1 / 41

Week 2-3: Ancient Greece

Week 2-3: Ancient Greece. POL-110HA Revolution Now! Democracy in Troubled Times. History Tips. Things to Keep In Mind About Studying History. Bias and Point of View everyone has a bias when they tell a story or relate events

thiery
Download Presentation

Week 2-3: Ancient Greece

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Week 2-3: Ancient Greece POL-110HA Revolution Now! Democracy in Troubled Times

  2. History Tips

  3. Things to Keep In Mind About Studying History • Bias and Point of View • everyone has a bias when they tell a story or relate events • based on things like background, family, experiences, economics, class, education, culture, religion, etc. • Missing/Incomplete Records • Exact information about ancient events is often scarce • Many records were kept on • materials that degraded over time

  4. Ancient Greece Overview

  5. Map of Classical Greece(c.450 BCE)

  6. Greek Geography • many plains and river valleys surrounded by very tall Mountains • led to individual Greek communities developing in isolation • the copious amount of coastline • Greeks became known as skilled seafarers

  7. The Greek City-State • Developed fully by the 8th Century BCE • Essentially self-contained mini-countries • Citizens identified as belonging both to their city-state and to Greece • Rivalries and occasional cooperation • primarily important during the Archaic and Classical Periods of Ancient Greek history

  8. The Two Meanings of The Polis (plural Poleis) • City, town, or village would have a central meeting point for the people • If a hill, this was called the acropolis • Evacuation site and religious center • agora was located below • place for people to assemble and marketplace • Community of citizens

  9. 3 Groups in the Polis • citizens with political rights • adult males • political rights and responsibilities • citizens without political rights • women and children of male citizens • non-citizens • slaves and resident aliens

  10. What Makes Up Ancient Greece?

  11. Ancient Greece Periods • Minoan • c.2000-1400 BCE or BC • Mycenaean • c.1600-1100 BCE • Dark Ages • c.1100-750 BCE • Archaic • c.750-480 BCE • Classical • c.480-338 BCE • Hellenistic • c.338-146 BCE • Roman • c.146-330 CE or AD

  12. Ancient Greece Period:Minoan (c.2000-1400 BCE) • based on the Island of Crete • not ethnically, religiously or linguistically Greek • accepted as having an influence on Greek development • destruction is a matter of some debate • possibly tsunami • probably conquered by the Mycenaean force from mainland Greece

  13. Ancient Greek Period:Mycenaean (c.1600-1100 BCE) • known for its large fortified cities called palace-centers • complex social structure • early form of written Greek • source/setting of Homer’s account of the Trojan War in the Iliad and the Odyssey • overthrown by Greek speaking invaders from territory to the north • massive loss of culture and structure would follow

  14. Ancient Greek Period:Dark Ages (c.1100-750 BCE) • Massive reduction in farming • Cultural decline • Economic decline • Population shrinks • Mass emigration to Northern Greece, islands, and Asia Minor (modern Turkey) • Homer’s literary works emerge at the end of the period • Beginnings of the city-states, or polis

  15. Ancient Greek Period:Archaic (c.750-480 BCE) • Resurgence of culture • Perfection of the polis, or city-state • New military system • Hoplites • Phalanx • Men responsible for buying own armor • This stabilized class struggle between the aristocrats and the peasants • Men who were able to fight for their own city-state began to desire a voice • possible beginnings of a form of democracy • in Sparta in c. 600 BCE (at the latest) and in Athens by c.508-507 BCE

  16. Ancient Greek Period:Archaic (c.750-480 BCE)-Colonies • Reasons for colonies • To create centers of trade • To create centers to collect goods • To escape the issues on the mainland • Colonial format • Set up as a polis • Usually independent of the mother polis (metropolis) • Why was colonization important? • Spread Greek culture • Made Greece solidify its identity • Increased trade • Created a wealthy merchant class

  17. Ancient Greek Period:Archaic (c.750-480 BCE)-Tyrants • Position of king was eliminated in most city-states by the end of the 8th Century BCE • Kings were replaced by aristocrats • The tyrant replaced many aristocrats • Tyrants often took control of a city-state a coup d’état • they did not have to obey any laws • backed by enemies of the aristocrats • kept power by paying for mercenaries • kept their backers happy • building projects that brought jobs • encouraged business • patrons of the arts and culture

  18. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE) • High point of: • art, drama, architecture, education, and philosophy • Democracy continues to develop • Peloponnesian Wars • between Athens and Sparta • Period ended 338 BCE • invasion of Philip II of Macedon • He ended the city-states’ power

  19. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Playwrights • Tragedy • Aeschylus • 7 of 70-90 plays survive • Themes of justice, vengeance, and obedience • Gods were very important in his works • Sophocles • Themes of trying to escape fate and the tragic hero • More about characters than the myths • People bring themselves down—not the gods • Euripides • 18-19 of 92-95 plays survive • dealt with individuals and the internal conflict with good and evil

  20. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Philosophers • Socrates • None of his writings remain • Executed with hemlock • For corrupting the youth and disrespecting the gods • Known for ethics and logic • Critic of democracy • Founder of Western philosophy • Socratic Method • Plato • Student of Socrates • Teacher of Aristotle • Founder of the Academy in Athens • Best known for his Dialogues • Discusses mathematics, ethics, logic, philosophy, rhetoric, and religion • One of the founders of Western philosophy

  21. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Philosophers • Aristotle • Student of Plato • Teacher of Alexander the Great • contributed to the disciplines of physics, poetry, metaphysics, theatre, music, logic, ethics, rhetoric, biology, zoology, linguistics, and politics • Many of his writings have been lost • Those that remain are called the Corpus Aristotelicum

  22. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Physician • Hippocrates • Father of Western medicine • Hippocratic Oath • One of the oldest “binding documents” in history • First appeared about 100 years after Hippocrates’ death

  23. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Statesman • Pericles • Most influential statesmen and general in Athens between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars • Basically turned Athens into an empire • Champion of Athenian democracy • Understood the importance of culture and the arts • Civic improvements • Including new buildings on the Acropolis • Known for giving Pericles’ Funeral Oration • As recorded by Thucydides

  24. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Historians • Herodotus • Widely considered to be the “Father of History” • First to attempt a systematic collection of reasonably verifiable historical facts • Some concern that some of his information might be fiction • Thucydides • Widely called the “Father of Scientific History” • More concerned about systematically verifying evidence and analysis without reference to the gods • History of the Peloponnesian War

  25. Ancient Greek Period:Classical (c.480-338 BCE)-Delian League • Confederacy of Greek city-states • Led by Athens • Founded in 478 BCE • Marketed as mutual defense against Persians • Actually a vehicle for Athens to grow their empire

  26. Ancient Greek Period:Hellenistic (c.338-146 BCE) • Greek empire reaches its largest size • Alexander the Great • King of Macedon • Son of Philip II • Student of Aristotle • Considered be one of the greatest military commanders in history • Conquered the Persian Empire • Spread Greek culture farther East than it had yet gone • Particularly Egypt • Largely ended democratic rule in Greece (particularly Athens)

  27. Ancient Greek Period:Roman (c.146 BCE-330 CE) • Greece after it was conquered by Rome • Ends when the Emperor Constantine made Constantinople the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire

  28. Athens

  29. Athens Before Democracy • Started as a monarchy • Monarchy changed to rule by the aristocracy • Councils • Areopagus had the most power • Lesser council was made up of 9 Archons • Each had a term lasting 1 year • Ecclesia • Citizens’ assembly with little power • Only “full citizens” could participate • Economic troubles • So severe that farmers sold themselves into slavery to pay their debts

  30. Solon • Chosen by the ruling aristocracy to be the sole Archon • Economic changes • Forgave all current land debt • Outlawed using people as collateral for loans • Freed people who had been forced into slavery by debt • Created a slave class • Political changes • Created the Council of 400 • Made wealth—instead of birth—a condition for political office • Allowed for upward mobility • 4 classes of wealth with the 1st 2 eligible to be Archon • Heliaea • Men of all classes could vote and sit in new popular court

  31. Tyranny Comes to Athens • Fall of Aristocratic Power • After Solon, various aristocrats competed for power • Pisistratus • Declared himself tyrant in 560 BCE • Did not make many obvious changes • Instituted programs designed to make him popular with specific groups of voters • Hippias • Son of Pisistratus • More extreme policies than his father • Resulted in his exile

  32. Cleisthenes the Reformer • In power 508-501 BCE • Stopped aristocratic takeover and unrest • Wanted to reform the system • Shifted power to the demes • Villages and townships • Placed the demes into 10 tribes cross-secting regions and social classes • 50 men from each sat on the Council of 500 • Assembly was made up of all male citizens (maybe 30,000) • Final authority on all laws after open debate • Laid the foundations for democracy • Increased political participation throughout geography and social classes • Tied to military participation

  33. The Persian WArs • First Persian War (490-479 BCE) • Turned Athens into an Empire • Gave the Council of 500 and the Assembly more important things to talk about • The Greeks saw the major difference between them and the Persians as: • CITIZEN vs. SUBJECT • First Persian attack was met by Athenians at the Plain of Marathon • 26 miles from Athens • Made the idea of citizen soldiers who bought their own armor important

  34. The Persian Wars (cont.) • Athens gets a navy in between Persian invasions • Themistocles • convinced the voters that a navy would be a good addition to their military readiness • Invasion of Xerxes (480 BCE) • Persians had • About 150,000 troops and 700 warships • Greeks planned to hold the only road • so that the Athenian navy could deal with the Persian navy • Greeks were led by King Leonidas of Sparta with 300 Spartans • Athens was evacuated • Greek navy, led by Athens, won the Battle of Salamis

  35. The Delian league Makes Athens an Empire • Greek alliance • Controlled by Athens • Created to fight the Persian Empire • Begun 478-477 BCE • Liberated all remaining Greek city-states and essentially ended the Persian threat by 469 BCE • Some city-states wanted to leave (or secede from) the League • Athens response was to invade • destroyed walls • took navy • removed their freedom • required to pay tribute to Athens • League basically became an extension of Athens • Turned them into an empire

  36. 5 Changes Imperial Status Brought To Athens • 1)Council of 500 and the Assembly had larger and more significant matters to deal with • 2)the empire paid tribute to Athens which allowed Athens to pay some political posts for the first time • 3)Athens had the power to force the spread of democracy where possible • a few oligarchies were allowed to remain • 4)Athens became more elite • resulted in a large number (10s of thousands) of disenfranchised people • 5)money and power the empire brought kept the wealthy Athenians happy enough • It would be a while before they considered oligarchy

  37. Ostracism • Allowed the removal of any official who had lost the people’s respect • Citizens wrote the name of the person they felt was most hurting the polis • If at least 6,000 votes were cast, the man with the most votes was exiled for 15 years • He could be brought back if the city needed him • Democratic alternative to actual tyranicide • Allowed the people to remove bad or unsympathetic leaders • Gave power to regular citizens • Made leaders answerable to the people

  38. The Age of Pericles • Pericles began to lead Athens around the 450s BCE • Aristocrat • Wanted Athens to break ties with old rival Sparta • Height of Athenian power, culture, and democracy • Democracy increased in popularity with the people • Full citizens above age 18 could participate in the Assembly • May have been as many as 43,000 • Only about 6,000 could fit in the meeting place (the Pnyx) • A few respected leaders did most of the talking • Routine administration and bureaucracy was run by the city magistrates • Chosen randomly to serve a one year term • 10 Generals Chosen to Guide the People • Amount of power determined by amount of respect given to them by the people

  39. The Age of Pericles:The Peloponnesian Wars • Athens vs. Sparta • 1st Peloponnesian War(c.460-445 BCE) • Athens agreed to give up most of land empire • Sparta agreed to recognize Athens’ naval empire • Great Peloponnesian War(431-404BCE) • Athenian conflicts with Spartan allies • Sparta warned Athens to back off • Athens hoped for naval battles • Sparta hoped to fight Athenian army • Plague in Athens in the 2nd year • About 1/3 of the population died • Pericles died from the plague in the 3rd year

  40. The Peace of Nicias And More Peloponnesian War • Peace of Nicias (421 BCE) • Negotiated by new Athenian leader (Nicias) • After the death of Pericles and those prominent generals who were in favor of the war • Both sides agreed to a 50 year truce • Phase #2 of the War • Began 6 years after the agreement to have a truce lasting 50 years • Started by Pericles’ nephew (Alcibiades) • Removed during the campaign for profaning religion • Sicilian attack was disastrous for Athens and Democracy • When they tried to take Syracuse • All of the troops were either killed or captured and sold into slavery

  41. Athenian Democracy Wanes • As Peloponnesian Wars End • Democracy was abolished in Athens, and an oligarchy temporarily (411-410 BCE) took its place • Final loss occurred in 405 BCE with the defeat of the Athenian navy • Athens’ enemies laid siege to the city • They surrendered the following year • Sparta became the most powerful city-state • Sparta Spreads Oligarchy • With 10 man boards overseen by Spartan garrisons • The 30 Tyrants • Oligarchy with 30 members • Set up in Athens by the Spartans • Executed 1,500 democratic opponents • Sparta eventually allowed return to Democracy

More Related