Chap 5, Ancient Greece

A. Minoan Civilization
A. Minoan CivilizationB. Rulers of Mycenae
C. The Age of Homer

Crete was home to a brilliant early civilization
Called Minoans, named after Minos, a legendary king of Crete
Their success was based on trade
Vast palace at Knossos
Women had freedoms
By 1400 BC the civilization ended

B. Rulers of Mycenae
The Mycenaeans conquered Greek mainland and then Crete
Dominated the area 1400-1200 BC
They lived in city-states
Went to war with Troy, 1250 BC
Ten year war, ended with Trojan Horse
Heinrich Sliemann excavated ancient Troy, evidence that it was not legend.

C. The Age of Homer
The Dorians invaded Greece from the north.
From 1100 to 800 BC Greece went backward
Two great Greek epics from this era, by Homer, the Iliad and Odyssey.
These poem/stories reveal much about the Greeks: the heroes, like Achilles, display courage, honor, eloquence…
Agamemnon wanted Troy; so he agreed to help Menelaus go get his wife Helen back

5.2 Sparta and Athens
5.3 Wars and Golden Age
 

Greek trade - colonies
Greek colonies were threatened by Persia
Greeks in Ionia rebelled in 499 BC
Persians crushed the rebel cities
Darius sends fleet to punish Athens, landing at Marathon, 2-1 outnumbering Greeks
Pheidippides sent 26.2 miles to Athens
P returned under Xerxes, 480 BC

Persian War
Pericles
Peloponnesian War
Greek Colonies
Persian War Peloponnesian War Alexander
Peloponnesian War

5.4 Greek Philosophers
Philosophers
Some Greek thinkers denied that events were caused by the whims of the gods.
They used observation and reason to find causes for what happened
These were philosophers, “lovers of wisdom”
They explored math, physics, music, logic, moral behavior
These are the roots of modern science
The Sophists
Questioned accepted ideas about truth and justice
Success is more important than moral truths
They urged students to develop skills in rhetoric, the art of skillful speaking
Clever words could advance ones career
Many young Athenians followed the Sophists because of the turmoil of the Peloponnesan War
Older citizens condemned the Sophists for undermining traditional values. Socrates was one of these critics
Socrates
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
He challenged all around him to examine their beliefs and ideas.
He was put on trial for corrupting the city’s youth, and
Failing to respect the gods
Socrates forced to drink hemlock
Plato..Ideas About Government
Plato left Athens for 10 years after the death of Socrates
When he returned he set up the Academy
Emphasized the importance of reason
In The Republic:
State should regulate citizens’ lives
Children should be raised communally
Workers, soldiers, philosopher-kings
Talented women should be educated
Aristotle
Analyzed governments
Monarchy. Rule by a king
Aristocracy. Rule by the talented, the elite
Democracy. Could lead to mob rule
In the end he favored rule by a single strong and virtuous leader
People ought to live by the “golden mean”, between the extremes
Reason should be the guiding force
The first universities in Europe 1500 years later were based on Aristotle.
Raphael’s Plato and Aristotle
Plato
Argued that every form on earth had an ideal form.
The work of Greek artists reflected the same concern with form and order.
The Parthenon dedicated to Athena
Sculpture was realistic, yet idealistic, showing men in their most perfect form
Painting fits the shape of pottery
All this is called Classical Greek
Greek Drama - Tragedies
Aeschylus. Oresteia. On the Trojan War…pride can bring misfortune, the gods can bring down the greatest heroes
Sophocles. Antigone. Antigone is put to death for burying her brother. Duty to god versus human law.
Euripides. Trojan Women. Did not glamorize war, showed how women suffered.
Writing of History
Herodotus. “Father of History” Researched many lands.
Thucydides. Wrote about the Peloponnesian War; savagery and corrupting influence on both sides.
These historians taught research and avoiding bias.

5.5 Alexander the Great
Alexander: Encouraged learning and the arts
Alexander the Great…
Alexander’s Empire - How big?
Hellenestic Civilization