Transcript Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Ancient Greece Impact of Geography • Greece consists of mountainous peninsula’s and numerous islands. ( It’s about the size of Louisiana) • Mountains- about 80% of Greece is mountainous. ( Olympus is the highest peak). • The mountain ranges isolated the Greeks from one another, causing different Greek communities to develop their own ways of life. • Seas- The Aegean, Mediterranean, Ionian, and Black seas make up a high percentage of Greece’s coastline. The Greeks used these seas to sail and spread their civilization. Minoans/Mycenaeans • They were not Greek but had a large influence on the people of Greece. They set up a flourishing civilization on the island of Crete. • They were known for their trading. They traded fine jewelry, pottery, gold, and silver. Homer: Poet of the Dark Age • Homer proved to be of great value to the Greeks. He both created and recorded history. The values that Homer taught were courage and honor. • Epic poem- a long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero. Iliad and Odyssey • These were based on stories that had been passed from generation to generation. • These were the first great epic poems of early Greece. • The Greeks looked on the Iliad and the Odyssey as true history and as the work of one poet, Homer. These epics came to be used as basic texts for education and recruitment. The Greek City-States • The Greeks called their city-states a polis. • These became the central focus of Greek life. ( our word politics is derived from polis.) • The loyalty that citizens had to their citystates led to distrust between them and a division within Greece. ( this would eventually lead to the ruin of Greece) • Geography also played a role. Why so? Types of Government • Oligarchy- government in which a few rule. • Democracy- government by the people or rule of the many. • This was the first attempt at a democratic style of government. • What are some positive traits of democracy? Two Rival City-States • Sparta vs. Athens Sparta • The “Spartans” were rigidly organized and tightly controlled. They wanted to gain more land and take over more colonies. • Known as a “Powerful Military State” • The Spartan government was an oligarchy headed by two kings. • The art of war was the Spartan ideal and everything else came after that. Athens • Athens was also ruled by an oligarchy under the control of its aristocrats. These aristocrats owned the best land and controlled political life. The assembly of all the citizens had few powers. • Solon- powerful aristocrat that saved Athens from civil war by fixing their serious economic problems. ( cancelled all land debts and freed people from slavery.) The Athenian Empire ( The Age of Pericles) • ****After the defeat of the Persians, Athens took over control of the entire Greek world.**** • Direct democracy- every male citizen participated directly in government decision making through mass meetings. • Under Pericles, Athens became the center of Greek culture. • The Athenian economy was largely based on farming and trade. • Athens and Sparta would eventually unite together to defeat Persia in war. ***(Peloponnesian War- as a result, Greek was once again divided into TWO major camps: Sparta and Athenian Empire.)*** Greek Philosophy • Philosophy- an organized system of thought. • 3 big names you need to know: 1. Socrates 2. Plato 3. Aristotle Socrates • He left no writings so we only know about him from his pupils work. • He believed that people could be happy by living moral lives, and that they could be taught to do so. • Used the Socratic Method- a question-and-answer format to lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reason. ( self-knowledge) • Socrates was known to question authority. He was accused and convicted of corrupting the youth of Athens by teaching them to question and think for themselves. ( He was sentenced to death- drank hemlock) Plato • Was a student of Socrates’ and considered by many the greatest philosopher of Western civilization. • His big question was- “ How do we know what is real?” • Plato explained his ideas about government in a work called The Republic. • Plato also believed that both men/women should have the same education and equal access to all positions. (city-state of Athens) Aristotle • Was the most famous pupil at the Academy( school in Athens opened by Plato) • Aristotle believed that people’s happiness was tied to their behavior. • He defined categories of study with names such as: logic, biology, and physics. • ***He believed that the leaders of government should be chosen by the people.*** • He is often viewed as the most influential thinker in the Western world. • His ideas dominated the best minds of Europe for centuries and are still studied today. The Olympics • The Olympic Games of ancient Greece were held between the city-states every four years. The Greeks honored their athletes and gods at these games. ( most importantly the Greek God named Zeus) • Athletes that won were rewarded with celebrity and a wide variety of gifts. • Examples of events were: footraces, wrestling, boxing, javelin, discus, long jumping, and chariot racing. Alexander and the Hellenistic Era • Alexander the Great- was only 20 years old when he became king. • He was motivated by the desire for glory and empire but also to avenge the Persian burning of Athens. Alexander’s Legacy • His success is explained by his leadership and military skills. He was a master of strategy and tactics, able to fight in all terrains and against all opponents. • He extended Greek and Macedonian rule over a vast area, which brought large quantities of gold/silver into their economies. • Alexander left a cultural legacy. Due to his conquests, Greek language, architecture, literature, and art spread throughout most of Asia and Africa. ( Known as the Hellenistic Era/Culture) Hellenistic Era • The Hellenistic Era was a period of considerable cultural accomplishments in the following areas: science, philosophy, and mathematics. • Many new ideas, theories, thinking patterns were developed. The world would never be looked at the same. • Many of these ideas are still in circulation today (such as: astronomy and the concept of earth rotating)