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The Hellenic Age of Ancient Greece. The Rise of the City-State and Greek Culture. Rise of the City-State. The Greek Dark Ages ran from 1100 BC to ≈ 800/750 BC. The brief era of re-birth was known as the Archaic Period of the Hellenic age.
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The Hellenic Age of Ancient Greece The Rise of the City-State and Greek Culture
Rise of the City-State • The Greek Dark Ages ran from 1100 BC to ≈ 800/750 BC. • The brief era of re-birth was known as the Archaic Period of the Hellenic age. • During the late Dark Ages (900-800 BC) There was a revival of the Greek economy • Also there was a cultural and political revival.
Rise of the City-State • The Greek Dark Ages ended around 750 BC. • Following that the city-state or polis became the central focus of Greek life. The Ruins at Delphi
Rise of the City-State • Various Greek City-States and their Governments: • Thebes & Monarchy • Corinth & Plutocracy • Delphi & Theocracy • Athens & Democracy • Sparta & Aristocracy
Rise of the City-StateWhy the City-State? • Cities were separated by mountains and bodies of water which kept them from uniting into one country. • Instead of one ruler for all of the city-states together, the Greeks preferred having their own government in their own community. • The main gathering place in Greek city-states was a fortified hill top called an acropolis. Below was the agora, an open area for people to assemble and for a market place.
The City-State • City-states varied in size, some were a few square miles to a few hundred square miles. • Populations varied by size of the cities. • Overall, the Polis was a community of like-minded people with common goals.
The City-State • Only adult males had rights within the Polis. • Slaves, agricultural laborers, and resident aliens also had no rights. • City-States distrusted one another, and were extremely patriotic. • i.e. people who lived in Athens, were Athenians, not Greeks.
The City-State • All Greek colonies were established as city-states as well. • City-states popped up all over the Mediterranean as the Greeks settled. • The most notable of these colonized city-states was Byzantium. • The colonies of Greece supplied the mainland with numerous resources not available within Greece.
The City-State • Aristocrats eventually began to control power within the city-states. • The men that took complete control of the city-states were known as Tyrants. • Tyrant was the Greek name for anybody with absolute control. • Most Greek tyrants were beloved rulers.
The City-States • Tyrants were wealthy, land owning citizens of their cities. • Eventually the power of tyrants came to an end, in favor of other forms of government. Map of Greek & Phoenician Colonies.
Sparta • Dominant city-state of the Peloponnesus. • Their Greek name was the Lacedaimonions (Lakedaimwnio)
Spartathe Military • Sparta was a military culture. • Men fought in the summer and rested in the winter, every year. • First in Greece to have a professional army. • Spartan and Greek soldiers alike were called hoplites. • Spartans were the first to perfect the phalanx.
Spartathe Military • Spartan soldiers were well-trained. • Taken from the age of seven to begin training for battle. • Soldiers served from the age of 7 to 60. • Soldiers were granted citizenship at the age of 30.
Spartathe Military • The Spartan training camp was the called the Agoge. • Men trained, ate, slept, and died together from the age of seven. • Recruits were forced to steal, kill, and become immune to pain, all to be better soldiers.
Spartathe Military • The Phalanx was the arrangement of men in battle. • Men used their shields to guard the man to their left, from thigh to neck. • Spears were the primary weapon in a phalanx, swords were secondary.
Spartathe Military • A proper marching Phalanx formation.
Spartathe Military • This is the proper Spartan phalanx in battle:
Spartathe Military • A Spartan Hoplite: • Wielded a Hoplon • Was 36” in diameter • Roughly 18 lbs. • Swords had 27” blade, 6” hilt • Only leaders had plumes • Plumes were made from colorful horse hair. • Armor was either bronze or brass.
Spartathe Military • The Spartans used two different types of swords: • The Spartans used two different types of swords: This is a Falcutta, used by the Spartans in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. This is a standard Greek sword used by the Hoplites.
Spartathe Military • Sparta’s Most Notable leader was King Leonidas • Son of King Anaxandridas II. • He was the 17th King of Sparta • Famous for his “Last Stand” at Thermopylae.
Spartathe City-State • Sparta also had a rich and diverse culture • All citizens were given a basic education unlike Athens. • Women and slaves (Helots) enjoyed more freedom than most. • But the military and the culture led to what is known as the Spartan Mirage.
Spartathe City-State • Helots were people who had been taken prisoner during war and forced into slavery. • Helots farmed the soil and were forced to give part of their crops to their master. This angered the slaves and led to occasional rebellions. • 25,000 Spartan citizens had defend themselves against a revolt by 500,000 “helots.” • Once a year, Spartans declared war on the helots, thereby giving them an excuse to kill suspected troublemakers.
Spartathe City-State • The women of Sparta lived a much freer life than women elsewhere. • Along with boys, Spartan women went away to school at age 7 to learn survival skills, wrestling, and gymnastics • Returned home at 18 to marry and raise a family • Women were also allowed to own businesses and property – they owned more than 1/3 of Spartan property.
Spartathe City-State • The Spartan government was an oligarchy, a government ruled by a small group of people • Ruled by 2 kings • Both of which led the Spartans into battle • 5 ephors overlooked education and the conduct of citizens • These men were elected officials
Spartathe City-State • Art and science didn’t really thrive in Sparta • The Art of War was the only thing Spartans cared about • War led to a life of honor and glory, and ideal that carried over from the heroic age. • Most Spartans thought that the kings were descendants of Heracles.
Athensthe City-State • Athens is by far the most famous Greek City-State. • Primary City-State in the Greek area known as Attica
Athensthe City-State • Up until the 5th century BC, aristocrats ruled Athens. • Eventually they grew tired or political turmoil and elected a leader. • The first single man to control Athens was Solon. • Solon was very reform oriented, and helped change Athens.
Athensthe City-State • Around 510 BC, the Athenians rid themselves of an unpleasant tyrant and put Cleisthenes into political power. • He created a council of 500 male citizens that overlooked all of aspects of Athenian life. • Helped create the foundations for the soon to be Athenian democracy.
Athensthe City-State A bust of Solon A bust of Cleisthenes
Athensthe City-State • Eventually Athens enters into an Alliance known as the Delian League. • Called this because it was located on the island of Delos. • Athens was the city-state that controlled everything • Athens controlled the treasury as well as the military of the Delian League. • By entering into the alliance, Athens had built an empire.
Athensthe City-State • Eventually a benevolent Tyrant named Pericles came to power. • Athens flourished under his guidance. • This is known as the Age of Pericles. • Otherwise known as the Athenian Golden Age.
Athensthe City-State • Pericles had created the first democracy, a direct democracy, in which every male citizen got a vote. • Males met every ten days to discuss laws, taxes, politics, etc. • Also created a practice of ostracism. • This was the practice of expelling any political figure in disfavor for 10 years.
Athensthe City-State Artist’s rendering of Pericles in Sid Meyer’s Civilization IV Most famous bust of Pericles
Athensthe City-State • Under Pericles, Athens had established itself as the hub of the Greek world. • Pericles commissioned the building of the Parthenon, as well as numerous other public works projects.
Athensthe City-State The Parthenon was built as a temple to Athena. Athena was the patron goddess of Athens.
Athensthe Military • The Athenians weren’t a land military power like Sparta. The Athenian army ruled the seas. • Athens had a exceptionally trained navy. • This was due to Athens being a semi port city, and Sparta was landlocked.
Athensthe Military • The crown jewel of the Athenian navy was the Trireme. • Called a trireme because it had three levels of rowers • It was roughly 131 ft. long and 20 ft. wide.
Athensthe Military • The Athenian fleet never exceeded more than 250 triremes, but didn’t need anymore. • The purpose of a Trireme was to ram opposing ships. • The ram was made of solid bronze.
War with Persia • The Persian Empire had always been a bother to the Greeks and vice-versa • The Greek colonies in Ionia were under Persian control and the Ionians revolted around 499 BC. • The Athenians aided in the revolt • The Persian king Darius manages to squash the rebellion, but it leaves him bitter.
War with Persia • In 490, Darius tries to invade Greece. • Crosses the Aegean sea • Darius tried to invade mainland Greece directly.
War with PersiaMarathon • The only battle was at Marathon • Marathon was located roughly 26 miles away from Athens. • Athenians make a stand at the city of Marathon. • Athenians obliterate Darius’ forces.
War with PersiaMarathon • The Persians under Darius try to take the mainland directly.
War with PersiaMarathon- The Aftermath • Athens was victorious • After winning the battle, a man by the name of Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens. • Runs into Athens and shouts “Victory!” then he falls over dead from exhaustion. • This is where the modern day Marathon run gets its name from.
War with Persia • Darius never forgave the Ionians, or the Athenians • One of his aids would say at every meal, “Sire, remember the Athenians” • This hatred carried over into his son, Xerxes. • Xerxes vowed revenge following his fathers death, because Darius never saw the Athenians fall. • Greece heard that the Persians were coming and prepared to defend their homeland
War with PersiaThe Key Players Xerxes, led the Persian Armies into Greece. Themistocles, Leader of the Athenians Leonidas, the King of Sparta
War with Persia • Many Greek City-States planned a land defense under the guidance of Sparta. • Athens went with the policy proposed by Themistocles and built a navy. • Xerxes led a force of 180,000 troops, and brought thousands of warships with him.
War with Persia • The Red shows the movement of the Persians • the Blue, the movements of the Greeks
War with Persia • The first skirmish was at Thermopylae. • This is the famous story of the last stand of the 300. • Epilates then betrayed his Greek brothers and led the Persians down a path behind the Greeks.
War with PersiaThermopylae • 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas I, controlled a Greek army of 7000. • Held the Persian forces at bay by funneling them into a small mountain pass known as the “Hot Gates” • This strategy worked for two days, and would’ve worked even longer if not for Epilates.
