GREECE Flashcards
What did Greece’s geography influence?
Their history and culture
Peloponnesus
Southern part of Greece
What is Greece’s geography like?
A mountainous peninsula, little arable land, irregular coastline, between 3 seas
Impact of irregular coastline
Many ports and harbors
influence of the sea- trade, food, defense
Greece’s climate
mild, warm most of year, helped in agriculture, trade, affected clothing, food, lifestyle and architecture(open, airy buildings)
impact of climate
Ideal climate for grapes and olives/ olive oil and wine which were traded for grain
impact of mountains
Only 20% of land arable, poor rocky soil which lead to herding, fishing and trade –> cultural diffusion
Mountains hindered farming, communication and transportation, made country difficult to unite which often led to war between city-states
What 3 seas is Greece between?
Ionian, Aagean, and Mediterranean
Positives of Location
sits on both the east-west and north-south trade routes, with access to the Black Sea and
Also at juncture between land routes between Asia and Europe which led to wealth for Greece and cultural diffusion
Polis
Greek city-states
Walled cities and control of their surrounding countryside
Acropolis
the “high city”- built on a hill at the center of the polis
Dedicated to the gods, used for defense
Below it was the walled city
Agora
a Greek market
Monarchy
A gov’t with a hereditary ruler who maintains power
Aristocracy
A group of wealthy, land-owning elites
In Greece, they were the early defenders of the city and protected the kind
Oligarchy
Gov’t ruled by a small group of elites
Became form of gov’t in Greece with the aristocracy as the rulers
Impact of iron weapons on life in Greece
Iron weapons were less expensive and easier to produce than bronze ones so ordinary citizens could afford them
This led to bigger armies and broke the power of the aristocrats
Phalanx
new military formation of highly disciplined ranks of spear & sword carrying soldiers (porcupine)
What did Sparta stress?
obedience, loyalty, militry, athleticism and martial skills
What did Athens stress?
the intellect, perfection, beauty, the “complete person”- mind+body
Location of Sparta
old, landlocked, isolated Greek city-state located in Laconia, on the southern Peloponnesus
Helots
Spartan slaves
Original inhabitants of the area, conquered and enslaved by the Dorians(Spartans’ ancestors)
Spartan gov’t
Totalitarin-Oligarchy-Monarchy
2 Kings supported by a council of 28 elders/advisors
Also an Assembly of citizens met once each year to approve gov’t decisions
Ephors
Spartans who were chosen by the Assembly- acted as overseers of daily life and the helots
infanticide
the purposeful killing of unwanted or “un-desirable” babies at birth. Ephors inspected them at birth- any with abnormalities or didn’t “fit” would be killed.
Military training for males in Sparta
At age 7, boys were sent to live in military barracks and taught to read, write and fight
At age 20, they were married and at age 30 they became citizens and were give land and slaves.
Life of Spartan females
Absolute obedience to husbands and fathers, daily military training or exercise, expected to defend the polis while the men were at war, treated with respect and some degree of equality
Unique things about Sparta
Totally isolated, forbidden to travel, little trade
Literate, but laconic (use as few words as possible)
No coined $$
Few arts, few contributions to western civ.
Location of Athens
on the sea in an area called Attica
Early Athenian gov’t
Landowners (aristocrats) held the power in society
They chose officials, were the judges at trials and were the army. Soldiers, foreign born artisans, and small farmers resented the power of the aristocracy
Direct Democracy
Citizens vote directly on all issues and represent themselves. Does not work with big pops. In athens, not everyone could vote because not everyone was considered a citizen. No slaves, no women and no foreigners. The Council of 500 proposed laws and the Assembly of all “citizens” voted on them
Solon
“the Wise”
Athenian aristocrat who created reforms in an attempt to make everyone happy
Solon’s reforms
Government: opened up more gov’t offices to the public and gave citizenship to some foreigners and gave the Assembly more say in decisions
Social: Outlawed debt slavery and freed existing debt slaves
Economic: increased export of wine and olive oil and outlawed exportation of wheat
Tyrants
People of Athens who rose up and gained power by force- gained support of merchants and the poor by making reforms to please them
Pisistratus
An Athenian tyrant who helped farmers by taking land from nobles and giving loans
Cleisthenes
An Athenian tyrant who created the Council of 500 of citizens over 30 to propose laws, made the assembly a true legislature to approve or veto laws
Athenian women
Not citizens, no legal rights, were married at 14-16 yrs (arranged marriage), lived in seclusion in the home, managed the home and the slaves
Athenian education
Men were tutored by slaves
All “citizens” required to have 2 yrs of military training
Similarities between Greek city-states
same religion (polytheistic) , language, similar style of art and architecture, all followed city-state structure
The Minoans
Sea-faring traders from the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea- controlled trade in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Captial= Knossos- no defensive walls (on island)
Frescoes
Minoan painted ceramics/pottery, swords, figurines, large metal urns
Helped cultural diffusion along trade routes
Disappearance of Minoan civ
A mystery, but volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are thought to have destroyed the cities, the Minoans never recovered
The Mycenaeans
Located on the Peoponnesus
Had polis
Ruled by militaristic warrior kings
Had long distance sea trade–> cultural diffusion
The Trojan war
10 year war between the Mycenaean king and the independent city-state of Troy in Turkey
Over kidnapping of Greek king Helen? The control of the trade routes?
Heinrich Schliemann
German archaeologist who excavated a site from the period
The Dorians
Ancestors of the Spartans
Northern Greeks who moved into the area
Less advanced, illiterate
“The Greek Dark Ages”
Period when the Dorians ruled Greece
Greek’s culture and movement toward advanced civ took a huge step back during this period
Written language was not allowed, people were enslaved, tension, warfare, etc.
Homer
A blind Dorian story-teller and poet who composed 2 epic poems- the Iliad and the Odyssey
Both are about mythology and Greek ideals and morals
Long term Causes of the Persian Wars
Persian power and influence expanded- they desired control of Greek territory
Competition for trade along the Aagean Sea
Immediate cause of Persian Wars
Miletus- a Greek city-state in Persia revolted against Persian rule
Athens sent aid
Miletus’ revolt was crushed by Persian emperor Darius despite aid from Greece
Darius attacked the Greek mainland in revenge for their interference in the Miletian revolt
Battle of Marathon
Darius landed his army at Marathon with the intention of marching on Athens
Athens defeated the Persians despite being massively outnumbered
Pheidippides
The “father of the Olympic Marathon”
Athenian messenger who was sent to Sparta for aid during the Battle of Marathon
Ran 145 miles in 2 days then died
Themistocles
Athenian leader/general who convinced Athens to build a strong navy in prep for another Persian invasion
Xerxes
Son of Persian emperor Darius
Attempted to uphold his fathers dying wish to destroy Athens
Sent people to Athens demanding that they surrender, which was refused.
Battle of Thermopylae
Huge Persian force landed on northern Greek mainland to march south on Athens through the mountains
The Greeks (Spartans, Thesbians, Thebans) were outnumbered, but led by Leonidas, delayed the Persians for 3 days- forcing them to seek another route
The delay allowed Athens to evacuate and prepare a trap at Salamis for the Persian navy
The Spartans died to the last man
Athens was burned and looted by the Persian army
Battle of Salamis
The Athenians trapped the large, slow Persian navy fleet in the narrows of Salamis, then attacked with many smaller, faster boats
The Athenians destryoed the Persians
One of the last major engagements of the Persian Wars
Aristodemus
Only Spartan survivor from the Battle of Thermopylae
Results of Persian War
Athens emerged as the wealthiest, most powerful Greek city-state and began their golden age
The Delian League was formed
Athens developed into an empire
The Delian League
A defensive alliance of polis against future Persian attacks
Athens dominated the League and collected money from the members
Athens gained money and power from the Delian League and allowed them to take colonies and develop into an empire
Pericles
A wise ruler who re-built Athens after it was burned in the Battle of Thermopylae, improved the economy, built the Parthenon and moved Athens toward a direct democracy
Greatest ruler of Athens
Ruled during Athens’ golden age
Under his rule, Athens became the cultural leader of Greece
Supported the arts, rebuilt the Acropolis
The expansion of Athenian democracy
The Assembly of citizens met to review and approve laws
The council of 500 of Athenian citizens proposed laws and were paid a stipend for their service
Male citizens over 30 were also chosen to serve on juries
Ostracism
Most popular punishment in Athenian democracy
Banishment/exile for 10 years
The Peloponnesian League
An anti-Athenian alliance led by Sparta
Opposed Athenian dominance of the Delian League
The Peloponnesian War
Dispute between Athens and Corinth
Became a bigger war as city-states chose sides
Persia even supported Sparta
Athens dominated the Sea, while Sparta dominated the land and surrounded Athens
Pericles moved population within the city walls
War continued for 27 years until Sparta along with the Persian navy blockaded Athenian ports and Athens surrendered to Sparta
Results of the Peloponesian War
The Athenian empire ended and so did their dominance over trade in the Aegean Sea
Ended Athenian golden age
Ended Greek alliances
All city-states weakened
Philosophers
“lovers of wisdom”
Tried to use logic and reason to discover the laws of the universe
Many were interested in ethics and morality as well as the best type of gov’t to control human behavior
Sophists
Politics became a popular career in Athens after the Pelop. War
Men used rhetoric, or the power of public speaking to advance their careers
Were seen as a threat to democracy
Socrates
Athenian philosopher
Developed the “socratic method” of asking one question that led to the next
Taught people to question things
Accused of corrupting the youth of Athens- found guilty and given death penalty
Killed himself
Plato
Student of Socrates
Opened his own school- The Academy
Wrote down Socrates’ teachings
His most famous book is The Republic
Aristotle
Best student of Plato
Began his own school- The Lyceum
Became the tutor of Alexander the Great
Developed the Syllogism- a form of reasoning where every truth comes from other truths- later developed into the scientific method
Follow the “golden mean”- all things in moderation
Greek Art & Architecture
Balance, order, beauty
Human form portrayed as life life, but idealized or perfect- not realistic
Herodotus
Famous Athenian historian
Witnessed Battle of Thermopylae and recorded it
Wrote about Greek’s knowledge of the world and culture and influenced European beliefs about Asia and Africa
Sapho
poet- wrote poems about love and home
Pindar
poet- wrote odes to honor athletes
Aeschylus
Playwright of tragedies with revenge and betrayal themes
Sophocles
Playwright of tragedies with moral themes
Aristophanes
Playwright of comedies that mocked people and customs
Phillip II
King of Macedonia(northern Greek kingdom)
Father of Alex the Great
Admired Greek culture
Conquered and united the Greek city-statess
Assassinated before he could conquer Persia
Alexander the Great
Son of Phillip II
Became King of Macedonia and Greece
Attacked the Persians and conquered all of the Asia Minor (Persia, India, The middle east and Egypt)
Combined Greek, Persian, Egyptian and Indian culture—> major cultural diffusion
Hellenism
Good ex. of cultural diffusion
Alexander and his armies spread Greek culture throughout his empire, which it blended with other cultures
Hellenistic Scientific Achievements
increased medical knowledge
increased astronomy knowledge
Geometry, Alegra, Physics
Euclid
Wrote The Elements: a summary of advanced geometry and mathematical learning at the time
Pythagoras
calculated relationships in a right triangle- Pythagorean Theorm
Hippocrates
Greek physician- causes and cures of diseases
Archimedes
The father of physics- simple machines
Invented the double pulley and the catapault
