1.07k likes | 1.08k Views
Greece (Hellas). Geography of Greece. Rugged Peninsula Juts out into the Aegean Sea Also made up of many islands in Ionian/Aegean Seas. Geography of Greece. Has no navigable rivers (little more than creeks) – rough mountains, narrow valleys, excellent bays ¾ is covered with mountains
E N D
Geography of Greece • Rugged Peninsula • Juts out into the Aegean Sea • Also made up of many islands in Ionian/Aegean Seas
Geography of Greece • Has no navigable rivers (little more than creeks) – rough mountains, narrow valleys, excellent bays • ¾ is covered with mountains • Mt. Olympus – highest peak
Results: • Sea shapes Greek civilization • Greeks live in isolated independent communities due to mountains • Population small • Mountainous region encouraged political fragmentation—communication extraordinarily poor
Early Greeks • Herders and farmers • Sheep & goats, grains, grapes & olives • Pirates, sailors, traders, & fishermen
Minoan Civilization 1750BCE -1500BCE • King Minos • minotaur
Sir Arthur Evans – Palace at Knossos • Frescoes • Indoor plumbing • No defensive wall
Minoan Civilization • Religion- polytheistic worshipped the forces of nature—Mother Goddess • Economy- traders established a shipping empire—overseas trade • Women- enjoyed a higher status than in other ancient civilizations • Developed writing called Linear A
Mycenaean Civilization1400BCE – 1200BCE • Warlike people—came from Central Asia • Settled in the Peloponnesus • Mycenae – chief city which was heavily fortified • Economy- sea traders and raiders
Trojan War- 1250 BCE • Iliad – Homer • Helen – wife of Menalaus • Agamemnon
Trojan War The Iliad and the Odyssey reveal many of the values of ancient Greeks. Homer’s heroes display honor, courage, and eloquence. The epics of Homer have been inspiring writers for almost 3,000 years.
Odyssey - Homer • Odysseus
Greek Dark Ages 1100BCE—800BCE • Invaded by Dorians • Results: • Cities plundered—300 years of rule • Iron weapons • Trade disrupted—many Greeks left • Writing & artistic skills forgotten
Development of Greek City-States • Polis – fortified hilltop & surrounding fields (city-state)—decentralized political structure • Acropolis- center – home of the temples • Agora – the public square – center for politics
Greek Government Between 750 BCE and 500 BCE, the Greeks evolved different forms of government. • Monarchy- government by King or Queen
Greek Government Slowly, power shifted to a class of noble landowners. At first, the nobles defended the king, but in time, they won power for themselves. A government ruled by a landholding elite is called an aristocracy.
Greek Government As trade expanded, a new class of wealthy merchants, farmers, and artisans came to dominate some city-states. A government in which power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class, is called an oligarchy.
Changes in warfare • 650BCE – iron age • Hoplites—heavily armed infantry • Phalanx—formation of heavily armed foot soldiers
Sparta Located in Laconia—isolated part of Peloponnesus Rulers were two kings and a council of elders. Citizens 60 years old or older. Rulers formed a military society. Conquered people were turned into slaves, called helots. Ephors (5) were elected to direct daily affairs of government
Rulers forbade trade and travel. At birth newborns taken before ephors-healthy they live—deformed they die Government ran every aspect of citizens life
Sparta All boys at age 7 sent to barracks to begin military training—public flogging each year admired for ability to endure pain age twenty began military service and allowed to marry—still lived in barracks
Sparta • At age 30 became citizens and given land and helots—allowed to live at home • At age 60 allowed to retire
Sparta Women • Women trained to be wives and mothers of soldiers • Enjoyed more freedom than other Greek women • Participated in strict physical training and military drills
Sparta Women • Physical training done in the nude • Needed to be fit to bear healthy children • Absolute obedience to father then husband
Sparta • Made no contributions in art, literature, philosophy or science • Sparta discouraged visitors • Trade and commerce limited • No coined money and prohibited gold and silver
Athens 700 BCE located in Attica—poor soil so they turned to the sea Society grew into a limited democracy Male citizens over age 30 were members of the assembly. Rulers encouraged trade with other city-states.
Athens many small farmers will be forced into slavery for debts commoners will have no political rights Archons (9) will try to make improvements by appointing Draco to draw up Athens’ first written code of laws—very harsh code
Reforming Athens • Solon – 594 BCE • Abolished debt slavery—freed those already in debt slavery • Extended citizenship • Limited land ownership • Fathers teach sons a trade
Athens – The rise of Tyrants (tyranny) “Champions of the People” • Pisistratus – 546 BCE • Redistributed land to landless • Non-land owners gained citizenship • Gained power with support of poor • Cleisthenes – 507 BCE (created foundations for Athenian democracy) • Created Council of 500 (supervised foreign affairs, the treasury and proposed laws to be voted on by assembly) • Athenian assembly (all male citizens) given final authority to pass laws—introduced ostracism
Athens Women • Women had no share in public life (take part in most religious festivals)—could not own property besides personal items • Excluded from public life otherwise • Considered inferior to men—not able to reason like men—always had a male guardian • Chief obligation was to bear children (sons) • Take care of family and her house (did it herself or had slaves do it)
Athenian Women • Women were strictly controlled—married at the age of 14 or 15 • Not provided with any formal education (some learned to read and play musical instruments) • Expected to stay at home out of sight unless attending funerals or festivals • One position was to be a priestess • Family was important institution in Ancient Athens—nuclear family