CHAPTER 5Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean:
Persia and Greece
World Civilization: The Global ExperienceFifth Edition
Stearns/Adas/Schwartz/Gilbert
Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle EastII. The Hellenistic PeriodIII. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic CultureIV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East
A. The Persians550 B.C.E., Cyrus the Great
Empire
Conquered peoples retain cultureZoroaster
Good vs. evilLast judgment
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East
B. The Political Character of Classical Greece
Variety of politiesAristocracy generally dominant
LiteracyFrom 8th century B.C.E.Iliad, Odyssey
Basis for Hellenic culture
ArchitectureColonnaded buildings
ArtsSculptureBlack and red pottery
The Greek World
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East
C. The City-State as a Political UnitCity-states (polis)
ParticipationAssemblies, councils
500sConflict between aristocracy and
middling class ReformSolon of AthensGreater participation
Poleis deeply unitedPublic religionPolitical participationCultural events, e.g. theatre
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle East
D. The Rise of Democracy in AthensSolonPeisistratusCleisthenes
Council
Popular assemblyOversight of most of the
governmentOffices filled by lot
Who was excluded?WomenSlavesForeigners and their children
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
I. The Persian Empire: Parallel Power in the Middle EastE. Fragmentation and Unity
ColonizationSpread of Greek cultureExpansion of trade
Religious gamesTrucesCompetitionOlympicsDelphi
Conflict between cities
Persian WarsTemporary unityDelian League
Dominated by Athens
Athens versus SpartaPolitical contrastCompeting alliances Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.E.
Athenian surrender, 404 B.C.E.
Greece and Greek Colonies, c. 431 B.C.E.
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
II. The Hellenistic Period
Spread of Greek rule, Greek cultureFormation of a common cultural area
Mediterranean, Near East
A. Macedonian ConquestMacedon compared to southern Greece
Monarchy v. city-statePlains v. mountainousLinguistic differences
Philip II (359-336 B.C.E.)By 338 B.C.E., Greece conquered
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
II. The Hellenistic Period
B. Alexander the GreatConquests, 334-331 B.C.E.
Into India, EgyptCities founded
AlexandriaDeath, 323 B.C.E.
Alexander’s Empire and the Hellenistic World,, c. 323 B.C.E.
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
II. The Hellenistic Period
C. Later Hellenistic StatesDivision
“Successor states”Alexander’s generals ruleEgypt: Ptolemies
Relative stabilityPersia: Seleucids
Macedonia: AntigonidsCivil wars
BactriaBlend of Indian and Greek
culture
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture
A. Religion, Philosophy, and Science
ReligionPantheon of gods with human
traitsMystery religions
More emotional
PhilosophySocrates
SkepticismPlato
StoicsMoral fortitude
SciencePythagorasEuclidGalenArchimedes
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture
B. Literature and the Visual ArtsDrama
Public, religious, typified by conflict
SophoclesTragedy
AristophanesComedy
Oral epicHomer
HistoryHerodotusThucydides
Visual artsPublic
e.g. temples, victory sculptureHuman achievement central
Especially in Hellenistic period
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
III. Creativity in Greek and Hellenistic Culture
C. Hellenistic CultureFocus on exact sciences
Geometry, medicine, etc.Art more emotional, less idealizedPhilosophy emphasizes withdrawal, not
engagement
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
IV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society
A. Economic and Social Structure
Aristocracy
Power from land, military role
Economic expansion, colonization
Challenges role of aristocracy
Merchants
Ambiguous place in society
Slavery
From captives
B. Men, Women, and Social DivisionsPatriarchy
Women
Legal and cultural disabilities
Adultery in men tolerated
Punishable in women
Some improvement in Hellenistic period
Chapter 5: Classical Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Persia and Greece
Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007
IV. Patterns of Greek and Hellenistic Society
C. A Complex LegacyIdeas
No lasting polities
Artistic legacyDirect and indirectConsciously imitated, revivedMingled with Middle Eastern
legacy