are the three most documented poleis and historians know little about many of the others • By 500 BCE, they all developed into powerful yet unique entities

22. Vessel from Archaic Period Athens

23. Archaic Athens • Governed by aristocratic oligarchy • Two main bodies • Archons – Magistrates • Areopagus Council – High Court • 7th century BCE problems • Rise of debt-slavery • Increasing violence among rival aristocratic groups • First coup d’etat attempt was in 632 BCE • Cylon tried to seize control over Athens • The Athenians revolted against him • Cylon managed to flee the city but his followers were executed

24. Archaic Athens • The aristocracy need to stabilize the rivalries between themselves • They thought clarifying the old laws and put them in writing would help • In 621 BCE, Draco was selected to write the laws • “Draconian” punishments • Used harsh punishments by the state to stop rivalries • Failed to do so • Calls were made for a neutral figure to run the government • This was to prevent an attempted coup d'état and/or civil war

25. Archaic Athens • In 594 BCE, the aristocracy selected Solon to be sole archon of Athens for one year • He brought about sweeping economic reforms • Cancelled all land debts • Outlawed debt slavery and bought the freedom for those already put into slavery • Encouraged the cultivation of cash-crops (e.g., grapes and olives) • He made sweeping political reforms • Divided up the citizen population into four classes • Every male citizen, except those in the poorest class, could now hold political office • Even the poorest class were eligible to vote

26. Archaic Athens • He put more control into the hands of the people • The Ecclesia now had the right to elect archons • The Heliaia was created where all four classes could sit in as jurors and heard • However, he did not fix the main problems • He did not redistribute the land • The aristocracy viewed his reforms as being too radical • The poorer classes believed that Solon had not done enough • For the next forty years, internal conflicts worsened

27. Solon • (594-593 BCE)

28. Archaic Athens • In 546 BCE, Peisistratus succeeded in seizing power through a coup d’etat • He had to justify his illegal takeover • Public works projects that included the beautification of Athens • He opened up the Black Sea to Athenian traders and merchants • Strengthened the demos using Solon’s reforms • Aristotle wrote that his government appeared “more like constitutional government than a tyranny” • He remained in power until his death in 527 BCE

29. Archaic Athens • Hippias (527-510 BCE) • Was Peisistratus’ son and supposedly co-ruled with his brother Hipparchus • First half of his reign was good • He was a patron of the arts and he instituted many building projects • It all changed in 514 BCE • Hipparchus was murdered by Harmodius and Aristogeiton (“Tyrannicides”) • Hippias then became a cruel and unjust ruler • Athens sought the aid of Sparta to overthrow Hippias • Hippias fled to Persia

30. Harmodius and Aristogeiton • The “Tyrannicides”

31. Archaic Athens • The aristocrats hoped to control Athens with an oligarchy • However, the people of Athens like having political rights • In 508 BCE, the Athenian people revolted and put Cleisthenes in as archon • Championed the cause of the demos • His main goal was to limit aristocratic power • He reorganized the government based on location (deme) instead of family or clan ties • Reformed voting practices • Reorganized the population into ten tribes • Introduced ostracism to banish political rivals for ten years • Based on ostraka, a type of potsherd

32. Examples of ostraka

34. Archaic Sparta • Sparta was located at the southern end of the Peloponnesus peninsula • It originally consisted of four villages that merged into one polis • Its government consisted of: • Two kings • A strong council (gerousia) • An assembly (apella) • It grew in size by conquering neighboring poleis • By 750 BCE, conquered Laconia • By 720 BCE, conquered Messenia • Population was enslaved (helots)

35. Archaic Sparta • The Spartan military state had its origins in the 7th century BCE • In 650 BCE, the helots in Messenia revolted and almost won • Because of this, the Spartans created a military state to protect itself • Sparta became literally a perpetual military camp • Examination of child at birth • At age 7, boys would be moved to the state-run barracks • At 20, were required to join the army for regular military duty • From 20 to 30, they were required to marry but they continued to live in the barracks • At 30, the men were considered “mature” • They remained in military service until they were 60

36. Archaic Sparta • Women were not exempt from duty • Girls would remain at home and receive training in letters until they were married • Women were encouraged to exercise and stay in shape in order to have healthy babies • They were expected to be brave and run the household while their husbands and sons went off to war • Three social classes: • Spartitates – Full Spartan citizens and ruling class • Perioeci – Free but did not have citizen rights • Helots – These were the people who were forced to work the land

37. Archaic Sparta • Spartan political structure • Two kings – Military and religious leaders • Gerousia - Council of 28 men over the age of 60 who were responsible for most of the policy making • Apella - Assembly of all the Spartan male citizens over the age of 30 who voted on proposals from the gerousia • Other important bodies: • Ephors - Highest-ranking Spartan magistrates • Krypteia – A secret police force that lived among the helots and were ordered to kill anyone deemed dangerous

38. Archaic Sparta • Close-minded society • Were forbidden from participating in outside trade • Discouraged foreigners from visiting Sparta • Discourage Spartans from traveling • Were not allowed to come into contact with an persons or material that was “dangerous” • Greater control of the Peloponnesus • In 6th century BCE, the Spartans organized the Peloponnesian League • It was a loose alliance of poleis on the peninsula • It was also created to prevent the helots from getting outside aid for their revolts

39. Miletus

40. Archaic Miletus • Miletus was the largest commercial, military, and cultural power in Ionia • Blend of Greek and Near Eastern cultures • Heroes of Greek epics possibly based on Near Eastern models • Milesian politics • It joined the Ionian League in 800 BCE • Its government was an aristocratic oligarchy • In 687 BCE, Miletus fell under the control of tyrants • It began to expand its territory with the creation of colonies • Ionia was conquered by Lydia c. 560 BCE • Then in 546 BCE, Ionia became a Persian satrapy when Croesus was defeated by the Cyrus and Persians

41. Archaic Miletus • Miletus’ biggest contribution was the development of pre-Socratic philosophy • “Milesian School of Thought” • They were mostly interested in physics • They wanted to remove myth from their understanding of nature, the kosmos • Anaximenes - (c.585 BCE – c.525 BCE) • Air was the source of all things found in nature • As air becomes more dense, it transforms into fire, then wind, then water, the earth, then stones • Thales – (c.624 BCE–c.546 BCE) • He saw water was the “primary principle”—it was the basis for everything

42. Archaic Miletus • Anaximander – (c.610-c.547 BCE) • He believed that the world came from an invisible substance called the apeiron (“Boundless”) which was the origin of everything (“the first principle”) • From there, it was separated into different qualities, the primary opposites: hot and cold, moist and dry • Created a struggle between religion and philosophy • School of thought ended with the Persian conquest • Many moved to other Greek colonies • The discussions were later picked up by the Athenians

43. Thales of Miletus • (c.624–545 BCE)

44. End of the Archaic Age (c.500 BCE) • Athens: • An economic power as the principle exporter of wine, olive oils, and pottery in Greece • Developed a new form of government that was more democratic and participatory • Sparta: • A powerful, highly-organized military state • Loss of freedom for both the helots and the Spartans • Miletus • A powerful economic and political state • Blending of Greek and non-Greek cultures • Development of the first schools of philosophy

45. Greek hoplite fighting Persian warrior • (c. 5th century BCE)

46. Ionian Revolt (499-494 BCE) • Persian Wars mark the end of the Archaic Period • Ionian Revolt (499-494 BCE) • Ionia did not like being a Persian satrapy • Started by Aristagoras, tyrant of Miletus • He rallied the support of the people against Persian rule • Calls were made to the other Greeks states for help • Sparta refused to help • Athens sent 20 ships to help the Ionians • They helped capture and sack Sardis, the capital of Lydia • After that, the Athenians left the Ionians on their own • The Ionians were able to hold their own until 494 BCE • Persian fleet defeated the Ionians at the Battle of Lade

47. Greco-Persian Wars (492-449 BCE)

48. Greco-Persian Wars (492-449 BCE) • Darius already wanted to attack Greek mainland • Athens’ participation in Ionian Revolt gave him the excuse • In 492 BCE, Darius sent the fleet to attack Athens directly • That fleet was lost in a storm and that plan was abandoned • In 490 BCE, he sent ground forces to attack • The Persian forces met the Athenians on the plain of Marathon • Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) • Athenians were outnumbered 11,000 to the Persian 25,000 • Sparta showed up late for the battle • Mobile and ranged Persian army versus hoplite, infantry Greeks • Greeks attacked while Persian horses being watered • Persians lost over 6,000 while the Athenians only lost 192

49. Greco-Persian Wars (492-449 BCE) • Pheidippides died after running 25 miles to Athens to give the city news of victory • Marathon was the only major defeat during Darius’ reign • He had planned a third attempt at Greece • Attention was diverted to uprisings in Egypt • He died before he was able to mount another attack • Building of the Athenian navy • Themistocles knew Persia was coming back • Pushed to build a better, faster navy • By 480 BCE, had a fleet of 200 triremes and new port facilities • Athens now had a navy to go alongside their hoplite forces

50. Model of a Greek trireme