hieu 2031 ancient greece unit 1 study guides

Key Concepts and Timeline

• Ancient Greece refers to the period from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BCE to the end of antiquity (c. 600 CE)
• The Greek Dark Ages (c. 1100–800 BCE) marked a period of decline following the fall of the Mycenaean civilization
  • Characterized by a lack of written records and a decline in population and material culture
• The Archaic period (c. 800–480 BCE) saw the rise of the Greek city-states, colonization, and the development of art, architecture, and literature
  • Homer's epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were composed during this period
• The Classical period (c. 480–323 BCE) was marked by the Persian Wars, the Golden Age of Athens, and the rise of Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great
  • The Parthenon was built during the Golden Age of Athens (460–430 BCE)
• The Hellenistic period (323–31 BCE) began with the death of Alexander the Great and ended with the Roman conquest of Greece
  • Characterized by the spread of Greek culture and language throughout the Mediterranean and Near East

Geography and City-States

• Ancient Greece was located in southeastern Europe, bordered by the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian Seas
• The Greek mainland is characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain that divided the land into small, isolated regions
  • This geography encouraged the development of independent city-states (poleis) rather than a unified nation
• Major city-states included Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes, each with its own form of government and distinct culture
• Greek city-states often formed alliances and leagues for defense and trade, such as the Delian League led by Athens and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta
• The Greek world expanded through colonization, with colonies established in southern Italy, Sicily, the Black Sea, and Asia Minor
  • Colonization helped to spread Greek culture and facilitate trade throughout the Mediterranean

Early Greek Civilizations

• The Minoan civilization (c. 3000–1450 BCE) flourished on the island of Crete, known for its elaborate palaces (Knossos), art, and writing system (Linear A)
• The Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE) developed on the Greek mainland, characterized by fortified cities (Mycenae, Tiryns), Linear B script, and involvement in the Trojan War
• The collapse of the Mycenaean civilization around 1100 BCE led to the Greek Dark Ages, a period of decline and isolation
• The Archaic period (c. 800–480 BCE) saw the emergence of the Greek city-states, the adoption of the Phoenician alphabet, and the rise of art, architecture, and literature
  • The poet Hesiod's Works and Days provides insight into the daily life and values of the Archaic period

Rise of the Polis

• The polis (city-state) emerged as the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece during the Archaic period
• Each polis was an independent, self-governing community with its own laws, customs, and form of government
  • Forms of government included monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy
• The agora served as the central gathering place for political, social, and economic activities within the polis
• Citizenship in the polis was limited to free, adult males; women, foreigners (metics), and slaves were excluded from political participation
• The hoplite revolution, which introduced heavy infantry warfare, led to the rise of a new class of citizen-soldiers and increased political participation among the middle class
  • This development contributed to the emergence of democracy in some city-states, such as Athens

Greek Mythology and Religion

• Greek religion was polytheistic, with a pantheon of gods and goddesses who were believed to reside on Mount Olympus
• The twelve major Olympian gods included Zeus (king of the gods), Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Demeter, and Dionysus
  • Each deity had their own domain, such as Poseidon (god of the sea) and Athena (goddess of wisdom and war)
• Mythology played a central role in Greek religion, with stories of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures passed down through oral tradition and later recorded in works like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
• Greeks participated in religious festivals, such as the Panathenaea in Athens and the Olympic Games held in honor of Zeus
• Mystery cults, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries, offered initiates the promise of a better afterlife through secret rituals and teachings
• Oracles, like the famous Oracle of Delphi, were consulted for prophecies and guidance in decision-making

Social Structure and Daily Life

• Ancient Greek society was hierarchical, with distinct social classes that included citizens, metics (foreign residents), and slaves
• Women in ancient Greece had limited rights and were primarily responsible for managing the household (oikos) and raising children
  • Spartan women had more freedom and influence compared to women in other city-states
• Education was important for Greek boys, who learned reading, writing, music, and physical training
  • In Athens, the education system focused on preparing young men for citizenship
  • In Sparta, the education system (agoge) emphasized military training and obedience
• Agriculture was the foundation of the Greek economy, with farmers growing crops like wheat, barley, olives, and grapes
• Craft production, such as pottery and metalworking, was an important part of the Greek economy
  • Greek pottery, particularly Athenian black-figure and red-figure pottery, was highly prized and exported throughout the Mediterranean
• Trade and colonization played a significant role in the Greek economy, with the establishment of colonies and trade networks facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas

Major Historical Events

• The Persian Wars (499–449 BCE) were a series of conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire
  • Key battles included the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE), the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE), and the Battle of Salamis (480 BCE)
  • The Greek victory in the Persian Wars led to the Golden Age of Athens and the rise of the Delian League
• The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) was a prolonged conflict between Athens and Sparta, resulting in the defeat of Athens and the end of its golden age
• The rise of Macedon under Philip II (r. 359–336 BCE) and the conquests of Alexander the Great (r. 336–323 BCE) led to the spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean and Near East
  • Alexander's empire stretched from Greece to India, leading to the Hellenistic period
• The Roman conquest of Greece (146 BCE) marked the end of Greek independence and the beginning of the Roman period in Greek history

Cultural and Intellectual Developments

• The development of the Greek alphabet, adapted from the Phoenician script, allowed for the recording and spread of knowledge
• Greek literature, including epic poetry (Homer's Iliad and Odyssey), lyric poetry (Sappho), and drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes), had a lasting impact on Western literature
• Greek philosophy flourished, with thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle making significant contributions to Western thought
  • Socrates emphasized the importance of questioning and self-examination
  • Plato's dialogues explored concepts such as justice, love, and the nature of reality
  • Aristotle's works covered a wide range of subjects, including logic, ethics, politics, and natural science
• Greek art and architecture emphasized harmony, proportion, and idealized beauty
  • The Parthenon, built during the Golden Age of Athens, exemplifies the principles of Greek architecture
  • Greek sculpture, such as the works of Phidias and Praxiteles, sought to capture the ideal human form
• Greek science and mathematics made significant advances, with figures like Thales, Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes making lasting contributions to their fields
  • Thales is credited with predicting a solar eclipse and calculating the height of the Great Pyramid
  • Pythagoras and his followers made important discoveries in mathematics, including the Pythagorean theorem
  • Euclid's Elements served as the foundation for geometry
  • Archimedes made significant contributions to physics and engineering, including the principle of buoyancy and the development of simple machines