1. The document provides an overview of ancient Greek history from 3500 BCE to 100 BCE, covering major periods and developments. 2. It describes the rise and fall of early Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations on Crete and the mainland, followed by the emergence of city-states and the polis system. 3. The height of Greek classical culture is examined, including the conflicts with Persia, growth of Athenian democracy and arts, and flourishing of philosophy with thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

1. CHAPTER 5
The Greek Experience,
3500–100 B.C.E.

2. Study Questions:
What were the key features of the governments of Athens
and Sparta? How does Athenian democracy compare to
democracy in our modern world?
The term “classical period” implies enduring traditions.
What were the lasting cultural and intellectual
achievements of the classical period?
Did the interaction between different cultures expand
mankind’s knowledge? What lasting influences did the
Hellenistic world make in the realms of religion, philosophy,
and science?

3. I. Hellas: The Land and the Polis,
ca. 3500–ca. 800 B.C.E.
A. The Minoans and Mycenaeans
1. The flourishing culture that developed on the island of Crete has been named
Minoan by archaeologists, after the mythical king Minos. Trade with mainland
populations opened up economic opportunities to exchange numerous goods.
2. Social hierarchies developed, with a king and a group of nobles at the head. The
Knossos, the largest structure from Minoan society, is an example of the
construction abilities of this complex society. The Knossos had over a thousand
rooms and featured indoor plumbing.
3. Mycenaean Greeks, located in the Peloponnesus, established cities throughout the
mainland. Mycenaean kings grew wealthy and eventually conquered the Minoans,
but the Mycenaeans continued to fight other populations.
4. Following the fall of the Minoan and Mycenaean kingdoms, the “Dark Age” of
Greece began. However, traditional stories of the people and their heroes were
continued and were later collected in two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey,
both of which are attributed to Homer.

5. I. Hellas: The Land and the Polis,
ca. 3500–ca. 800 B.C.E.
• B. The Development of the Polis
• 1. The polis, or city-state, became the central political
unit in Greece. The polis included the city and its
surrounding rural countryside, the chora, which
supported the urban population. The polis was
protected by soldiers known as hoplites.
• 2. A variety of types of government could be found in
the poleis. These types of government included
democracy, oligarchy, and tyranny.

6. How does this sculpture reflect key
elements of Spartan identity?

7. II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age,
ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
A. Greece’s Overseas Expansion
• 1. Greek colonies were established in the Aegean, Black,
and Mediterranean Seas, creating a widespread Greek
culture.

9. II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age,
ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
• B. The Growth of Sparta
• 1. Under intense pressure from non-nobles, the aristocrats of
Sparta instituted the Lycurgan regimen, which gave equal
rights to all Spartan citizens. The Lycurgan system had the
citizens aligning with the Spartan city-state.
• 2. Military training became an important aspect of the Spartan
identity. Through their training Spartan men were instilled
with the values of doing with little and liking it.

10. II. Population and Politics in the Archaic Age,
ca. 800–500 B.C.E.
• C. The Evolution of Athens
• 1. Draco published the first Athenian law code in an effort to
establish a law for all citizens. His harsh code is the origin of
the term draconian.
• 2. Solon wrote poems about injustices and gained the trust of
the common people.
• 3. The ideas and efforts of Solon influenced the transition of
Athenian government into a democracy, though this
democracy did not include women, slaves, or outsiders.

11. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
• A. The Deadly Conflicts, 499–404 B.C.E.
• 1. Confrontations began between the Persian Empire and
Greek city-states along the Ionian coast. The Greeks defeated
the Persians at the battle of Marathon. Later, the Persian king
Xerxes led a massive invasion of Greece. Although the
Persians occupied Athens, they were defeated in the battle of
Salamis by the Greek navy and at Plataea by the Greek army.
• 2. Although Sparta and Athens were unified in defeating
Persia, the two city-states fought each other during the
Peloponnesian War. The bloody conflict left both city-states
weak and vulnerable.

14. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
• B. Athenian Arts in the Age of Pericles
• 1. The Athenian leader Pericles established many of the classic
buildings of Athens following the Persian wars. The
Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, was
one of many structures built to celebrate Athens’s victory over
Persia.
• 2. Athenian culture included the development of drama.
Classic Greek playwrights included Aeschylus, Sophocles, and
Aristophanes.

16. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
• C. Daily Life and Social Conditions in Athens
• 1. The Greek family included the dominant male of the
household. Women had little involvement in public affairs,
and their status was restricted by law.
• 2. Prostitution was legal in Athens. Sophisticated escorts
known as hetaerae served men as social and sexual partners.
Same-sex relations were accepted throughout the Greek city-states.
Relationships between young males and their older
tutors were celebrated throughout the arts. Sexual desire and
procreation, though important, were not necessarily linked
together.

17. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
D. Greek Religion in the Classical Period
1. The Greeks were polytheists, worshiping deities who acted like mortals.
According to their beliefs, the gods lived on Mount Olympus and included
Zeus, Hera, Apollo, and many others. There were no religious texts or
ethical guidelines.
2. Religious festivities included athletic contests at Olympia that inspired the
modern Olympic games and other contests that featured musical and
literary competitions.

18. III. Thought and Culture in the Classical Period,
500–338 B.C.E.
• E. The Flowering of Philosophy
• 1. Hippocrates is considered to be the father of Western
medicine.
• 2. Socrates questioned Athenian traditions. Conflict developed
between Socrates and the government; he was put on trial
and then executed.
• 3. Plato, a student of Socrates, focused his own philosophy on
issues of justice.
• 4. Aristotle, a student of Plato, focused on the concept of
purpose.

19. IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
A. From Polis to Monarchy, 404–200 B.C.E.
• 1. The Peloponnesian War left the Greek city-states weak
and vulnerable. Philip II of Macedonia won control of Greece
and united the Greek states with his kingdom. Following
Philip’s assassination, Philip’s son Alexander took charge of
his father’s kingdom.
• 2. Alexander set out to conquer the rest of Asia, eventually
pushing into the territories of the Indus River valley of India.
He continued into Arab regions and died in Babylon. Several
of Alexander’s generals then fought to control the empire,
which was eventually divided into thirds.

21. IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
B. Building a Shared Society
• 1. The most significant outcome of Alexander’s empire was
the spread of Greek culture and ideas. Greek traditions
blended with other cultures, creating a society in which
Greek cities granted citizenship to Hellenized natives.
• 2. Alexander’s former empire was drawn into three
independent Hellenized kingdoms. The Seleucid kings ruled
in Asia Minor. The Antigonids controlled the Macedonian
kingdom in Europe. The Ptolemaic kings ruled Egypt.

22. 1. Although the city of
Ay Khanoum was
situated very far from
the original cultural
centers of Classical
Greece, on the
present-day border
between Russian and
Afghanistan, its
Hellenistic rulers
brought with them
elements of Greek
culture. Can you find
any evidence of such
elements in the image
on the plate?

23. IV. Hellenistic Society, 336–100 B.C.E.
C. The Growth of Trade and Commerce
• 1. The vast territory once under the control of Alexander was
linked together by routes conducive to caravan trade. The
trade spawned economic growth.
• 2. Traditional commodities, agricultural goods, and raw
materials were transported on the overland routes reaching
into new territories. New goods such as silk were included in
the economic trade. Not all economic opportunities were
positive; piracy became a constant threat to caravans.

24. V. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy,
and Science
• A. Religion in the Hellenistic World
• 1. Religious thought also traveled the overland trail routes. As
the traditional Greek religions confronted Eastern religions,
aspects of both were incorporated into the so-called mystery
religions.
• 2. Egyptian mythology became popular in the Hellenistic
world. Isis became the most important goddess of the
Hellenistic world.
• B. Philosophy and Its Guidance for Life
• 1. Greek and Eastern ideas influenced the philosophy of
Epicureanism, which sought peace in a tumultuous world.
• 2. Stoicism was the most popular of the Hellenistic
philosophies. The Stoics believed that living a virtuous life was
the most important thing and that people could achieve
happiness only when living in accordance with nature.

25. V. Hellenistic Religion, Philosophy,
and Science
C. Hellenistic Science and Medicine
• 1. Euclid compiled the textbook The Elements of Geometry.
• 2. Archimedes devised new military technology and
engineered numerous types of tools.
• 3. Herophilus dissected corpses and documented his
observations. He discovered the nervous system and also
studied the brain, liver, lungs, and uterus.