Ancient Greece

Unlike Mesopotamia and Egypt, Greece is smallIt consists of a mainland covered with mountains and dozens of islandsIn fact, Greece is some 90% rock, making farming very difficult.On the other hand, there are very few places more than 50 miles from the sea. Thus, where do you suppose the Greeks had to make their living?The Impact of Geography

Through much of modern times, the kingdom of Minos on the island of Crete was myth.Little or no concrete proof existed until the 19th century.However, amateur archaeologist Arthur Evans discovered a rich, sophisticated civilization on the island of Crete.Flourishing from 2700 to 1450 BC, the Minoans were not Greek but influenced Greek cultureIsland Kingdom

Crete was ideally situated to trade with everyone or act as middle man for everyoneCrete traded finely crafted pottery, gold, silver for other goods.Cretans borrowed techniques from others to improve their ownThey traded all over the eastern Mediterranean: Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt and PalestineMerchants and Middlemen

The palace of King Minos in Knossos was a masterpiece of engineering and architectureEquipped with indoor plumbing, workshops for making decorated vases, ivory figures and fine jewelry.Rooms were decorated with murals depicting sporting events and nature scenesStorerooms held gigantic jars of olive oil, wine and grain paid as taxes to the kingA Wonder of the Age

Nice place but does it have a view?

In 1450 BC, Crete civilization ended in a sudden catastropheOne theory: a massive tidal wave caused by a massive earthquake on or near the island of Thera consumed the island.The most commonly held belief is that the sudden demise came due to an invasion from mainland GreeceThe invaders were competitors who decided to muscle out their main rivalsSudden, Mysterious End

The Minoans were replaced by their former competitors, the Mycenaeans.The Mycenaeans came from Asia, migrating to Europe and into Greece ca. 1900 BCThey intermarried with locals and controlled Greece by 1600 BCFlourishing from 1400 to 1200 BCThe new boys on the block

Mycenaean civilization was made up of powerful monarchies (warlords?)Each had his own fortified palace situated on a hill surrounded by high walls.The warlords likely formed a loose confederation of independent statesThey were a warrior people who valued heroic deeds in battleTheir murals show battle and hunting scenesSociety of warriors

The Mycenaeans made use of the trade network inherited from the MinoansTheir pottery has been found from Syria to Egypt, Sicily and southern Italy to the west.Their military expanded the reach as well throughout Greece and the Aegean SeaA Wide Reach

Homer used the Mycenaean Greeks in his description of the Trojan war.The wife of a Mycenaean king was stolen by visiting TrojansTo avenge the insult, Kings Agamemnon and Menalaos launched a force of 1,000 ships.The siege of Troy lasted 10 years, ending with the trick of the Trojan Horse and the sack of the city.The Stuff of Legends

By the late 13th century BC, the Mycenaean civilization was tearing itself apartThe warlords fought each other while major earthquakes laid waste their citiesIn the 12th century BC, Greek-speaking Dorians from the north moved in.By 1100 BC, the Mycenaean civilization had collapsedLiving and Dying by the Sword

With the fall of the Mycenaeans, population declined, food production dropped.From 1100 to 750 BC there is little in the way of literature to describe what happenedFarming did not start to revive until 850 BCMany Greeks emigrated to the islands or Asia Minor in search of land or work. Some trade did come back and iron replaced bronze as the metal for weapons and toolsDark Ages in Greece

Toward the end of the 8th century BC, Greece adopted and modified the Phoenician alphabetThis made communication and writing easierNot coincidentally Homer penned the Illiad and the Odyssey at this timeThese epic poems gave the Greeks a heroic past, with heroes of courage and honor, who strive for excellence.Muse of a new Greece

Alphabet and HeroGreek hero ideal: Perseus

As life began to return to Greece, the polis became the center of lifeThe polis consisted of the city proper plus the surrounding countrysideThe town, village or city was the center of the polis where political, religious and social activities took placeThe Polis

The main gathering place in the polis was the acropolis on top of a hillIt served as a refuge in case of attack and as a religious center with temples and public buildingsBelow the acropolis was the agora, an assembly area and market placeThese city-states ranged in size from a few square miles to a few hundred.Population varied from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands such as Athens.Center of Greek Life

Centers of the PolisAcropolis – fortress on a hillAgora – central assembly and marketplace

The polis was a community of people with shared identity and goalsUsually 3 types of citizen: those with political rights (adult males), no political rights (women and children) and noncitizens (slaves, nonresident aliens and migrant farm workers)Rights also carried responsibilities: each citizen belonged to the stateThe fierce loyalty to one’s polis bred distrust of others and contributed to Greece’s ruin.More than buildings or land

As the polis grew, so did its need for more men to serve in the military.Before, the military was a noble class of horsemen who also dominated politicsNow with the new hoplites (heavy infantry) arranged in a phalanx (rectangular box),A phalanx consisted of soldiers in close order with shields up and long lances, hard to penetrate as long as the line held.Political participation broadened (?)A new military order

As the poleis grew, it became obvious that the land could not support many peopleThus, to find more farmland, provide jobs and create trade,Greeks set out and established colonies throughout the Aegean, Asia Minor, the Black Sea, Sicily, Italy, even France and SpainEach colony became an independent city-state in its own rightExpansion by Necessity

With colonies established throughout the Mediterranean, the money flowed in. Farmers switched from food production to commercial agriculture growing olives and wine for export.The wealth created problems though – a new class of new rich merchants.These merchants were a middle class that wanted a share of political power equal to their wealth. Unintended Consequences

The men in power, military men, landowners had held power for a long time.They were not inclined to share power the new richThe merchants felt they should have a vote and a say in governmentThe merchants allied with the poor who merely wanted debt relief and to keep their landThe Immovable Object

So much turmoil was created in this battle for a piece of the pie thatA single leader arose who had the trust of the rich and the merchants.They ended the class war, restored order.They cut through the red tape to create public works projects andTry to ease the lot of the poorBattles and then the tyrants

The tyrants were neither all good or all bad.They had the power to do great good or great evil.Some men started off doing good before the power and paranoia went to their heads.Before long the tyrants passed from the scene, the idea of single man rule went against the grain.Good and bad

Two city-states (poleis) exemplify the independence and uniqueness of the conceptSparta is the best example of a city-state which chose a different path.Instead of sending out colonists, they invaded their neighbors and made them slaves.These slaves (helots) were forced to work their former lands for the SpartansAn uprising took 20 years to put downSparta

To prevent another revolt, the Spartans decided to become a military state.Boys started young and stayed until they were 60 years old.Even married they lived in the barracks, training constantly.Spartans became known as the finest, most professional, best disciplined soldiers in the world. And the most feared.A military state

Because their men were away, Spartan women had more freedom to run the householdThey were expected to remain fit so as to bear strong, healthy children to serve the stateMost women adhered to the military code, expecting their men to be brave in battleThe traditional send off: Come home carrying his shield or on it. Victory or death. Spartan women

Government was oligarchical, headed by two kings who lead the army in battle.A group of five ephors supervised education and citizen conductA council of elders – 28 citizens over 60 and the 2 kings – decided what issues to present to the assemblyThe assembly did not debate, it only voted.Spartan government

To protect their way of life, Spartans turned their backs on the outside worldForeigners who might bring new ideas were discouraged from visitingSpartans were not allowed to travel abroad except for military reasonsLiterature, philosophy, the arts were all discouraged The military arts were the only ones allowed.A closed society

Ancient Greece

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