The Geography of Greece
Introduction
The first inhabitants arrived to Greek lands during the Neolitic period around the 6000 BC. Later on, the Minoan civilization established in Crete (2000-1400 BC). It was named after the legendary king Minos. The Mycenaeans were the next settlers (1600-1100 BC). This period is characterized by a high cultural development. Both, the Minoans and Mycenaeans made up what is called the Bronze Age of Greece. The Dark Age of Greece started later because of a series of invasions and wars. (1100-750 BC). This was a very hard period in which people started moving from place to place to satisfy their needs.
During this period Greece was divided into small citystates, which consisted of a city and its surroundings. After the Dark Age, during the Archaic period (750-500 BC), Greek awoke to a structural resurgence. The Classical period (500-323 BC) was characterized by the Athenian Golden Age. The Hellenistic period (323-146 BC) was the time of great influence of the Greek culture in the eastern world.
Bronze Age Greece
Minoan Civilization
The Minoans grew grapes, grains, and olives and traded with the Greeks, Egyptians, and others in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Mycenaean Civilization
The Mycenaeans were from the Peloponnesian Peninsula. They invaded and conquered the Minoans on Crete. The most famous of the Mycenaean kings was named Agamemnon. He was a key figure in the Trojan War, as retold in Homers poem the Iliad. The Mycenaeans were then conquered by the Dorians. This began the period in Greek history known as the Dark Ages.
The Dark Age
The old settlements occupied by the Minoan and Mycenaean were abandoned. No written records corresponding to this period have been found. New socio-political institutions developed allowing for the rise of Democracy in 5th c. BCE in Athens. The first Olympics were carried out in 776 BC. The epics the Iliad and the Odyssey were written by Homer.
Homer: The Heroic Age
During this period, the rise of the polis and the establishment of colonies along the Mediterranean and Black Seas were the main characteristics. The Archaic period saw advancements in political theory, especially the beginnings of democracy. Written language reappeared and the first works on philosophy, drama, and poetry were produced.
ATHENS AND SPARTA
Athens and Sparta were the two most important Greek City-states. They had similar form of government. They both had an assembly whose members were elected by the people. Athens is referred to as the birthplace of democracy. Education, arts, and science were main activities in the city. In Sparta, people were worried about military affairs and wars. Children were trained as warriors and girls were prepared to be mothers of warriors.
ATHENS: Yesterday & Today
SPARTA
The Classical period of ancient Greek history, is between about 500 B. C., when the Greeks began to come into conflict with the kingdom of Persia to the east, and the death of the Macedonian king and conqueror Alexander the Great, in 323 B.C. In this period Athens reached its greatest political and cultural heights: the full development of the democratic system of government under the Athenian statesman Pericles; the building of the Parthenon on the Acropolis; the creation of the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides; and the founding of the philosophical schools of Socrates and Plato. In 338 BC Phillip II defeated Athens and Thebes. Alexander the Great inherited the throne after Phillip II died.
MAIN WARS
The Persian Wars (Medic wars) lastaed about a 50 years. To fight the Persian army, the Greek city-states entered into alliances which permitted them to eventually come our triumphant. As a result Athens and Sparta rose as pre-eminent cities which at the time led to the Peloponnesian War faught between these two city-states. Athens surrendered and Sparta turned into the leading power of Greece. The Corinthian War (395-387) was fought between Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos against Sparta. It ended with a peace treaty.
Persian Wars: 499 BCE 448 BCE
Persian Wars: Famous Battles
$ Marathon (490 BCE)
26 miles from Athens
$ Thermopylae (480 BCE)
300 Spartans at the Mountain pass
$ Salamis (480 BCE)
Athenian navy victorious
Golden Age of Pericles:
460 BCE 429 BCE
Great Athenian Philosophers
$ Socrates
Know thyself!
question everything
only the pursuit of goodness brings happiness.
$ Plato
The Academy The world of the FORMS The Republic philosopher-king
Great Athenian Philosophers
$ Aristotle
The Lyceum Golden Mean [everything in moderation]. Logic.
Scientific method.
Athens: The Arts & Sciences
$ DRAMA (tragedians):
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
$ THE SCIENCES:
Pythagoras established the scientific foundations of Mathematics Democritus all matter made up of small atoms. Hippocrates Father of Medicine
The Acropolis Today
The Parthenon
The Agora
Macedonia Under Philip II
It was the time period from Alexander the Greats rise to power to the emergence of the Roman Empire. During this period, many colonies were established around the Mediterranean. Many Greeks left their lands to settle in the new colonies as farmers, craftsmen, or traders. This migration resulted in the blending of the Greek culture with those of the territories they occupied in the Near East and in Egypt. The effect was a great development in arts and science. Alexandria became the most important city of the Macedonian Empire. In 146 BC, the Roman Empire defeated the Greeks and annexed its territories as one of their provinces.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Greats Empire
Alexander the Great in Persia
The Hellenization of Asia
Pergamum: A Hellenistic City
The Economy of the Hellenistic World
Hellenistic Philosophers
$ Cynics Diogenes
ignore social conventions & avoid luxuries citizens of the world live a humble, simple life
$ Epicurians Epicurus
avoid pain & seek pleasure all excess leads to pain politics should be avoided
Hellenistic Philosophers
$ Stoics Zeno
nature is the expansion of divine will concept of natural law
get involved in politics, not for personal gain, but to perform virtuous acts for the good of all
true happiness is found in great achievements.
Hellenism: The Arts & Sciences
$ Scientists / Mathematicians:
Aristarchus heliocentric theory Euclid geometry Archimedes pulley
$ Hellenistic Art:
More realistic; less ideal than Hellenic art Showed individual emotions, wrinkles, and age!
The End
