Title: Around the Aegean
1Around the Aegean
- Foundations
- Classical Era
2What were the geographic influences in the
development of the Greek city states and later
empire?
- Greece depended entirely on rainfall for
agriculture - rocky terrain - overland travel, trading, and
communication very difficult - Small city-states developed - commerce was linked
to the sea
3In what way are the geographical influences
different for the development of Greek
civilization than river valley civilizations and
those in the Americas?
- Crete and Greek mainland civilizations were the
results of the fertilizing influence of
previously established civilizations - Few natural resources unsuitable farming land
import lots of food - Seaborne trade results in commercial and
political relations with other peoples in the
region
4How was Persian religious experience different
than other early civilizations?
- Persians believed that water was not to be
damaged and worshiped fire at special altars - continued to worship some major deities from
their pagan past - Zoroastrianism fostered the belief in one supreme
deity, encouraged moral and ethical virtues, and
promised salvation - Believed that individuals would be rewarded or
punished in the afterlife for their actions
5Democracy in Greece? Accidental or Inevitable?
- Citizenship was eventually extended to all free,
adult males - Greek democracy was not truly democratic
because a sizable portion of the population
(women, slaves, and immigrants) were not citizens
- It was a daring and influential experiment with
non-monarchal government
6What is the relationship between the trade and
wealth of the Athenians and their acknowledged
legacy to knowledge?
- Athenian wealth supported the arts and sciences,
and traveling teachers - Athenians trained by Sophists had an advantage in
politics and the courts - Socrates was brought to trial for corrupting
Athenian youth and introducing unorthodox
religious beliefs - His trial revealed intellectual, social, and
political divisions in Athens and changed the
course of intellectual life. - Platos Academy became an institution for higher
education. The Socratic method of question and
answer became a new way of reaching a deeper
understanding of intellectual issues
7What connection do you see between the ancient
battle of Greece and Persia and present day
conflicts?
- The Persian Wars began when Persia responded to a
revolt of Greeks in Persian-controlled
territories - Today the western world and the Middle East still
have conflicts of belief surrounding religious,
cultural and social ideals
8How was the culture of Greece dispersed and
allowed to become their greatest legacy?
- The Hellenistic Age - from about 323 to 30 B.C.E.
- During the Hellenistic Age, Greek culture acted
as the dominant influence on northeastern Africa
and western Asia - The city of Alexandria in Egypt epitomized the
Hellenistic Age through its art and architecture,
its great library, and its cosmopolitan culture - Greeks culture remained a powerful influence on
these areas
9How do the political strengths of the Persian
Empire contribute to its expansive nature over
time and space?
- The empire was divided into twenty provinces,
each ruled by a Persian satrap or governor. - The Persians also maintained their control by
building patrolling the royal roads - Darius was also famous for his law code, law of
the King. - The Persians succeeded because they were willing
to adapt to local circumstances, to learn from
those with experience, and to utilize the skills
of non-Persians.