🌊Ancient Mediterranean World Unit 4 – Ancient Greece

Key Events and Timeline

• Ancient Greek civilization emerged around 3000 BCE with the rise of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete
• Mycenaean civilization developed on the Greek mainland around 1600 BCE, known for their impressive palaces and fortifications
• The Greek Dark Ages (1100-800 BCE) followed the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization, characterized by a decline in population and loss of written language
• The Archaic Period (800-480 BCE) saw the rise of city-states (poleis), colonization, and the development of art, literature, and philosophy
  • The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE in honor of Zeus
• The Classical Period (480-323 BCE) was marked by conflicts with the Persian Empire, the Golden Age of Athens, and the rise of Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great
  • The Persian Wars (499-449 BCE) were a series of conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire
  • The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) was a devastating conflict between Athens and Sparta that weakened the Greek city-states
• The Hellenistic Period (323-31 BCE) began with the death of Alexander the Great and the division of his empire among his generals, leading to the spread of Greek culture across the Mediterranean and Near East

Political Structure and Governance

• Ancient Greece was not a unified country but a collection of independent city-states (poleis) with diverse political systems
• Athens developed the world's first democracy in the 5th century BCE, where male citizens participated directly in decision-making through the Assembly (Ekklesia)
  • Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, meaning citizens voted directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives
• Sparta was an oligarchy ruled by two hereditary kings and a council of elders (Gerousia), with a focus on military training and discipline
• Other city-states had various forms of government, including tyrannies (rule by a single individual), oligarchies (rule by a small group of wealthy citizens), and monarchies (rule by a king)
• The concept of citizenship was central to Greek political life, with citizens having rights and responsibilities, such as military service and participation in government
• The Delian League, led by Athens, and the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, were two major alliances of city-states that played a significant role in Greek politics and warfare

Social Classes and Daily Life

• Ancient Greek society was hierarchical, with social classes determined by wealth, citizenship, and occupation
• At the top of the social hierarchy were the aristocrats, who owned large estates and held political power
• Citizens were free men who had the right to participate in government and own property
  • Women, slaves, and foreigners (metics) were excluded from citizenship and had limited rights
• Slaves, often captured in war or purchased from abroad, performed manual labor and household tasks
• Daily life revolved around the home (oikos), with men typically working outside the home and women managing the household and raising children
• Education was highly valued, with boys receiving formal schooling in subjects such as reading, writing, music, and athletics
  • Girls were educated at home, focusing on domestic skills and preparing for marriage
• Religion played a central role in daily life, with festivals, sacrifices, and prayers to honor the gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon

Art, Architecture, and Culture

• Ancient Greek art and architecture had a lasting influence on Western civilization, with a focus on idealized forms, proportion, and balance
• Sculpture was a prominent art form, with famous works such as the Parthenon Marbles and the Venus de Milo
  • Greek sculptors aimed to capture the ideal human form, often depicting gods, goddesses, and athletes
• Pottery was both functional and decorative, with intricate designs and scenes from mythology painted on vases and amphorae
• Greek architecture is known for its use of columns, with three main orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian
  • The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena on the Acropolis in Athens, is a prime example of Greek architecture
• Theater was a significant aspect of Greek culture, with tragedies and comedies performed at religious festivals and in open-air theaters
  • Notable playwrights include Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedies), and Aristophanes (comedies)
• The Olympic Games, held every four years in honor of Zeus, showcased athletic prowess and fostered a sense of unity among the Greek city-states

Philosophy and Scientific Advancements

• Ancient Greek philosophers laid the foundation for Western philosophy, exploring questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, ethics, and politics
• Socrates (470-399 BCE) developed the Socratic method of questioning to encourage critical thinking and self-examination
• Plato (428-348 BCE), a student of Socrates, wrote extensively on philosophy, politics, and ethics, and founded the Academy in Athens
  • Plato's theory of forms posited that the physical world is an imperfect reflection of eternal, abstract forms
• Aristotle (384-322 BCE), a student of Plato, made significant contributions to logic, biology, physics, and ethics
  • Aristotle's works on logic, such as the syllogism, influenced the development of formal logic and scientific reasoning
• Greek mathematicians, such as Euclid, Pythagoras, and Archimedes, made groundbreaking discoveries in geometry, number theory, and physics
  • Euclid's Elements, a comprehensive treatise on geometry, served as a standard textbook for over 2,000 years
• Greek physicians, such as Hippocrates and Galen, advanced the understanding of anatomy, physiology, and medical ethics
  • The Hippocratic Oath, which emphasizes the ethical obligations of physicians, is still taken by medical professionals today

Military and Warfare

• Warfare was a constant feature of ancient Greek life, with conflicts between city-states and external threats from the Persian Empire
• The hoplite, a heavily armed infantry soldier, was the backbone of Greek armies
  • Hoplites fought in a phalanx formation, a tightly packed line of soldiers with overlapping shields
• The trireme, a warship with three rows of oars on each side, was a key component of Greek naval warfare
• Sparta was renowned for its military prowess, with a society focused on martial training and discipline
  • Spartan boys began military training at age seven and were expected to serve in the army until age sixty
• The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta was a turning point in Greek history, weakening both city-states and paving the way for Macedonian conquest
• Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) of Macedon conquered the Persian Empire and expanded Greek influence across the Mediterranean and Near East
  • Alexander's military tactics, such as the use of the Macedonian phalanx and cavalry, revolutionized warfare in the ancient world

Economy and Trade

• Agriculture was the foundation of the ancient Greek economy, with crops such as wheat, barley, olives, and grapes
• Craft production, including pottery, metalwork, and textiles, was an important source of income for many Greeks
• Trade was essential to the Greek economy, with city-states exchanging goods and resources across the Mediterranean
  • The Piraeus, the port of Athens, was a major hub of trade and commerce
• Coinage, introduced in the 7th century BCE, facilitated trade and the development of a monetary economy
• Colonies, established by Greek city-states across the Mediterranean, provided access to new markets and resources
  • Greek colonies in southern Italy and Sicily, known as Magna Graecia, were particularly prosperous and influential
• The Hellenistic period saw the expansion of trade networks and the growth of large urban centers, such as Alexandria in Egypt

Legacy and Influence on Western Civilization

• Ancient Greek culture, philosophy, and political thought have had a profound and lasting impact on Western civilization
• The Greek alphabet, adapted from the Phoenician script, became the basis for the Latin alphabet used in many modern languages
• Greek mythology, with its rich cast of gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters, has inspired countless works of art, literature, and popular culture
• The Socratic method and the works of Plato and Aristotle have shaped the development of Western philosophy and critical thinking
• Greek art and architecture, with their emphasis on proportion, balance, and idealized forms, have influenced artists and architects for centuries
  • The Parthenon and other ancient Greek buildings have served as models for neoclassical architecture worldwide
• The Olympic Games, revived in 1896, continue to be a global celebration of athletic excellence and international cooperation
• The concepts of democracy, citizenship, and the rule of law, developed in ancient Greek city-states, have informed modern political systems and ideas of human rights
• The works of Greek historians, such as Herodotus and Thucydides, established the foundations of historical writing and the study of past societies and cultures