Chapter 10

Mediterranean Society: The Greek PhaseChapter 101Classical Greece (800350)

2Minoan Society (@ 25001100)Mesopotamians, Egyptians, PhoeniciansMinos legendary kingCenter of Mediterranean tradeWine, olive oil, and wool grain, textiles, manufacturesKnossos royal dwellings & tax storehousesLinear ANatural disasters @ 1700Thera (present-day Santorini)Foreign domination @ 1100

3Mycenaean Society (@ 16001100)Indo-European invaders descended through the BalkansAssimilated with Minoan cultureLinear A Linear BConstruction: fortresses & stone palaces throughout the PeloponnesusMajor settlement: MycenaeMilitary expansionCrete, Sicily, southern Italy

4Chaos in the Eastern MediterraneanMilitary conflictsTrojan War (@ 1200)Various maritime/piratical engagements (@ 1100800)Civil disturbancesResult: civil unrest, population decline, emigration

5The Polis

Citadel, or fortified stateIndependent urban centersDominated rural areasLevied taxesPolitical formsMonarchiesTyrannies not necessarily oppressiveEarly democracies

6SpartaPeloponnesusHighly militarized and acquisitive societyExpanded during 8th and 7th centuriesSubjugated peoples: helotsPrimarily agricultural serfs (not chattel slaves)In time, outnumbered Spartans 10:1Led to increasingly militaristic society

7Spartan SocietyThis . . . not this. . . .

8Spartan SocietyAustere societySimplicity and frugalityDisdained distinctiveness, except in martial mattersMilitaristic educationBoys removed from families at age sevenRigorous military training / lived in barracksActive duty until age 30Girls also underwent exacting physical regimenRelaxation of discipline by 4th century

9AthensThis . . . not this. . . .

10Athens

Development of early democracyComparatively large political base, but: Free, adult males onlyForeigners, women, slaves excludedAthenian societyMaritime trade (7th century)Increases aristocratic power & class / socio-economic tensionsSmall landholders forced into debtor peonage

11Solon and Athenian Democracy638558Averts civil warAristocrats maintain landDebt forgivenessDebt slavery bannedExtension of polityRemoval of lineage restrictionsInstitution of paid civil service

12Pericles495429First citizen of AthensGeneralNaval supremacyZenith of Athenian democracyPopular aristocratInfrastructural programsCultural developmentSciencePhilosophyLiteratureArtArchitecture

13Greek Colonization (8th century)

Poleis population expansionCoastal Mediterranean & Black Sea coloniesImperial government?Effects:Commercial expansionCommunication LanguageCulturePolitical & social effects14Persian Wars (500479)AnatoliaCyrus and DariusIonian coastRevolt, (500) supported by AthensSuppressed by Darius (493)Marathon (490)Herodotus HistoriesDarius dies (486)Xerxes (Darius son) revenge (480)ThermopylaeLeonidas Spartans last standAthens burnedSalamis & AtticaThemistocles Xerxes withdraws

15The Delian LeagueResponse to the Persian menaceLed by AthensSparta refused to joinSuperior navy & militaryOther poleis contributed financiallyPayments fueled Periclean (495-424) expansionResentment

16The Peloponnesian WarCivil war (431-404)Athens v. SpartaNegotiated peace (421)Syracuse (415)Athens capitulates unconditionally Expanded civil strife

17Kingdom of Macedon

Frontier region north of PeloponnesusSemi-autonomous clansBeneficial trade w/ Greece King Philip II (r. 359-336)Greek hostage (368-365)Powerful militaryConsolidated powerImperial designsGreece (338)Assassinated (336)Pausanias of Orestis18Alexander of MacedonExpanded militaryBrilliant strategistInspirational leaderConquered (330-330)Ionia, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, PersiaInvaded India (327)Soldiers wearyReturned (324)Died (323)

19Alexanders Empire, ca. 323 B.C.E.

20The Hellenistic Empires

Power vacuum Empire divided thricelyAntigonus: Greece & MacedonPtolemy: EgpytSeleucus: Persian Achaemenid EmpireHellenistic EraExtension of Greek cultureIntegrated economies and cultures from Greece to India21The Antigonid Empire

Greek conflictPolitical settlementTax relief Local autonomyLand distributionAthensCorinthEmigrationSeleucid empire22The Ptolemaic Empire

Wealthiest Hellenistic empireEfficient organizationAgriculture, industry, taxationRoyal monopoliesTextiles, salt, beerAlexandriaNile River & MediterraneanAdministrative centerMegalopolisCultural centerAlexandrian MuseumAlexandrian Library

23The Seleucid EmpireGreek zenith

Mass Greek colonization

Ai Khanum

Exportation of Greek culture

From Anatolia to Bactria

24Trade and Integration of the Mediterranean BasinLimited Greek agricultureSmall grain harvestsRich in olive and grapesCommercial economyMediterranean SeaBlack SeaTrading linksManufacturesSpread Greek culture

25Panhellenic Festivals

Olympic Games

776 ?

Olympia

Integrated colonies

Quadrennial for millennium26Patriarchal SocietyInfanticide

Women subservient

Priestess

Sparta

Sappho

Poetess

Homosexual double-standard

27SlaveryDebtor slavery

Captured soldiers

Slave trade

Scythians (Russia)

Nubians (Egypt / Sudan)

28The Greek Language

Adapted Phoenician alphabet

Flexible & complex language

Allowed for abstract communication

Philosophy29Socrates (470399)

Pivotal philosophic figureSocratic MethodReflective questioningHonor, personal integrity, justicePlatoPublic gadfly (persistent, irritating critic)Death sentence: immorality and corruption of youth30Plato (430347)Student of SocratesSystematized Socratic thoughtSocratic dialoguesForms, or IdeasMaterial world = shadow of the real worldPerception is realityAllegory of the caveThe RepublicIntellectual aristocracyPhilosopher-king

31Aristotle (389 322 B.C.E.)

32Aristotle (389322)Disciple of Plato

Forms, or Ideas = useless constructs

Emphasized empirical findings, reason

The master of those who know.

33Greek Theology

PolytheisticPersonified supernatural powersSun, wind, rainMythological storiesZeus, Apollo, Fortune, FuriesReligious cultsEleusinian mysteries: moralityDemeter: fertility cultDionysus The BacchaeDomestication of rituals34Tragic DramaEvolution from cultic ritualsMajor playwrightsAeschylusSophoclesEuripidesAristophanes

35Hellenistic PhilosophiesEpicureansPleasure, or quite satisfactionThe greatest goodSkepticsDoubted certaintyStoicsMost respectedUniversal familyDuty, virtue, inner peace

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