Lecture5archaicgreece
- 1. Lecture 5: Archaic Greece (800-479 BCE)
- 2. 1100-750 BCE: Dark Ages Political and economic decline of Mycenaean Civilization Urban life disappears, villages are abandoned Writing, crafts, and commercial network of trade disappears Migrations to islands of western Anatolia and region of Ionia 850 BCE: Economic life in Greece improves; urban life reappears
- 3. Literary Achievements of the Archaic Age Importation of the 22 letter Phoenician alphabet Rise in recording of oral traditions, legends, and songs Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey : Dates to the 8 th C BCE Epic poem tells story of Trojan War
- 4. Cultural Developments in Greece: Panhellenic Games Fostered common Greek identity Central part of aristocratic culture Chariot-racing, discus-throwing, wrestling, and foot-racing Olympic Games
- 5. Political Developments in Greece: The Greek Polis Polis , “City-state”, a self-governing community Characteristics of the polis: Assembly Council of male elders Agora Centrality of temples to Gods Individual: citizenship to 1 polis only
- 6. Political Developments in Greece: The Hoplite Revolution 725-650 BCE: changes in military equipment and tactic Hoplites : units of well-armed foot soldiers Arranged as large infantry units ( phalanx ) = most effective
- 7. Sparta: Overview Geographical isolation Powerful polis in Archaic/Classical periods Patriarchal + Polytheistic (typical) Unique Spartan system: credited to Lycurgus.
- 8. Sparta: Social Classes Spartiate - citizens Perioeci – free subjects Helots – serfs, limited freedom (central) Degree of equality for free men Citizenship: limited to those born in Sparta
- 9. Sparta: Political Structure Elements of monarchy, oligarchy and democracy Dual monarchy Council ( gerousia ) of 28 elders Assembly ( damos) Emphasis on service to the state Formation of Peloponnesian League
- 10. Spartan Values Militaristic state: height after 700 BCE, need to control Messians (helots) Education: emphasis on discipline, endurance of pain, survival Virtues of self-denial, simplicity, obedience, courage Emphasis on serving state; denial of individuality
- 11. Spartan Men Left home at the age of 7 Organized into troops and played competitive games until age 18 Underwent four years of military training Age 30: became citizens, allowed to live with wives Age 60: End of military service Goal: Fulfill military needs of state
- 12. Spartan Women Taught to read and write Centrality of physical education Domestic freedom Interactions with men: less restricted No share in government Had children, but did not raise them Polygamy common Married at 18: abduction
- 16. Athenian Government: Introduction Athens: Largest territory/population of any Greek polis in 8 th /7 th C BCE Conquered people did NOT become helots Power of basileus ( king) fades Rise of Areopagus , council of nobles Election of 9 Archons 6 th C BCE: Growing tension of aristocrats and peasants Solution?
- 17. Reforms of Solon (640-559 BCE) Freed all slaves Cancelled agricultural debts Created 4 social classes – economic basis Laws written down – fair enforcement Boule (council) of 400 – advisory board for general assembly Goals: Limit authority of aristocrats Citizen participation in government
- 18. “ There are many bad rich men while many good men are poor, for virtue endures, while wealth belongs now to one man, now to another” (Plutarch, Solon 3 ) “ I gave the demos such privilege as is sufficient to them, neither adding nor taking away; and as for those who had power and were admired for their wealth, I also provided that they should not suffer undue wron. I stood with a stout shield thrown over both parties, not allowing either one to prevail unjustly over the other” (Plutarch, Solon 18.4) Successful? Economic strife continues: Rich and poor both dissatisfied
- 19. Rise of Tyrants Tyrant: one who seized power in a polis Aristocratic Emphasis on involving all classes: participatory government Weakness of tyranny: short-lived
- 20. Tyranny of Pisistratus (590-528 BCE) 561 BCE: seized power Assembly: increase in power Attack on powers of nobility Citizens: more involved in government Building projects, trade and economy, the arts 510 BCE: Overthrown by aristocrats
- 21. Rule of Cleisthenes Elected by assembly 508-502 BCE: Reforms Emergence of democracy New boule : Council of Five Hundred Division into 10 tribes: unified territory Motivation: avoid revolts *Fundamental aspects of Athenian democracy in place*
- 22. Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great (550-530 BCE) Power struggle: Medes and Persians 6 th C BCE: emergence of Persian Empire Cyrus: military genius, 20 years of conquest 546 BCE: Anatolia conquered 539 BCE: Babylonia conquered By 522 BCE: greatest empire in the world
- 23. Achievements of Persian Empire Vast road networks Transport of soldiers and goods Transmission of cultural ideas Centralized government: balance of power and tolerance Ethnic freedom Example: Hebrews
- 24. Persian Religion: Zoroastrianism Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) Monotheistic Dualistic: Ahura Mazda (good) vs. Angra Mainyu (evil) Emphasis on ethics and afterlife Official religion of Persian Empire/tolerant of other faiths Kings: earthly representations of Ahura Mazda Influential to Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- 25. Persian Empire: Darius the Great (r. 522-486 BCE) 522: seizes power Strong administration, economy, trade Territorial expansion 510 BCE: Ionian Greece conquered Ionian revolt (with aid of Athenians) 494 BCE: Persia crushes rebellion
- 26. The Persian Wars (490-479 BCE) 490 BCE: Persia invades Greece at Battle of Marathon (Miltiades), Greek victory! Themistocles (523-458 BCE): rise of the navy 480 BCE: Xerxes I invades Greece, huge army and navy Teamwork of Sparta (Battle of Thermopylae - Leonidas) and Athens (Battle of Salamis). Greek Victory (again)!
- 27. What do you need to know? Greek polis: general characteristics Sparta: social classes, political structure, values, gender roles Athens: political developments: Reforms of Solon (cause, aim, effect) Tyranny of Pisistratus: (Characteristics of rule) Cleisthenes: (Characteristics of rule) The Persian Empire : Cyrus (territorial expansion) and Darius (Ionian Revolt) The Persian Wars: Xerxes and Battle of Marathon Themistocles: rise of Greek Navy Understanding of general cause and effect