Ancient Greece

Early People of The Agean

Crete was the cradle of Greek civilization
Absorbed many ideas from the Egyptians and

Mesopotamia
MINOANS=Named after Minos, legendary king of Crete

(we are not sure what the Minoans called themselves)

Reached their height between 1600 and 1500 BCE

Trade and Prosper

Rulers of the trade empire lived in a palce at Knosses
Included rooms and shrines to the gods/goddesses

Knosses
Covered with Frescoes that told about the society
Depictions of leaping dolphins They worshipped the bull and Mother Goddess Women had rights equal to men

Minoans Disappear
By 1400 BCE, the civilization vanished
Theories include: Earthquake, volcanic eruption,

tsunami..invaders??

Trade and War in Mycenae

Mycenaeans were an Indo European people
Conquered the Greek mainland before overrunning Crete

(where the Monoans were)

Sea Trade and Wealth

From 1400 BCE to 1200 BCE, Mycenaean civilization

dominates the Aegean

They were sea traders that reached out to Sicily, Italy,

Egypt, Mesopotamia
Absorbed skills and culture from the Minoans (like writing) Lived in city-states on mainland where warrior kings

would govern

The Trojan War

Mycenaeans best remembered for their part in Trojan War
Root of conflict probably due to conflict between Mycenae

and Troy (modern day Turkey)

Most scholars believe the war was an actual event,

however, Homers Iliad was probably all legend

Homer and the Great Legends

After the victory at Troy, the Mycenaens came under

conquest from the Dorians in the north

From 1100 BCE to 900 BCE, Greek civilization seemed to

go backwards
From the age, a blind poet named Homer writes the Iliad

and the Odyssey

Looking Ahead
After the Dorian Invasion, Greece didnt flourish much
Out of the dark age, Greece would emerge as one of the

most powerful areas in the world

Rise of City States

Greeks absorbed new ideas from Mesopotamia and Egypt
However, the polis was definitely unique to Greek

culture

Geography Shapes Greece

Mountains divide peninsulas into isolated valleys
Greece consists of hundreds of rocky islands Because of Geography, this is what probably led to the

formation of smaller city states that included a city and the surrounding countryside

Geography

Life by the Sea

Seas provided a vital link to the outside world
Greece had hundreds of bays that offered safe harbor for

ships
Greeks became skilled sailors and carried cargoes of olive

oil, wine, and grains

Greeks imported the Phoenecian alphabet

Eventually, Greeks had to expand all throughout the

Mediterranean and set up small colonies

Question

How did the seas

contribute to Greek commerce?

The Guided tour

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Nap-0421

Governing City-States
Polis= major city or town surrounded by a countryside
Included marketplace, theater, public buildings, and

homes
People of the polis were known as citizens, but only

male landowners had the political power

Governments Evolve
Between 750 and 500 BCE, different governments come

into existence
At first, poleis were ruled by a king

Landowners defended the king and some elite became

the aristocracy
As trade expands, the middle class grows

Oligarchy forms where power is in hands of the wealthy

New Warfare
650BCE, Iron Weapons replaced bronze weapons
The phalanx emerged as the new method of fighting, it

created a strong sense of unity among citizen soldiers

Phalanx reduced class differences, nobles fought

alongside farmers
This new warfare led to the the creation of two of the most

influential city-states

Sparta: Warrior Society

With the many slaves in Sparta, the city-state needed

strict control over rebellion

Government included 2 kings, a council of elders, an

assembly of citizens, 5 ephors who ran the day-to day operations

At age 7, boys began their warrior training, developed into

soldiers for war

By 20 could marry but still had to live in the barracks

Sparta (cont.)
Women of Sparta had rigorous upbringing too
They were encouraged to exercise and strengthen their

bodies
Women had the right to inherit property

Sparta (cont.)
Spartans looked down on other Greeks
Trade and wealth was frowned upon Spartans were willing to die for their cities because they

had no reason to live

Athens
Athens evolves from monarchy into an aristocracy
Under aristocracy, wealth and power grows Merchants and farmers resent the nobles, demand change Athens moves slowly towards a democracy

Solon Reforms Government

Solon was appointed chief official in 594 BCE
Athenians allowed him to make reforms He outlawed debt slavery, opened more offices to citizens,

granted citizenship to foreigners, gave the assembly more say in decisions

Encouraged import and export

Unfortunately, many of his reforms led to the creation of

tyrants

Solon

Citizens share power and wealth

The Athenian Tyrant Pisistratus helped farmers by giving

them noble lands

In 507, Cleisthenes broadened roles of ordinary citizens in

government, he created a genuine legislature

Only citizens could participate in government, but, Athens

gave more people a say compared to any other ancient civilization

Women and Youth

Women were important in religion, they participated in

processions and ceremonies

Women were the homemakers and poorer women

worked outside of the home

Boys attended school if families could afford it Studied music, poetry, athletics, etc.

The Unity that Existed

Spoke a common language, similar cultures
Most Greeks were polytheistic and believed in the same

gods
Built temples, had processions/fests for them
Greeks had a certain pride about their culture, called

foreigners barbaroi