🏛️Arts of Classical Greece Unit 5 – Archaic Greece: Late Developments (530-480 BCE)

Key Historical Events

• Rise of the tyrants marked a shift in political power from aristocracy to individual rulers (Peisistratos in Athens)
• Cleisthenes introduced democratic reforms in Athens around 508 BCE
  • Established the Council of 500 and the system of ostracism
  • Reorganized the citizen body into ten tribes
• Persian Wars began with the Ionian Revolt in 499 BCE and continued until the Greek victory at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE
  • Significant battles included Marathon (490 BCE), Thermopylae (480 BCE), and Salamis (480 BCE)
  • Greek city-states united against the Persian threat, led by Athens and Sparta
• Delian League formed in 478 BCE as a defensive alliance against future Persian aggression
  • Athens assumed leadership and gradually transformed the league into an Athenian empire
• Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League as a counterbalance to Athenian power

Political and Social Structures

• Emergence of the polis (city-state) as the primary political unit
  • Each polis had its own government, laws, and cultural identity
• Development of various forms of government, including aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy
• Expansion of citizenship rights in some poleis, particularly Athens
  • Solon's reforms in Athens (594 BCE) reduced the power of the aristocracy and alleviated the burden of debt on the lower classes
• Social hierarchy consisted of citizens, metics (resident foreigners), and slaves
  • Women had limited rights and were primarily responsible for household management
• Symposia served as important social gatherings for elite men to discuss politics, philosophy, and the arts

Artistic Innovations

• Black-figure pottery technique reached its peak, featuring detailed scenes from mythology and daily life
  • Notable examples include the François Vase and the work of the Lysippides Painter
• Red-figure pottery technique developed around 530 BCE, allowing for greater detail and expressiveness
  • Pioneered by the Andokides Painter and further refined by artists such as Euphronios and Euthymides
• Sculpture transitioned from the Archaic to the Early Classical style
  • Kouroi and korai became more naturalistic and expressive (Kroisos Kouros, Peplos Kore)
  • Bronze casting techniques improved, enabling the creation of life-size, free-standing figures (Charioteer of Delphi)
• Architectural sculpture, such as pediments and friezes, became more complex and dynamic (Siphnian Treasury at Delphi)

Architecture and Urban Planning

• Temples became larger and more elaborate, reflecting the growing wealth and power of the city-states
  • Doric order remained prevalent, with key examples such as the Temple of Apollo at Corinth and the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
  • Ionic order gained popularity, particularly in the Cyclades and Ionia (Temple of Artemis at Ephesus)
• Urban planning became more organized, with grid-like street plans and designated public spaces
  • Agora served as the central gathering place for political, commercial, and social activities
  • Acropolis became the focal point for religious and civic buildings (Athens, Corinth, Argos)
• Fortifications were strengthened to protect against invasions, with massive city walls and defensive towers (Themistoclean Wall in Athens)

Religious and Cultural Practices

• Polytheistic religion centered around the worship of the Twelve Olympians
  • Each polis had its own patron deity (Athena for Athens, Apollo for Delphi)
  • Festivals and rituals were held to honor the gods and ensure their favor
• Panhellenic festivals, such as the Olympic Games and the Pythian Games, fostered a sense of shared Greek identity
  • Athletic competitions, religious ceremonies, and artistic performances drew participants from across the Greek world
• Mystery cults, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries, offered initiates the promise of a better afterlife
• Oracles, particularly at Delphi, provided guidance and prophecies to individuals and city-states
• Theater emerged as a significant cultural institution, with the development of tragedy and comedy
  • Plays were performed at religious festivals, such as the City Dionysia in Athens

Economic Developments

• Agriculture remained the foundation of the economy, with the cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley, and olives
• Craft production increased, with specialization in ceramics, metalwork, and textiles
  • Athens became a major center for pottery production and export
• Trade expanded, both within the Greek world and with foreign regions (Egypt, Phoenicia, Etruria)
  • Corinth and Athens emerged as major maritime powers and trade hubs
  • Coinage became more widespread, facilitating commerce and exchange
• Slavery was an integral part of the economy, with slaves working in households, agriculture, and industry
  • Many slaves were acquired through warfare and piracy

Notable Figures and Their Contributions

• Peisistratos, tyrant of Athens (r. 546-527 BCE)
  • Implemented public works projects and promoted the arts
  • Established the Panathenaic Festival and the recitation of Homeric epics
• Cleisthenes, Athenian statesman (fl. 508 BCE)
  • Introduced democratic reforms that laid the foundation for Athenian democracy
• Miltiades, Athenian general (c. 550-489 BCE)
  • Led the Athenian army to victory against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon
• Themistocles, Athenian statesman and general (c. 524-459 BCE)
  • Persuaded the Athenians to build a strong navy, which proved crucial in the Persian Wars
  • Masterminded the Greek victory at the Battle of Salamis
• Aeschylus, Athenian tragedian (c. 525-456 BCE)
  • Considered the father of tragedy, with works such as The Persians and the Oresteia trilogy
• Pindar, Theban lyric poet (c. 518-438 BCE)
  • Composed victory odes for winners at the Panhellenic games, celebrating their achievements and the glory of their city-states

Legacy and Influence on Classical Greece

• Democratic ideals and institutions established in Athens served as a model for future generations
• Victory in the Persian Wars instilled a sense of Greek unity and superiority over non-Greeks (barbarians)
• Delian League set the stage for the rise of the Athenian Empire and the eventual conflict with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War
• Artistic and architectural innovations laid the foundation for the Classical style
  • Naturalism, idealization, and harmony became the hallmarks of Greek art
• Literary works, particularly in tragedy and history, explored themes of human nature, fate, and the relationship between mortals and gods
  • Herodotus and Thucydides established the foundations of historical writing
• Panhellenic festivals and shared religious practices reinforced a common Greek identity
• Economic growth and trade networks facilitated the spread of Greek culture and influence throughout the Mediterranean world