The People of the Aegean Sea

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The People of the Aegean Sea

• or How the Greeks Conquered the World!!!

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It all starts on Crete

• The people of the Aegean Sea developed
  civilizations independent from any specific river
  or river system.
• Instead they looked to new farming techniques
  that allowed them to settle as well as their
  ability to use the sea for their needs.
• The first large civilization started on the
  island of Crete.

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• The ancient people of Crete are known as Minoans
  after their legendary king MINOS.
• Minos and other Minoan rulers lived in great
  palaces at KNOSSOS.
• From the palace at Knossos, they built a cultured
  and wealthy civilization.

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• The Minoans developed a tremendous appreciation
  for art often decorating their homes with large
  frescoes and mosaics.

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• The Minoans developed a complex writing system
  known as Linear A and Linear B.
• Archaeologists are now able to translate Linear B
  which shows us that the Minoans had great
  contact with Indo-Europeans from the mainland of
  Greece.

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• The great Minoan world was destroyed by
  earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes.
• Their civilization migrated to the islands of
  Greece where it continued to develop now
  influenced by the people of the Greek islands.

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MYCENAE

• Ca. 2000 B.C.E. Indo-Europeans moved into the
  area today known as Greece.
• These people developed strong fortress cities
  the most important was at Mycenae.
• All of these ancient Greeks are now referred to
  as Mycenaeans. They were influenced by the
  Minoans.

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The Works of Homer

• Perhaps the best description of the glories of
  Mycenaean civilization may be found in the works
  of the blind poet Homer
• The Iliad
• The Odyssey

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The Trojan War

• The Iliad is the story of the Greek attack on the
  city of Troy in Asia Minor.
• The story..
• The story is of insult, pride, love , warfare and
  death.

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• The King of Sparta MENELAUS is the host to
  PARIS the son of the king of Troy PRIAM and
  the Trojan queen HECUBA.
• Paris is a bad guest and when he returns to
  Troy he takes with him the wife of Menelaus
  HELEN.
• Menelaus is pushed by his brother AGAMEMNON the
  king of Mycenae to attack Troy and bring Helen
  back.
• Helen the face that launched a thousand ships

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• For ten years the Greeks laid siege to the city
  of Troy finally destroying it through
  subterfuge and use of the TROJAN HORSE.
• Troy was destroyed and the Greeks returned home
  except for the king of Ithaca ODYSSEUS who
  takes an additional ten years to get home THE
  OYDSSEY.

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Other Characters in The Iliad

• Achilles part man part nymph the greatest
  Greek warrior - his weakness is his Achilles
  heel
• Ajax - Greek second in ability only to Achilles
• Hector Trojan prince

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• Not this Homer

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The Greek Gods

• The stories of Homer reflect the Greek notion of
  their gods gods with powers but also egos who
  fight among themselves. The Greek gods played
  with humans as if they were toys for the
  amusement of the gods.

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• Zeus the king of the gods married to Hera

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• Hera queen of the gods often plotting behind
  her husbands back

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• Athena grey eyed goddess of wisdom
• Daughter of Zeus she sprung full formed from
  his head at her birth.

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• Apollo god of the sun son of Zeus

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• Poseidon brother of Zeus and god of the sea

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• Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty daughter
  of Zeus

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• Artemis goddess of the hunt daughter of Zeus

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• Ares god of war lover of Aphrodite

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• Hermes messenger of the gods

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The Rise of the Polis

• The 700s B.C.E saw the end of the Greek Dark Ages
  and the rise of the social/political dominance of
  the POLIS the city-state. All aspects of Greek
  life revolved around the polis and an
  individuals connection to his polis.

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POLIS

• Center was the ACROPOLIS defensive position
  in Athens the acropolis was topped by the
  PARTHENON
• Most geographically small with about ten thousand
  inhabitants
• Citizens (male)
• Non-citizens (foreigners, children, and female
  relatives of citizens)
• Slaves

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Greek Columns

• Doric

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• Ionic

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• Corinthian

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Polis

• No separation between citizens who worked for the
  government and those who did not (bureaucracy)
• All citizens were thought of as citizens of the
  polis first and individuals second.
• Male dominated society built on slave labor.

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Aristocrats

• The polis were originally ruled by warrior
  chieftains or kings.
• The kings relied on wealthy land owners to help
  in times of war.
• The wealthy land owners were called ARISTOCRATS
  best men.
• Over time, the aristocrats took power away from
  the kings and they then dominated Greek political
  life.
• All political and religious life was controlled
  by the aristocrats.

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The Greek Army

• Costly bronze weapons meant that aristocrats made
  up the bulk of the Greek army.
• As trade and colonies prospered new citizens
  were able to become wealthy and buy land
  challenging the power of the aristocrats.
• The development of cheaper and more useful iron
  weapons allowed more non-aristocrats to become
  soldiers.
• The power of the aristocrats was weakened!!!

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The Phalanx

• Greek infantry men HOPLITES fought in a
  close, lock stepped formation known as the
  phalanx.
• Greek success with the precision and unity
  required for a phalanx made the Greeks a powerful
  fighting force.

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Greek Colonies

• The Greek city-states grew in size and wealth.
• As most were near the sea, they developed into
  seafaring societies trading with the peoples of
  the Mediterranean.
• The Greeks sold their wine and olive oil and
  brought back to Greece products from as far as
  India.
• In order to develop their trade even further, the
  Greeks established colonies from modern France to
  Russia.
• Greek culture spread throughout the world
  CULTURAL DIFFUSION.

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ATHENS

• The richest and most powerful polis was Athens
  the center of new political, philosophical and
  artistic movements.
• After the drastic harsh laws of DRACO
  (draconian adjective) came SOLON THE LAWGIVER
  ca. 594 B.C.E.

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Solon

• Canceled debts and abolished enslavement for
  debts.
• Opened Athens to trade and industry olive oil.
• Citizenship based on wealth no longer based on
  aristocratic birth.
• Society divided into four groups based on wealth
• Top three classes eligible for public office
• Last class could be part of assembly that elected
  officials but could not be officials themselves.

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Peisistratus the tyrant

• Ca. 564 B.C.E., there was social and political
  turmoil in Athens.
• Peisistratus appealed to the masses for support.
  Using popular opinion, he assumed sole political
  power. This was against the law but it had the
  support of the people TYRANT.
• He used public money to beautify the city and
  establish festivals the people loved it!
• As social tensions between aristocrats and
  non-aristocrats subsided the people grew tired
  of the rule of the tyrants.

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Cleisthenes

• Cleisthenes tried to reorganize Athenian society
  by dividing Athens into ten tribes.
• Each tribe had people from the city the
  countryside and the seaside.
• Council of 500 500 citizens represented the
  tribes in the Council they prepared the
  material that would be examined by the assembly
  of citizens.
• DIRECT DEMOCRACY the popular assembly voted on
  all laws each citizen voting.

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Sparta the opposite of Athens???

• The city-state of SPARTA developed differently
  than Athens.
• Sparta is located on the PELOPONNESUS the
  Peloponnesian Peninsula far more geographically
  isolated than Athens.
• The Spartans developed a society based on
  military conquest of their neighbors.

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Sparta

• Spartan society was divided into
• Spartan citizens equals
• Half-citizens people of surrounding areas who
  were dependent on the Spartans they paid taxes
  and could serve in the army but had no political
  rights. They ran the commercial aspects of
  Sparta.
• Helots state slaves given to citizens. The
  helots farmed leaving the Spartans free to
  devote time to the military.
• 7 non-citizens for each citizen how do you keep
  down revolts? Threats of terror!!!!

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Sparta all aspects of life revolved around the
military

• Education physical and military women too
  physically educated
• Selection of fit children infants thought to
  be weak and a drain on society were left to die.
• Males
• 7-18 military boot camp
• 18-20 trained for war
• 20-30 full time soldiers living in barracks
• 30 soldiers could go home at night
• Until 60 soldiers had to eat at least one meal
  with the other soldiers
• COHESION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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• Women in Sparta known for their wealth and
  independence why????????
• Spartan women vs. Athenian women..
• Spartans had little interest in art or
  philosophy..military, sports, physical
  activities men and women.
• spartan adjective

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The Growing Greeks face the Persian Empire

• Greek city-states existed on the coast of Asia
  Minor in what is now Turkey.
• When the Persian Empire took control of Asia
  Minor the Greeks living there came under
  Persian control.
• When Persian emperor DARIUS I began to raise
  taxes the Asian Greeks revolted with the help
  of Athens.
• 490 B.C.E. after they defeated the Asian
  Greeks, the Persians sailed across the Aegean Sea
  and attacked the Athenians.
• 490 B.C.E. the Greeks defeated the Persians at
  the Battle of Marathon.
• The Persians planned a massive naval and land
  attack on Greece BUT Darius died and was
  succeeded by XERXES.
• Internal problems meant that Xerxes spent time
  organizing his own internal power before he could
  attack the Greeks.

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Darius Xerxes
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• 480 B.C.E. the Persians crossed the Hellespont
  and marched south.
• While the Persians eventually won they were
  held back by the Spartans under the leadership of
  LEONIDAS at the BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE.
• Even though destroyed by the Persians, the
  Athenians organized the Greeks and helped to
  destroy the Persian navy at the BATTLE OF
  SALAMIS.
• Eventually, the Greeks pushed the Persians out of
  Greece although the Persians were a constant
  threat until the reign of Alexander the Great.

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The Golden Age of Athens

• 478 B.C.E. after the defeat of the Persians
  most of the Greek city-states and Greek lands in
  Asia Minor, the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea
  organized under the leadership of Athens in the
  DELIAN LEAGUE
• Over time, the Delian League was transformed by
  Athens into a virtual empire for Athens. Athens
  grew rich and far more powerful than the other
  members of the Delian League.

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Pericles

• Athenian democracy was at it height under the
  leadership of PERICLES 460-429 B.C.E.
• One citizen one vote rule
• All legislative and electoral matters controlled
  by all citizens
• Proposals needed COUNCIL OF 500s approval but
  any citizen could propose laws or give opinion on
  laws in the assembly.
• Citizens could approve, change or veto proposals
  that came from the council.

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• Pericles

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• Many people received positions by lot.
• Paid public servants allowed poorer people to
  participate.
• Jurors picked from citizens
• Paid juries
• Prosecution and defense could each present cases
  to juries.

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• All of this is great for Athens BUT how can you
  have your identity by connection to a polis IF
  that polis is considered part of an empire
  controlled by Athens?????
• You cant!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Historian THUCYDIDES reported the fear Your
  empire is a tyranny your leadership depends on
  superior strength and not on any goodwill of
  theirs.

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The Peloponnesian War

• Under the leadership of Sparta many of the
  Greek city-states revolted against the power of
  Athens.
• Constant warfare and even plague weakened all of
  the Greek city-states.
• 404 B.C.E. Athens surrendered never to reach
  its glory days again.

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Greek Culture Its Greatest Legacy

• Poetry Pindar and the ode
• Drama usually performed in open amphitheaters
  often as parts of competition
• Aeschylus
• Sophocles
• Euripides
• Aristophanes

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• History
• Herodotus
• Thucydides
• History of the Peloponnesian War

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Science

• ARCHIMEDES levers and fulcrums - water screw
• Give me a place to stand on and I can move the
  world.
• EUCLID geometry
• ARISTARCHUS heliocentric universe

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Greek Art
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Philosophy

• The Sophists argued that there was no absolute
  truth everything was relative.
• Useless to try to understand the world just try
  to improve yourself and your polis through
  reason.
• Used RHETORIC to develop thought and debate.
• Sophists questioned all Greek values
• Reaction against the Sophists as people such as
  DEMAGOGUES feared Sophist thought would destroy
  society.

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• Socrates while not a true Sophist Socrates
  influenced many Sophists the band of rulers who
  assumed power in Athens after the defeat by
  Sparta OLIGARCHY.
• SOCRATIC METHOD teach by questioning forcing
  people to think deeply.
• Socrates believed in knowledge and truth
• 399 B.C.E. Socrates sentenced to death by the
  Athenian authorities for corrupting youth with
  his philosophy and by denying the gods.

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• Plato a student of Socrates
• Taught through dialogues discussions and
  conversations Socrates and others had.
• Taught in his ACADEMY
• He looked for a perfection beyond the senses.
• His book THE REPUBLIC rejected individualism
  and believed people should be placed in society
  by natural skills.

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• Aristotle student of Plato
• Tried to bring philosophy from Plato to something
  more down to earth.
• Broadened his interests beyond pure philosophy
  into medicine, natural sciences, etc.
• Was the tutor of Alexander, prince of Macedonia
  ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

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• CYNICISM founded by DIOGENES in the 300s B.C.E.
• Believed humans should live according to nature
• Rejected pleasure, wealth, social
  responsibilities, social customs, customs dealing
  with morality.
• cynic Greek for like dogs

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• SKEPTICISM belief that sure knowledge was
  impossible beliefs are only opinions
• You will never know how things truly are
• Achieve peace of mind and let the rest go..
• EPICUREANISM Epicurus avoid pain and pursue
  pleasure
• STOICISM stoics everyone must be equal
  because everyone has a spark of the divine
  control emotions and fears.

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MACEDON/MACEDONIA

• The people of northern Greece were the
  Macedonians thought by many of the southern
  Greek city-states to be semi-barbaric and not
  Greek.
• Macedonia was ruled in 359 B.C.E. by king PHILIP
  II.
• Philip conquered all of Greece supported by
  many who thought a united Greece could defeat the
  constant threat of the Persians.

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• Philip of Macedon

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Alexander the Great

• Philip II of Macedonia was assassinated and
  succeeded by his twenty year old son ALEXANDER.
• Alexander conquered the Persian king DARIUS III
  and took the title King of Kings
• A brilliant general Alexander conquered the
  eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and
  western India all before he was 33 years old.

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Hellenistic

• Alexander and his armies spread Greek culture
  throughout his empire.
• The blending of Greek culture and the cultures of
  the conquered peoples (CULTURAL DIFFUSION) is
  given the term HELLENISTIC.
• After Alexanders death, his generals divided his
  empire.

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