Ancient Greece

From Prehistory to Hellenistic Greece, 3000 146 bce

Cycladic, c. 25th century bce

Late Classical or early Hellenistic Greece 4th 3rd century bce

Ancient Greece From Prehistory to Hellenistic Greece, 3000 146 bce

Cycladic Minoan Mycenaean Dark Ages Archaic Period Classical Period Hellenistic Pe

Ancient Greece From Prehistory to Hellenistic Greece, 3000 146 bce

Major events and terms: The Delian League and the Athenian Empire The Peloponnesian League The Greco-Persian War The Peloponnesian War Battle of Plataea, 479 bce Solon Draco Pericles

Ancient Greece: Prehistory

Stages of Prehistory Cycladic 3000 1900 bce

Minoan 2000 1400 bce

Mycenaean 1600 1100 bce

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Cycladic Civilization: 2000 1100 bce

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce

On the island of Crete Centered around Palaces

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce

Early sport and ceremony: Bull Jumping

Fresco Seal

Ancient Greece: Prehistory

Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce Women and Power

Seals: Women possibly being saluted or worshipped Women at play Certainly showing female prestige

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce Women and Power

Snake Goddess Fresco of queens or goddesses Possible goddess or priestess Also possible representation of political power

Ancient Greece: Prehistory

Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce
Economy largely based on maritime trade with nearby civilizations Were a major source of tin for surrounding civilizations who wanted to make bronze [tin + copper bronze] Art reflected their close relationship with the sea

Ancient Greece: Prehistory

Minoan Civilization: 1900 1400 bce COLLAPSE
From To

How did it happen? Popular theory: Volcanic eruption at nearby Thera, followed by tsunami and subsequent climate change, c. 1550

Ancient Greece: Prehistory On to the Mainland:

Mycenaean Civilization: 1900 1100 bce

City of Mycenae

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Mycenaean Civilization: 1900 1100 bce

Ruins of Mycenae

Reconstruction of Mycenae

Ancient Greece: Prehistory Mycenaean Civilization: 1900 1100 bce

Mycenaean art

Dark Ages
1100 800 bce

Ancient Greece The Archaic Period, 800 480 bce

Key Points Many different cities and centers of power Vibrant international trade Overshadowed by rule, or threat of rule, by Persian/Achaemenid Empire Consistent use of written language New form of political organization for the region: the polis [city-state]

But to know

Ancient Greece,
First you have to know

Ancient Persia

Ancient Greece:
c. 800

Rise of Sparta

c. 750

c. 700

c. 670

c. 505

Ancient Greece: Rise of Sparta

Key figures: Lycurgus [possibly mythical lawgiver who reformed Sparta in the 6th century b King Leon, ruled from c. 590 bce 560 bce King Anaxadrias II, son of Leon, father of Leonidas

King Leonidas 1, born c. 540 bce, died 480 bce fighting Persians at Thermoplya

Ancient Greece: Rise of Sparta

Depiction of hoplite army

Ancient Greece: Rise of Sparta

Art, Pottery, Culture

Terracotta vase, 7th 6th century bce Spartan soldier, lead, 6th 5th century bce

Bowl for mixing wine and water 6th 5th century bce Reflection Questions: How do these works of art compare to those we saw from older civilizations in Greece, such as the Minoans and Mycenaeans? How do they compare to works of art made in Athens at the same time? What conclusions can we draw about Spartan values based on these works and these comparisons?

Spartan horseman, lead, 6th 5th century bce

Ancient Greece: Rise of Athens

Spartan ruins, modern day Athenian ruins, modern day

Ancient Greece: Rise of Athens

Center of Democracy?

At the end of the Dark Age (c. 800 bce), the land of Athens was in the possession of a few tribes or families of eupatridae (the well born). From these eupatridae came the members who formed the Areopagus, a council of elders who made religious, military, and civil decisions. Power had been passed down through heredity, although this would change in 753 bce. With a policy of unification, the leaders of Athens unified (annexed and absorbed) the surrounding cities of Attica in 8th century bce.

Ancient Greece: Athens

Map of Acropolis

The Parthenon, c. 447 438 bce

The Erechtheion, c. 421 406 bce

Ancient Greece: Athens

Civic Space: The Agora
Map of Agora

Temple of Theseus/Hephaestus [#13 on map]

Ancient Greece: Athens Symposia

Social gatherings centered around drinking and conversation A form of leisure and pleasure, but also of political and philosophical debate, learning, and private business

Terracotta kylix (drinking cup), 7 in. diameter, ca. 500 bce

Theseus slaying the Minotaur, Terracotta neck-amphora, c. 500 bce,

Terracotta kantharos (drinking cup), 11 7/16 in. h., ca. 500 bce

Ancient Greece: Athens

Athenian soldier, 21 x 16 in. c. 390 bce

The Greco-Persian War,