Greek Civilization

Development of Early Greek Culture

Geography:
- Sea used for transportation
- Mountains led to City-States
- Land unsuitable for farming, leads to trade

Literature:
- Myths/Gods: explained nature and human experience
- Epics - Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey

Mycenaeans:
- Militaristic Kings
- 2000 B.C.
- Indo-European migration
- Trojan War vs. Troy

Dorians:
- Took over after Mycenaeans
- 1200 B.C.
- Forgot the art of writing

Sparta

Location, Founder and Other Important Info:
- Southern Greece
- Peloponnesus
- Founded by Dorians
- Agricultural economy
- Labor consisted of slaves called Helots

Government:
- Oligarchy - ruled by small, elite group
- Consisted of the Assembly - made up of rich people
- 2 Kings ruled military to one wouldn't end up ruling everything. Was a military state.
- Council of Elders - Judiciary. Had 5 Ephors. This was the main power and they had veto power.

Athens

Location, Founder and Other Important Info:
- Mediterranean/Aegean Sea
- Economy: Seafaring traders, agriculture
- Founded by Mycenaeans
- Achievements: Expansive creativity - Parthenon (symbol of Athens/Greek society. Built for Goddess Athena - Goddess of Love)

Social Order:
- Males, 1-18 yrs. old were educated
- Males, 18-20 yrs. old served in the military
- Women were trained in domestic skills

People:
- Draco - tyrant, harsh punishments
- Solon - Abolished debt slavery
- Cleisthenes - Expanded democracy

Labor:
- Common people - Artisans
- Mid-upper class - Merchants
- Slaves - Farmworkers

Persian Wars, 520-479 B.C.

Marathon:
- Greeks easily won
- Pheidippides runs to Athens to warn of Persian attack, dies when he delivers the message
- 25,000 Persians vs. 10,000 Greeks
- Persians no match for Greek Phalanxes

Salamis:
- Greeks defeat Persians at this Sea Channel

Plataea:
- Greeks defeat the rest of the Persians on this plain, ending the Persian Wars.

Thermopylae:
- Xerxes led Persians to destroy Athens
- Greeks badly divided
- Greeks hold off Persians at the pass
- Greeks 10,000 vs. Athenians & Spartans 300
- Traitor tells Persians of secret path
- The 300 Spartans valiantly fight Persians

Age of Pericles, 461-429 B.C.

3 Goals:
1.) Strong democracy - paid officials and a direct democracy
2.) Build Athenian Empire - strong navy: used Delian League money
3.) Glorify Athens - Parthenon, bought gold, ivory and marble

Athenian Art:
- Golden Age of Athens
- Parthenon
- Created strong and graceful statues
- Classical art
- Drama - tragedy and comedy

Peloponnesian War:
- 431 B.C.
- Sparta destroys everything outside of Athens
- Plague wipes out 2/3 of the Athenians
- Athens used superior Navy to trade and stay alive
- Naval attack on Sparta fails
- Sparta Prevails
- Downfall of Athens

Forms of Government

Monarchy:
- Ruled by King
- Rule is hereditary
- Practiced in France and England
- Divine right theory

Oligarchy:
- Ruled by small group of citizens
- Military controlled by group
- Practiced in Sparta

Aristocracy:
- Ruled by nobility
- Rule is hereditary
- Athens was originally this
- Wealth = social status and power

Direct Democracy:
- State ruled by citizens
- Practiced in Athens
- Majority rule decides votes
- Rule based upon citizenship

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