Chap 5.1 Slides Flashcards
What were two distinct cultures developed in early Greece
Minoans and Mycenaeans
When did the Minoan civilization develop?
•Minoan civilization developed in 3000 BC
Where did the Minoan civilization develop?
Crete
Colonies established on dozens of islands
What activity did The Minoans do?
Trades: Sailed back and forth between colonies
How do we know about the Minoan civilization?
Excavations at Knossos
Much of Minoan life revealed by excavations
What are some of the things seen at the excavations at Crete?
–Solid buildings
–Private rooms
–Basic plumbing
–Brightly colored artwork
–They left their village. No one knows why
How well do we know of the Minoan civilization?
•Much history of Minoan civilization result of guesswork, speculation
–Historians cannot read Minoans’ writings
•Until writing deciphered, most knowledge will come from art, objects
What happened to the Minoan civilization?
Why?
•Minoan civilization fell apart rather suddenly, possibly from disaster.
–Large eruption of volcanic island near Crete may have affected worldwide weather patterns.
–Damage to Minoan ports, crops may have weakened society
–conquered by Mycenaeans
What did the Mycenaeans built?
The Mycenaean States
•Mycenaeans built small kingdoms, often fought with each other
What language did the Mycenaeans have?
•Mycenaeans considered first Greeks, spoke form of Greek language
How did Mycenaeans spread influence?
Minoan Influences
- Mycenaeans traded with Minoans, copied writing
- Became great traders
What made the Mycenaeans different?
Mycenaean Differences
- Society dominated by intense competition, frequent warfare, powerful kings
- Kings taxed trade, farming to build palaces, high walls
What was the Strength of the Mycenaean?
- To show off strength, Mycenaeans built monuments like Lion’s Gate
- Kings’ constant quest for power, glory inspired legends
- Most famous, story of Trojan War
What was the Trojan War?
- War supposedly involved early Greeks, led by Mycenae, who fought powerful city called Troy, in what is now Turkey
- War may not have happened, but ruins of city believed to be Troy found
What was story of the Trojan War?
Hector & Paris sent to Sparta for peace treaty
Paris falls in love with Helen, leave for Troy together
Greeks lead by Agamemnon
Duels of Heroes: Achilles vs. Hector
Troy is destroyed by the Greeks
What are Greek city-states?
Greek society was centered on the polis, or city-state. Each polis developed independently, with its own form of government, laws and customs.
What was life in the POLIS?
- Polis, center of daily life, culture
- Greeks fiercely loyal to their polis
- Did not think of selves as Greeks, but as residents of their particular city-state
What was infrastructure of the POLIS?
- Polis built around high area, called acropolis
- Acropolis used as fortification
- Included temples, ceremonial spaces
•Agora, public marketplace, below
Describe 3 other things in the Greek city-states
- Shops, houses, temples near agora
- Gymnasium, athletes’ training grounds, public bath
- Sturdy wall for defense surrounded polis
Where did SPARTA begin?
•Sparta located on peninsula of southern Greece
What did Spartans have?
•Spartans had helots (Slaves)
Who were the HELOTS?
- Helots were state slaves given to Spartan citizens to work on farms so citizens did not have to perform manual labor.
- As result, Spartan citizens free to spend time training for war
Why was WAR important to the Spartans?
•Spartan emphasis on war not due to fondness for fighting, but as way to keep order in society
Sparta was a _________ state
Militaristic State
How did Spartans support their military lifestyle?
To support their military lifestyle, the Spartans demanded strength and toughness. All babies were examined after birth and unhealthy children were left in the wild to die
What were the Spartans’ COMBAT SCHOOL?
- Boys taught physical, mental toughness by mothers until age 7
- Entered combat school to toughen for hardships of being soldier
- At age 20 boys became hoplites, foot soldiers; remained in army 10 years before becoming citizens
What was Spartan women like?
- Trained in gymnastics for physical fitness, to bear strong children
- Women had right to own property, unlike women in most of Greece
Who ruled Sparta?
Sparta was led by two kings who served as military commanders. Decision-making was largely left to an elected council of elders
What were the Greek Legends and Myths?
- Much of what is known about early Greece comes from Greeks’ legends, myths
- Greek myths explained where they came from, how they should live, cope with uncertain world
What did ancient Greeks believe in?
The Gods of Olympus
- Ancient Greeks believed in hundreds of gods, goddesses; each governed one aspect of nature, life
- Example: Apollo controlled movement of sun; sister Artemis did same for moon
- Greeks believed gods would protect them, city-states in exchange for proper rituals, sacrifices
Where did the gods live?
Mount Olympus
- 12 gods, goddesses were particularly influential in Greek lives
- These 12 lived together on Mount Olympus, highest mountain in Greece
What did the myths say about the Greek gods?
•Myths say gods flawed, often unpredictable—loved, hated, argued, made mistakes, got jealous, played tricks on each other
What did the Greeks worship?
- Almost all Greeks worshipped same gods
- Each polis claimed one god, goddess as special protector
- Example: Athens sacred to Athena
- Some locations considered sacred by all Greeks
What was a sacred location to the ancient Greeks?
Why?
Olympia
every four years Greeks assembled there for Olympic Games; athletes competed against each other to honor gods
Why did Greeks tell myths about heroes?
- Greeks told myths about heroes, used to teach Greeks where they came from, what kind of people they should be
- Some heroes, like Hercules, who had godlike strength, born from god Zeus and a virgin mortal (yep, again…) renowned through all Greece
What were the lessons of these myths about heroes?
- Heroes killed monsters, made discoveries, founded cities, talked with gods on equal terms
- Examples inspired individuals, to achieve great things
