Chapter 3: The Civilization of the Greeks

Loren Solsberry

Early Greece
Geography had a big influence on evolution of Greek culture
Greeks surrounded by sea that provided harbors and islands
Topography helped determine major territories into which Greece was
divided
Minoan Crete
Earliest civilization in the Aegean region emerged on island of Crete
Evans excavations on Crete led to discovery of palace complex at
Knossus
Minoan civilization reached its height between 2000 and 1450 B.C.
Centers of Minoan civilization on Cree suffered sudden and
catastrophic collapse around 1450 B.C.
The First Greek State: Mycenae
Term Mycenaean is derived from Mycenae, a remarkable fortified site
excavated by Heinrich Schliemann
Mycenaean civilization reached its high point between 1400 and 1200
B.C.
Mycenaeans above all a warrior people who prided themselves on
their heroic deeds in battle
By late 13th century, Mycenaean Greece was showing signs of serious
trouble
The Greeks in a Dark Age (c. 1100-c. 750 B.C.)
After Mycenaean civilization, Greece entered difficult period in which
population declined and food production dropped
During the Dark Age, large numbers of Greeks left mainland
Other important things occurred
o Saw revival of some trade
o Farming tools made of iron
o Adopted Phoenician alphabet to develop writing
Homer and Homeric Greece
The Illiad and the Odyssey based on Trojan Wars
Illiad is story of Achilles and how war of Achilles led to disaster
Odyssey is story of Odysseus after the fall of Troy and ultimate return
to his wife
Homers Enduring Importance
Explains Homers importance to later generations of Greeks
In Homeric world, aristocratic women were expected to pursue
excellence
The World of the Greek City-States (c. 750-c. 500 B.C.)
In 8th century B.C., Greek civilization burst forth with new energies
The Polis

The Greek polis developed slowly during the Dark Age but had
emerged as institution by 8th century
Poleis varied in size
Word politics is derived from polis, but polis itself was more than
political institution
A New Military System: The Hoplites
New military order came to be based on hoplites, heavily
armed infantrymen who wore bronze or leather helmets,
breastplates, and greaves
Soldiers stood shoulder o shoulder, forming a phalanx
The hoplite force had political and military repercussions
Colonization and the Growth of Trade
Greek expansion overseas was another major development of Archaic
Age
In western Mediterranean, new Greek settlements were established
along coastline of southern Italy
To the north, Greeks set up colonies in Thrace and along shores of the
Black Sea
The Effects of Colonization
Establishment of these settlements over wide area had
important effects
Colonization also led to increased trade and industry
Tyranny in the Greek Polis
When polis emerged as important institution, monarchial power
waned and kings virtually disappeared
Rise of tyrants in 7th and 6th centuries
Tyrants usually achieved power by local coup dtat and maintained it
with mercenaries
The Example of Corinth
One of the most famous example of tyranny can be found in
Corinth
Cypselus was so well liked he could rule without bodyguard
As in Corinth, tyranny everywhere else in Greece was largely
extinguished by end of 6th century
Sparta
Greeks of Sparta and Athens spoke different dialects and developed
different political systems
The Spartans had originally occupied four small villages that came
unified into single polis
Other Laconians became known as helots
The New Sparta
Lives of Spartans were now rigidly organized
Spartan women lived at home while husbands remained in
military barracks until age 30

Spartan social structure was rigidly organized

o At summit were Spartiates
The Spartan State
Lycurgan reforms and reorganized Spartan government and made
oligarchy
Two kings shared power with body called gerousia, council of elders
To balance power of kings and gerousia, Spartan state created college
of five ephors
Spartans deliberately turned backs on outside world to make new
military state secure
Sparta used its military might and fear it inspired to gain greater
control of the Peloponnesus by organizing an alliance with
Peloponnesian states
Athens
Athens established unified polis by 700 B.C.
Athens faced political turmoil due to serious economic problems near
end of seventh century
The Reforms of Solon
Ruling of Athenian aristocrats responded to crisis by choosing
Solon to avoid tyranny
Solons political measures were also a compromise
The Move to Tyranny
Solons reforms didnt solve Athenss problems
Pisistratus didnt tamper with constitution
The Reforms of Cleisthenes
Major aim of Cleisthenes reforms was to weaken power of
traditional localities and regions (they had provided
foundation for aristocratic strength)
Reforms of Cleisthenes laid foundations for Athenian
democracy
Greek Culture in the Archaic Age
Period after Dark Age witnessed revitalization of Greek life the is
evident in art and literature
Greek literature of 7th century is best known for lyric poetry
Archaic Greece also known for poets who reflected both lives of
aristocrats and peasants
Hesiod emphasized two things to farmers success
Theognis of Megara described way of life considerably different from
Hesiods
The High Point of Greek Civilization: Classical Greece
Classical Greece is period of Greek history from ~500 B.C. to conquest of
Greece in 338 B.C.
The Challenge of Persia
As Greek civilization spread throughout Mediterranean, was
inevitable they would encounter Persians

Ionian Greek cities in southwestern Asia Minor had already fallen due
to Persian Empire by mid 6th century
The First Persian Attack
Persians sailed across the Aegean, captured Eretria, then
transferred army to plain of Marathon
Themistocles (new leader of Athens) persuaded people to
pursue new military policy (the navy)
Revolt in Egypt, along with death of Darius, kept Persians from
attacking Greece
The Invasion of Xerxes
Persians under Xerxes invaded in 480 B.C.
Athenians evacuated Athens and Attica to Salamis
Greeks formed largest Greek army in early 479 B.C.
The Growth of an Athenian Empire
Athens stepped in to provide new leadership against Persians after
defeat of Persians
Delian League pursued attack against Persian Empire under
leadership of Athenians
The Age of Pericles
Athenians favored new imperial policy when Pericles played
political role in 450s
Athenians became attached to democracy in age of Pericles
Reforms of Cleisthenes introduced the Council of Five Hundred
elected by lot from ten tribes
Administration of public affairs was handled by body of city
magistrates
All public officials were subject to scrutiny and lose place in
office if people lost confidence in them
Pericles expanded Athenians involvement in democracy
Athenian Imperialism
Athenian pursuit of democracy was coupled with increasing
imperialism abroad (attempted to create both land empire in
Greece and maritime empire in Aegean)
While building land empire, Athens continued offensive against
Persia and tightened control over Delian League
The Great Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.)
Thucydides pointed out that fundamental cause of war was the fear
Athens and its empire inspired in Sparta in his History of the
Peloponnesian War
At beginning of war in 431 B.C., both sides thought they had winning
strategies
Second phase of war began only six years after fifty-year truce began
Athenians pursued Sicilian policy in meantime
Athenians refused to give up despite the disaster
The Decline of the Greek States (404-338 B.C.)

Next seventy years witnessed continuing warfare among Greeks with

leading roles shifting among Sparta, Athens, and new city-state,
Thebes
Sparta encouraged Panhellenic crusade against Persians to maintain
newly organized leadership
City-state of Thebes began to exert its influence
Culture and Society of Classical Greece
Classical Greece saw period of intellectual and cultural growth
The Writing of History
History as we know it was a Greek creation
Central theme of Herodotus work is the conflict between Greeks and
Persians (viewed as a struggle between Greek freedom and Persian
despotism)
Thucydides
Thucydides was the better historian: modern historians
consider him greatest historian of ancient world
Unlike Herodotus, Thucydides was not concerned with
underlying divines as explanations in history
Also provided insight into the human condition
Greek Drama
Drama as we know it was created by the Greeks and intended to do
more than entertain
Aeschylus
First Greek dramas were tragedies
o Aeschuylus (525 456 B.C.) was first tragedian whose
plays are known to us
Sophocles
Sophocles (c. 496 406 B.C.) most famous play is Oedipus the
King
Euripides
Euripides (c. 485 406 B.C.) moved beyond predecessors in
creating more realistic characters
Greek tragedies dealt with universal themes that are still
relevant
Greek Comedy
Greek comedy developed later that tragedy
o Aristophanes (c. 450 c. 385 B.C.)
The Arts: The Classical Ideal
Artistic standards established by Greeks of the Classical Period Have
largely dominated arts of the Western World
Most important form in architecture was temple dedicated to
god/goddess
Some of finest examples of Classical Greek architecture built in 5th
century Athens

Most famous building was the Parthenon built between 447 and 432
B.C.
Greek sculpture also developed Classical style that differed from the
kouros figure of Archaic Period
The Greek Love of Wisdom
Philosophy is Greek word that literally means love of wisdom
Much of early Greek philosophy focused on attempt to explain
universe on the basis of unifying principles
Many Greeks were not interested in these speculations
o Sophists were a group of philosophical teachers in 5th century
who rejected speculation as foolish and argued that
understanding the universe was too advanced
Athens became foremost intellectual and artistic center
Socrates
Socrates (469 399 B.C.) left no writings, but we know of him
by word of mouth
o Socratic method employs question-and-answer
technique to lead pupils to see things for themselves
using their own reason
Socrates questioning of authority and public demonstrations
of others lack of knowledge led him to death
Plato
Plato (c. 429 347 B.C.) was one of Socrates disciples and is
considered by many scholars the greatest philosopher of
Western Civilization
Focused on the essence of reality and was centered in the
concept of Ideas or ideal Forms
Ideas of government are set out in The Republic
Each group fulfilled its assigned role, creating a functional and
harmonious society
Aristotle
Aristotle (384 322 B.C.) was one of Platos disciples and was a
tutor of Alexander the Great
Wished for an effective form of government that would
rationally direct human affairs
Philosophical and political ideas played enormous role in
development of Western thought
Greek Religion
Intricately connected to ever aspect of daily life
Homer gave an account of gods that provided definite structure to
Greek religion
Twelve Olympian gods were common to all Greeks (polytheistic)
Festivals were developed to honor gods/goddesses
Greeks wanted to know the will of gods
Tended to lack strong emotional component

o Mystery religions included initiation into secret rites that

promised more emotional involvement with spiritual forces in
hopes of immortality
Daily Life in Classical Athens
Only male citizens took part in public life
o Metics were resident foreigners
Slavery and he Economy
Slavery was common institution in ancient world
Athenian economy largely agricultural but highly diversified
Athens did not have large number of artisans, but those it had
were more important to economy
A Simple Lifestyle
Athenian lifestyle was basically simple
Family and Relationships
Family was an important institution in ancient Athens
Women were citizens who could participate in most religious
cults and festivals but otherwise excluded from public life
Function of Athenian woman as wife was very clear
Women were kept under strict control
Women in Athens served males in other ways
Male homosexuality was a prominent feature of Classical
Athens
Greek homosexual ideal was a relationship between mature
male and young male