The Freedom of the Greeks in the Early Hellenistic Period ...
Chapter 4 - The Early Greeks
-
Upload
phil-mercer -
Category
Education
-
view
1.093 -
download
2
Transcript of Chapter 4 - The Early Greeks
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Geography of Greece
Mainland Greece is a peninsula – a body of land surrounded by water on three sides
To the west is the Ionian Sea, to the east is the Aegean Sea, and to the south is the Mediterranean Sea
Most ancient Greeks made a living by the seas as fishers, sailors and traders
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Geography of Greece Mainland Greece is also very mountainous and rocky, limiting the
ability to farm
However, some areas were farmed, growing wheat, barley, olives, and grapes
Many Greek communities grew up independent due to the separation caused by the mountains and seas
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Minoans The Minoan civilization arose on Crete, an island that lies
to the southeast of mainland Greece
Although, the Minoans were not Greeks, Crete would later become part of Greece
In 1900, and English archaeologist, Arthur Evans, discovered the ruins of a grand palace, the center of the Minoan civilization
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Minoans The grand palace was in the city of Knossos
It had many rooms including private quarters for the royal family, bathrooms, storehouses, and workshops
The Minoans made their wealth from trade and by 2000 B.C. controlled the eastern Mediterranean Sea
The Minoan civilization suddenly collapsed c. 1450 B.C.
Possible theories: earthquake/tsunami, invaded by Mycenaeans, volcanic eruption of Thera
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans were originally from central Asia
They invaded Greece around 1900 B.C., conquering the people and becoming the first Greek kings
Each Mycenaean kingdom had a fortified palace at its center where the ruler lived
Mycenaean palaces were also the center of much artisan work, government oversight, and storehouses
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans soon began to trade with the Minoans,
copying much of the Minoan lifestyles and religion
Around 1400 B.C., the Mycenaeans replaced the Minoans as the major power on the Mediterranean Sea
The Mycenaeans were also very successful in battles (i.e. Trojan War)
By 1100 B.C., much of the Mycenaean civilization had collapsed due to earthquakes, fighting within kingdoms
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Mycenaeans The years between 1100 B.C. and 750 B.C. became
known as the Dark Age Farmers grew food only for their families Education ceased Many Greeks left the mainland, expanding the reach
of Greek culture
The Dorians moved in and settled on the Peloponnesus peninsula Advanced weapons and farm technology
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Mycenaeans Gradually people began to farm and educate again
Adopted the idea of an alphabet from the Phoenicians
As the Greek population grew, cities began sending people outside Greece to start colonies
Colony – a settlement in a new territory that keeps close ties to its homeland
Colonization led to the growth of trade and industry
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Polis At the end of the Dark Age, many nobles had overthrown
the Greek kings and created city-states, known as a polis
Acropolis – a fortified area at the top of a hill used as a gathering place in the polis Sometimes a religious center
Agora – an open area below the acropolis that served as both a market and a meeting/debating place
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Citizenship The Greeks were the first people to develop the idea of
citizenship
Each Greek city-state was run by its citizens
Citizens – members of a political community who treat each other as equals and who have rights and responsibilities Free native-born men who owned land Women, children might qualify, but without rights
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Citizenship Rights – elect officials, pass laws, hold office, own property
In return, citizens must serve in government and fight as citizen soldiers
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens The rule by the nobles began to decline by 650 B.C.
Small farmers demanded changes in the power structure and merchants and artisans wanted to be a part of government
Both groups were very wealthy, but were not citizens because they did not own land
The growing frustration led to the rise of tyrants
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens Tyrant – someone who takes power by force and rules with
total authority
Tyrants overthrew the nobles during the 600’s B.C. with the backing of the common people
Tyrants became popular with the people by building new marketplaces, temples, and walls
However, most Greeks wanted rule by law with all citizens participating in government
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens By 500 B.C., most city-states had become either oligarchies
or democracies
Oligarchy – a form of government in which only a few people hold power
Democracy – a form of government in which all citizens share in running the government
Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy) became two of the most powerful governments of early Greece
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens Sparta was founded by the Dorians who conquered and
enslaved their neighbors to be workers These captive workers were called helots
Fearing the helots might someday rebel, the government firmly controlled the people and trained the men for war
Spartan soldiers were trained until age 30, but remained in the army until age 60
Spartan girls were trained in sports – running & wrestling
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens The Spartan government included two kings which headed
a council of elders who presented laws to an assembly
The assembly voted on the laws and chose 5 ephors Ephor – a person who enforced the laws and managed
tax collection
By focusing on military training, the Spartans fell behind in trade, technology and science, but played a key role in defending Greece
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens The Athenian lifestyle and government was much different
than that of the Spartans
Athenians focused on providing boys a good education, “the 3 R’s,” sports, and music
At age 18, boys finished school and became citizens
Most Athenian girls were taught at home by their mothers
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
Sparta and Athens During the 600’s B.C., Athens was an oligarchy ruled by
landowning nobles
During the early 500’s B.C., the government was in much turmoil due to rebellion by the farmers
After much reform by a noble, Solon; a tyrant, Peisistratus; and Cleisthenes, the most important leader, the Athenian government became a democracy
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Persian Empire The people of Persia lived in what is today southwestern
Iran
Cyrus the Great (559 B.C. to 530 B.C.) united the Persians into a powerful kingdom, larger than any in the world
In 539 B.C., Cyrus’ armies captured Babylon, northern Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, and the Phoenician cities
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Persian Empire Persian leaders who followed Cyrus conquered Egypt,
western India, and Thrace
King Darius (521 B.C.) reorganized the government, dividing the empire into 20 states called satrapies
The king’s power depended upon the strength of his army
The Persian government paid people to be full-time soldiers, unlike the Greek city-states (citizen soldiers)
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Persian Wars The Greeks often clashed with the Persians while setting
up colonies in the Mediterranean region
The Greeks and the Persians fought in several key battles
Battle of Marathon – the Athenians successfully defeated the Persians as they attempted to attack Athens
King Xerxes, Darius’ son, vowed revenge against the Athenians
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Persian Wars An Athenian general, Themistocles, determined the
best strategy to defeat the Persians would be to attack their ships and cut off supplies to the Persian army
Battle of Thermopylae – most Greek soldiers survived but Sparta’s King Leonidas and several hundred others fought to the death, losing this battle
Strait of Salamis – naval battle the Greeks won decidedly with smaller, faster, and easier to steer ships
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Persian Wars Battle of Plataea (479 B.C.) – the Greek army crushed
the Persian army at Plataea, northwest of Athens This battle convinced the Persians to retreat to
Asia Minor
The Fall of the Persian Empire A weakened army, high taxes which led to rebellions, and
fighting within the royal family made Persia vulnerable to attack
Conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C.
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Age of Pericles
150,000
35,000
100,000
Population of Athens, 400s B.C.
CitizensForeignersSlaves
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Age of Pericles Persians remained a threat to Greece
Delian League – group of city-states, including Athens, but not Sparta who united in 478 B.C. to defend themselves against the Persians Also worked to drive Persia out of Greek territories
Most of the troops, commanders and chief officials were from Athens
Soon grew into more than a partnership, but an empire
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Age of Pericles Democracy in Athens
Their system of government was a direct democracy People gather at mass meetings to decide
government matters and every citizen can vote on laws and policies
Representative democracy (U.S.) – citizens choose a smaller group of representatives to make laws and governmental decisions on their behalf
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Age of Pericles Usually fewer than 6,000 men attended the assembly
meetings, which were held every 10 days
The assembly passed all laws, elected officials, and made decisions on war and foreign affairs
Ten officials known as generals carried out the assembly’s laws and policies
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Age of Pericles Pericles – one of the leading figures in Athenian politics
Guided Athens for more than 30 years
Helped Athens dominate/control the Delian league
Strived to make Athens more democratic
The Age of Pericles was a period of cultural prosperity – tremendous creativity and learning
Started a major rebuilding program
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) War between Sparta and Athens for control of Greece
Sparta and Athens did not understand or trust each other and clashed over political ideology and perceived aggression
Both city-states thought they could easily win the war
Pericles knew the Spartans could defeat the Athenians in open land battles
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) During the second year of the war, a plague spread
throughout Athens, killing one-third of the people
The Spartans made a deal with the Persian Empire They exchanged Greek territory in Asia Minor for
enough money to build a navy
Sparta’s new navy destroyed the Athenian fleet
One year later, after losing more land battles, Athens surrendered
Chapter 4The Early Greeks
The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 B.C.) Effects of the war
Weakened all of the major Greek city-states
Many people died, farms were destroyed, people lost jobs
Made it impossible for the Greeks to unite and work together again
30 years later, war broke out again, further weakening the kingdom