GREEK CIVILIZATION

1000 BC – 323 BC

ORIGIN Refers to areas of Hellenic culture that

were settled by ancient Greeks; Greek peninsula, Cyprus, Aegean coast of Turkey (Ionia), Sicily and southern Italy (Magna Graecia).

Started in 1000 BC and ended in 323 BC (the death of Alexander the Great).

ORIGIN Succeeded by Hellenistic Greece / culture /

period – the integration of ancient Greek into Roman empire.

Ancient Greek culture and civilization – influenced the later Roman civilization and was the foundation of Western civilization (language, politics, philosophy, art and architecture).

ORIGIN The ancient Greeks- an Indo-European

race. Migrated southward from the region of

lower Danube River after 2000 BC to Greek peninsula, which was called “Hellas”.

The settled Greek people called “Hellenes”.

ORIGIN By 8th cent. BC – the emergence of self-

governing communities or city states. Later, the expansion of Greek colonies;

Aegean coast of Asia Minor, Cyprus, Balkans, Sicily, Southern Italy, south coast of France, northeastern Spain, Egypt and Libya.

Greek civilization flourished from 600 – 200 BC.

GOVERNMENT The city (polis) – the basic unit of Greek

government. “Acropolis” from “akros” (top) and “polis”

(city) means a big city. By 6th cent BC – dominant Greek cities;

Athens, Sparta, Corinth and Thebes. The most famous, Acropolis of Athens.

GOVERNMENT Each had a control over the surrounding

rural areas and smaller towns. Athens and Corinth – major maritime and

mercantile powers. Athens – naval power. Athens – practiced political democracy.

GOVERNMENT The dominance of Athens after the Persian

Wars (late 5th cent BC). By mid 5th cent BC – the establishment of

an Athenian Empire. Athenian culture flourished, esp. during the

Golden Age of Athens under the rule of Pericles. The “Age of Pericles” (460-430 BC)

GOVERNMENT Following the reform of laws (by Solon,

Cleisthenes) – the establishment of an assembly of adult male citizens; vote of majority.

Adopted by many other Greek cities. The “Laws of Athens” – spelled out state

laws and rights of citizens.

ACROPOLIS ATHENS

ACROPOLIS ATHENS

MAP OF ACROPOLIS IN SOCRATES’ AND PLATO’S

TIME

PERICLES

GOVERNMENT Athens versus Sparta. Sparta - military power; the best army in

ancient Greece. Militarist regime under a dual monarchy.

The rise of Sparta after the Peloponnesian War – Athens versus Sparta and its allies.

Ended the Athenian Empire - Sparta became the new dominant Greek power.

GOVERNMENT Sparta was ruled by two hereditary kings –

checked each other’s influence. The duties of the kings – religious, judicial

and military. Later, the dominance of Thebes. Followed by the invasion of Greek cities

by Macedonia; King Philip II and his son, Alexander.

GOVERNMENT Driven by the desire to free Greek cities

from Persian influence. Alexander’s empire – Persia, Egypt, Syria,

Mesopotamia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The establishment of Greek-speaking

kingdoms in Egypt, Syria and Persia – practiced Hellenistic culture.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

SOCIETY Striking feature in ancient Greek society :

Free men Slaves

Only free men could be citizens of a city-state and entitled to full protection of the law.

In Athens, the free men were divided into four social classes based on wealth.

SOCIETY Could change classes if made more money. In Sparta – given the title of “equal” if they

finished their education. Slaves had no power or status. Had no right

to have a family, own property, and did not have legal and political rights.

Many slaves from non-Greek people.

SOCIETY By the 5th cent. BC – slaves made up 1/3 of

the total population in some city-states. Described as “living tools”; as household

servants and laborers. Also city-states’ slaves or public slaves –

greater independence than household slaves and performed specialized tasks.

Temple slaves – as servants of the temple.

SOCIETY Slaves in Sparta called “Helots” – war

captives owned by state and assigned to families. Mainly farmers – to provide food.

Received harsh treatment, controlled through the secret police or “Krypteia” – led to revolts by helots.

“Peroikoi” - Spartan subjugated people – as traders and craftsmen.

SOCIETY Ordinary Spartans were soldiers, trained to

become soldiers from their early life. Emphasis on military fitness and training. Prohibited by law from trade, commerce or

crafts.

RELIGION Greek mythology. Legendary stories of Greek gods by Greek

poets; e.g. Homer and Hesiod. Gods and goddesses and ancient religious

festivals. E.g. Panathenaea and Olympic Games.

Zeus (father of the gods), Hera (Argos), Poseidon (sea and Corinth), Hades (under-

RELIGION world), Athena (Athens), Aphrodite

(Corinth and Cythera, beauty and love), Apollo (sun , poetry, music, art and manly grace), Artemis (moon, wild nature, athletic girlhood), Ares (war), Hermes (messenger of the gods and patron of athletes).

MYTHOGRAPHY OF GREECE

A model of the Temple of Zeus 

Temple of Sounion 

Chariot race

RELIGION Gods’ intervention into human affairs;

wars and conflicts seen as punishments by gods for evil doings of the people (divine punishments).

Opposed by Greek moralists and philosophers.

Insisted that there was a “higher power of justice” (moral order).

“SCHOOL OF HELLAS” Athens as the centre of learning, art,

architecture, Greek literature and philosophy.

Famous philosophers; Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.

Historians Herodotus, Thucydides, etc. Athens as the “School of Hellas”.

PHILOSOPHY Greek words philo (love) and sophia

(wisdom). Philosophy means ‘love of knowledge’.

The Greeks were the first people who asked “Why is the world the way it is?”

As a response to Greek mythology – rejected popular nature myths – natural calamities as results of gods’ actions.

PHILOSOPHY Took analytical and rational view – e.g. on

the composition of the physical universe. Early philosophers, e.g. Thales,

Democritus, Hippocrates, Parmenides and Heraclitus.

The Sophists, e.g. Protagoras and Aristippus.

PHILOSOPHY The idea of “relative truth” – the truth is

different for each individual. There is no absolute truth about nature or

morals. Also equated morality with success or pleasure.

SOCRATES Opposed the Sophists’ view. Believed in the existence of a higher truth

and that humans possessed virtues (philosophical and intellectual virtues).

Using a technique of careful questioning to obtain the truth – the “Socratic or Dialectical Method” of inquiry.

The “Father of Moral Philosophy”.

SOCRATES Emphasized on morality, good and justice. Virtues as the most valuable possessions –

the ideal life was spent in search of the Good.

The best way to live is to focus on self-development rather than the pursuit of material wealth, concentrate on friendships and a sense of true community.

SOCRATES

SOCRATES Sentenced to death – for denouncing the

popular Greek belief that the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War was a punishment onto the city by goddess Athena.

PLATO The pupil of Socrates and founder of the

Academy (Athens) – the most important intellectual center in the ancient world.

Shared Socrates’ ideas of human virtues. Unlike Socrates, he wrote many books using

“Socratic dialogues”. Famous works e.g. “Doctrine of Ideas” and

“Republic”.

PLATO

PLATO In “Doctrine of Ideas” – physical world as

superficial and spirit world as real. Also about the idea of justice, goodness.

In “Republic” – the ideal state or government, democracy, aristocracy, monarchy, organized society, equality for women, state control over education and art (social and political thoughts).

PLATO Plato’s idea of “philosopher-kings” – to

achieve social justice and order. Plato’s social class system:

Rulers of the state (philosophers) Guardians (soldiers) Producers (workers – common citizens)

PLATO The role of heredity and environment on

human intelligence and personality (the modern theory of nature versus nurture).

Dichotomy between knowledge and opinion (the modern distinction between objective and subjective).

Wrote the story of the lost Atlantis in his “Timaeus” and “Critias”.

ARISTOTLE A student of Plato and teacher of

Alexander the Great. The founder of Lyceum (Athens). Wrote many works on various subjects;

physics, metaphysics, anatomy, astronomy, geology, psychology, politics, zoology, geography, logic, biology, poetry, economics, meteorology, economics ,

ARISTOTLE

ARISTOTLE rhetoric, literature and poetry. “Nicomachean Ethics” – a person should

continually behave virtuously. “Aristonian Logic” – logic is the important

key to truth and happiness. Developed systematic rules for logical thinking.

Described as an encyclopedia of Greek knowledge.

PLATO & ARISTOTLE

LANGUAGE AND WRITING Latin language and Latin alphabet – the

root of Roman language and alphabet. Invented five vowels (a,e,i,o,u).

HISTORY Herodotus, the “Father of History”. His work “Historia” (Investigation) –

based on his extensive travel. Discussed the life, customs, history and

politics of the Middle Eastern and Aegean region.

Separated facts from legends and wrote based on direct observation and evidence.

HISTORY Thucydides – wrote on the Peloponnesian

War using primary sources. Emphasized on the complexity of human

motivations.

MEDICINE Hippocrates established the first school of

physician. Diseases and sickness were not due

supernatural or magical reason. Recorded on classified symptoms and

detail observation of ill patients. “Hippocratic Oath”.

LITERATURE The Greeks loved stories and tales. Poet Homer, wrote famous Greek epics,

“Illiad” and “Odyssey”. Poet Hesiod – wrote about Greek gods and

goddesses. Epic poetry and lyric poetry. Drama and theater; tragedy and comedy.

LITERATURE Inspired later Western writers, e.g. William

Shakespeare. Influenced the later Western dramas and

theaters.

HOMER

ARCHITECTURE Temples and shrines, e.g. “The Parthenon”. Architectural designs (Ionic, Corinthian

and Doric). Statues – images of gods and men. Adopted by later Roman and Western

civilization.

The Zappeion building, Athens

•The United States Capitol in Washington, DC