Classical Empires

Early Aegean Civilization

Would You Rather…….

Indus River Valley, Pakistan

Island of Ithaca, Greece

The Greek City-StatesCh. 4 (pp. 116 - 129)

Key Concept 2.1 The Development and Codification of Religious and Cultural TraditionsKey Concept 2.2 The Development of States and Empires

Essential Question: What were the distinctive beliefs, philosophies, and arts of Greek civilization?

The Rise of the GreeksGreek civilization

arose in the lands around the Aegean Sea

Land around the Aegean was difficult to navigate◦Sea travel become

preferred method of commerce

The Emergence of the Polis

Due to geographical isolation city-states (polis) developed in Greece, as opposed to a single centralized empire◦ Often shared many

similarities Ex. Basic religious tenets Ex. Patriarchal social

structures◦ Could also differ in terms

of cultural, political, economic traits Ex. Athens vs. Sparta

Rise of the City-State

Polis

A Direct Result of Geography

Fundamental political unit

City & Surrounding Land; Home to 10,000 people or less

The Persian WarsGreek city-states often warred with one another, but

unified in the 400s B.C.E. when they were attacked by the Persians

The Persian Wars◦ Greeks under the leadership of Athens defeated the Persians

The Athenian EmpireAs a result of the

Athenians success, Athens, in essence, became the center of the Greek Empire

Athens projected military power of its weaker neighbors◦The Hellenic League

(req. tribute payments)◦Experienced a golden

age of culture & commerce

GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS Pericles – led Athens

Most democratic governments EVER Strongest navy Glorified Athens

How do you “GLORIFY” Athens? Architecture, Art, and Drama

The Golden Age of Athens

Legal systems (law codes) & bureaucracies were created to control subjects

Ex. Athenian democracy

The Golden Age of AthensTrade was

promoted and currency was issued

Patriarchal social structures included classes such as slaves, artisans, merchants, elites, etc.

Classical Art Created figures that were perfectly

formed Graceful, strong

Faces only showed serenity Portray ideal beauty, not realism

The Golden Age of AthensForms of artistic expression were

developed that later influenced neighboring regions in later time periods

Ex. Greek plays

Drama Built the first theaters in the West Two kinds of drama

Tragedy – serious drama about love, hate, war

Comedy – crude humor or slapstick situations

The Golden Age of Athens

Distinctive architectural styles were developed◦Marble or

limestone◦Decorated frieze◦Columns

supported by base

The Golden Age of Athens

The city of Athens itself served as:◦ Center for trade◦ A place for religious ceremonies◦ Hub of political administration

The Fall of the Greeks Athens fell in 404 B.C.E. to the Spartans as a result of the

inequality of imperial rule Peloponnesian Wars

By 387 B.C.E., the Greeks were exhausted from civil war and were unable to prevent the Persians from reconquering most of Greece

Philosophers “Lovers of Wisdom” Greek thinkers that questioned beliefs

and ideas about justice and other values Three important thinkers:

Socrates Plato Aristotle

Socrates Absolute standards

did exist for truth and justice

Examine your beliefs Many people have

contradictory beliefs “Socratic method” “There is only one

good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”

Condemned to death – drank poison

Plato Student of Socrates Wrote The Republic Ideal society – all

citizens would fall naturally into three groups

Philosopher-king = person with greatest insight

Founded The Academy

Aristotle Student of Plato Questioned the

nature of the world and of human thought

Provides the basis of the Scientific Method

Founded the “Lyceum” school

Alexander the Great was his student