upgrade
← back to hieu 2031 ancient greece

hieu 2031 ancient greece unit 18 study guides

the fourth century b.c.

18.1

Political changes in the fourth century

18.2

Key historical figures

unit 18 review

The fourth century BC in ancient Greece marked a pivotal shift from the Classical to Hellenistic period. Sparta's victory in the Peloponnesian War reshaped the political landscape, while philosophical movements flourished under thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. Philip II of Macedon's rise to power culminated in Greek unification, setting the stage for his son Alexander the Great's conquests. These events spread Greek culture across the Near East, fostering a fusion of ideas and practices that defined the Hellenistic world.

Key Events and Timeline

  • 404 BC marks the end of the Peloponnesian War with Sparta's victory over Athens
  • 399 BC Socrates is tried and executed for impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens
  • 395-387 BC Corinthian War fought between Sparta and a coalition of Greek city-states (Thebes, Athens, Corinth, and Argos)
    • Ended with the Peace of Antalcidas (King's Peace) in 387 BC, dictated by Persia
  • 371 BC Battle of Leuctra Thebes defeats Sparta, ending Spartan hegemony
  • 359 BC Philip II becomes king of Macedon and begins expanding Macedonian power
  • 338 BC Battle of Chaeronea Philip II of Macedon defeats Athens and Thebes, establishing Macedonian hegemony over Greece
  • 336 BC Alexander the Great becomes king of Macedon after Philip II's assassination
  • 334-323 BC Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire, reaching as far as India

Political Landscape

  • Sparta dominates Greece after its victory in the Peloponnesian War, imposing oligarchic governments in many city-states
  • Athens rebuilds its democracy and naval power, seeking to regain its former influence
  • Thebes emerges as a major power, challenging Spartan hegemony
    • Theban hegemony is short-lived, lasting from 371-362 BC
  • Greek city-states engage in shifting alliances and conflicts (Corinthian War, Social War, Sacred War)
  • Rise of Macedon under Philip II, who unites Greece under Macedonian rule
    • Establishes League of Corinth in 337 BC, a federation of Greek states under Macedonian control
  • Alexander the Great succeeds Philip II and embarks on his conquest of the Persian Empire, spreading Greek culture throughout the Near East

Cultural Developments

  • Golden Age of Athens (5th century BC) continues to influence Greek culture
  • Increased wealth and leisure time for some citizens allows for patronage of the arts
  • Theater remains popular (tragedies of Euripides, comedies of Aristophanes)
  • Sculpture and architecture reflect changing tastes and styles (Late Classical period)
    • More naturalistic and expressive sculptures (Praxiteles' Hermes and the Infant Dionysus)
    • Grandiose architectural projects (Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World)
  • Rise of the Second Sophistic movement, emphasizing rhetoric and oratory
  • Hellenistic period begins with Alexander the Great's conquests, leading to a fusion of Greek and Near Eastern cultures

Military Conflicts and Strategies

  • Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) shapes the early 4th century BC
    • Athens' defeat leads to the loss of its empire and the rise of Spartan hegemony
  • Hoplite warfare remains the primary form of land combat
    • Phalanx formation of heavily armored infantry with long spears
  • Naval warfare continues to be important, with triremes as the main warship
  • Increased use of mercenaries and professional soldiers
  • Thebes introduces the Sacred Band, an elite unit of 150 pairs of male lovers
  • Macedon develops the Macedonian phalanx under Philip II
    • Longer spears (sarissas) and tighter formation prove effective against traditional hoplite phalanxes
  • Alexander the Great's military genius and tactical innovations (combined arms, cavalry as a shock force) lead to his successful conquest of the Persian Empire

Economic Changes

  • Agricultural production remains the foundation of the Greek economy
  • Increased trade and commerce, facilitated by a standardized coinage
  • Growth of banking and financial services
  • Development of new trade routes and markets due to Alexander the Great's conquests
  • Emergence of large-scale manufacturing and workshops
    • Pottery, metalworking, textiles
  • Slave labor continues to be a significant part of the economy
  • Rise of wealthy individuals and families who invest in land, trade, and industry
  • Economic disparities contribute to social and political tensions within city-states

Philosophical Movements

  • Socrates (470-399 BC) lays the foundation for Western philosophy
    • Emphasized the importance of questioning assumptions and seeking truth
    • Executed in 399 BC for impiety and corrupting the youth
  • Plato (428-348 BC), Socrates' student, founds the Academy in Athens
    • Develops the theory of Forms and the ideal state in works like The Republic
  • Aristotle (384-322 BC), Plato's student, founds the Lyceum
    • Writes extensively on logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and natural sciences
  • Cynicism, founded by Diogenes of Sinope, emphasizes living a simple life in accordance with nature
  • Skepticism, founded by Pyrrho of Elis, questions the possibility of certain knowledge
  • Epicureanism, founded by Epicurus, seeks happiness through the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
  • Stoicism, founded by Zeno of Citium, emphasizes living in accordance with reason and accepting one's fate

Notable Figures

  • Agesilaus II, Spartan king who led successful campaigns against Persia and Thebes
  • Pelopidas, Theban general who played a key role in Thebes' victory over Sparta at Leuctra
  • Epaminondas, Theban general and statesman who led Thebes to hegemony
  • Demosthenes, Athenian statesman and orator who opposed Philip II of Macedon
  • Isocrates, Athenian rhetorician who promoted Greek unity under Macedonian leadership
  • Philip II of Macedon, king who united Greece under Macedonian rule
  • Alexander the Great, Philip II's son who conquered the Persian Empire and spread Greek culture throughout the Near East
  • Aristotle, philosopher and tutor of Alexander the Great

Legacy and Impact

  • The 4th century BC marks a transition from the Classical to the Hellenistic period
  • Greek culture spreads throughout the Near East due to Alexander the Great's conquests
    • Fusion of Greek and Near Eastern cultures (Hellenization)
    • Foundation of new cities (Alexandria in Egypt, Antioch in Syria)
  • Hellenistic kingdoms emerge after Alexander's death (Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire, Antigonid Macedon)
  • Greek becomes the lingua franca of the Hellenistic world
  • Advances in science, mathematics, and technology (Euclid's Elements, Archimedes' inventions)
  • Hellenistic art and architecture influence later Roman and Renaissance styles
  • The philosophical schools founded in the 4th century BC (Academy, Lyceum, Stoicism, Epicureanism) continue to shape Western thought
  • The political, cultural, and intellectual achievements of the 4th century BC lay the foundation for the Hellenistic period and the eventual rise of Rome