Key Ideas
Ancient Greek civilization was primarily a mixture of Minoan, Mycenaean and Dorian civilization. It developed in the island of Crete, Peloponnesus and Asia Minor. Greeks were the products of intermarriage between the Dorians and the original inhabitants. Though the Greeks had certain things in common such as language, customs and religion, they organized city-states rather than a nation., The 2 most important city-states were Athens and Sparta. ATHENS developed a democratic government while SPARTA opted for militaristic state. During the Hellenic Age, Greece freedom was threatened by Persian invasions. However, the Greeks were able to overpower them in the Battles of Marathon and Salamis. Athens became the most powerful city-state and the head of the Delian League. Athens reached its Golden Age during the reign of Pericles. Rivalries between Athens and the other city-states resulted in the Peloponnesian War. The conquest of Greece by Philip of Macedonia ended the Hellenic Age.
found in the southeastern Europe Bounded in the north by the former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, in the northwest by Albania and in the northeast by Turkey. Bordered by seas on three sides: east – Aegean Sea ; West – Ionian Sea and South – Mediterranean Sea.
Ancestors: Indo-Europeans from the valley of Danube. Descendants of the Danubes were grouped into 4 main Greek tribes: 1. Achaeans 2. Ionians 3. Dorians 4. Aetolians Ionians are represented by artistic Athenians while the Dorians are represented by the militaristic Spartans.
1st – considered themselves as Greeks and other people as non-Greeks or barbarians (they believed that descended from a common mythological ancestor called HELLEN) 2nd – they spoke the same language 3rd – they had a uniform writing 4th – they worshipped the same gods and goddesses and joined in celebrating religious festivals in their honor (all Greeks believed that the gods and goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus) 5th – they held Olympic Games as national events that brought thousands of Greeks from all parts of the country together.
MINOAN CIVILIZATION
The earliest Greek civilization developed in Crete. Crete was the center of civilization in the Aegean Sea. It was used as a stop-over on the trade routes between Europe and Africa and between Africa and Asia, hence it became the commercial center in the Aegean Sea. The civilization which developed in Crete has been called MINOAN for King Minos. The Minoans had a system of writing and used bronze tools and weapons, carried extensive manufacturing. Their art showed their love for athletics and nature.
MYCENAEAN CIVILIZATION About 1900 BC, Mycenaeans migrated to the Greek peninsula. Mycenaeans built the cities of Mycenae and Tiryns; attacked Crete and destroyed most of its cities. Mycenaean civilization flourished in mainland Greece specifically in Peloponnesus. Its emergence marked the Bronze Age in Greek history. Protective walls surround the location of Mycenae. Bronze was the primary metal used for warfare. Engage in trade. Colonize neighboring islands in the eastern Mediterranean
It is a important city in Asia Minor due to its strategic location on the Hellenspont ( a strait connecting two major bodies of water – the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea) Dardanelles – new name of Hellenspont TROJAN WAR – the Greeks (Mycenaens) were irked by Troy’s forced collection of tolls on their ships that passes through Hellenspont. It was immortalized by Homer in two epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. According to Homer the 10-year war was caused by the abduction of beautiful Helen, wife of King Agamemnon, by Paris, the prince of Troy and King Priam’s son.
GREEK CITY-STATES
Political unit : Polis (city- state) Territorial jurisdiction: the city & surrounding lands Greek city-states had walls for protection against the enemy Form of Government: Monarchy Oligarchy
Aristocracy
Tyranny
Democracy
DEMOCRATIC ATHENS
found in Attica, known as the largest Greek city-state monarchy aristocracy democarcy Archons – composed of nine nobles who ruled Athens when monarchy was overthrown. Factors that caused the downfall of the nobility: (1) emergence of a heavily armed infantry of citizens (2) money in the form of coins (3) rise of business class
Draco: 1st reformer of Athens; proposed the Draconian Law
Solon – 2nd reformer of Athens; granted more reforms which really democratized the government. (1) the poor people called, thetes, were given the right to vote for public officials (2) a court of appeals composed of citizens from all classes was created to review the decisions of the regular courts (3) all debts contracted by the poor during hard times were cancelled. (4) no person could be sold into slavery for debt
Credited with having established democracy in Athens, Cleisthenes' reforms at the end of the 6th Century BC made possible the Golden Age of Athenian civilization that would follow in the 5th Century BC. Born into one of the city's foremost political dynasties, he became the unlikely champion of the people when they rebelled against tyranny.
Political reforms: (1) Each village in Attica was organized into self-governing community called DEME (2) Deme were combined into 10 tribes (3) A “Council of Five Hundred” was established to administer public affairs of Athens (4) A board of 10 generals (strategoi) takes charge of all military matters. (5) Introduction of the system of OSTRACISM to prevent the rise of a tyrant.
Spartans
Athenians
Conservative Militaristic Frugal Brief in speech No interest in amassing wealth Neglected arts, literature and music Highly esteemed warlike virtues such as courage, austerity and endurance
Inclined to democratic way of life Mentally alert Freedom-loving Cultured Fond of arts, music, literature, philosophy, public speaking and debate.