Greek Identity (Greek Perception of Themselves and Others) Flashcards
When did the Greek world mainly expand?
The Archaic Period (7th and 8th Century BC)
Name three reasons the Greek world began to expand
- Colonisation
- Sudden expansion in all directions
- People travelled by ship - surrounded by mountains which made it difficult to expand in those directions, so more logical to go out by sea
Name a region that tried to retain their own identity when expanding
Sicily - Syracuse, became a Greek settlement
How do archaeologists know that the Syracusans attempted to retain their own identity?
Archaeological traceable ‘stamp’, with a material culture reflecting the Greek mindset, showing that they evidently rejected Sicilian culture
Name a region where a hybrid-culture developed
Olbia - a strange culture developed with a hybrid settlement.
How do we know that a hybrid culture developed in Olbia?
Specific example = the use of arrowheads for money which were adopted from about the 6th Century BC. This was a Scythian idea and not a Greek custom, showing accomodation
Houses were also ‘dugout’ which was also not a Greek custom. Shows how those who settled in Olbia had to adapt to the local climate, cannot always retain their local identity
Who stressed a difference in appearance of Olbian clothing?
Dio Chrysoston - 1st Century AD, Oration 36. An aristocratic Olbian was wearing trousers. This highlights the hybridity, but also could suggest that this hybridity was so odd that it had to be noted
What word can the Greek world be concluded by?
Homogenous
What can panhellenism be described as?
More of an ideal than a reality
How did political identities vary?
There were democracies, tyrannies/monarchies and oligarchies
Name 5 poleis that had a democracy
Athens (6th Century onwards), Argos, Erythrai, Rhodes and Syracuse (briefly)
Name 4 poleis that had a tyranny/monarchy
Sparta, Athens (in the Archaic period), Corinth, Sicily (tyranny for most of its life)
Name 4 poleis that had an oligarchy
Sparta (elders), Athens (at the end of the 5th Century onwards), Megora, Thebes
How did poleis often unify?
Through alliances
Name 5 alliances where poleis unified/came together
- The Peloponnesian League
- During the Persian Wars - the Serpent Column at Platea commemorates this, naming all who participated in the alliance
- The Delian League (Athens)
- The Second Athenian League
- The League of Corinth
What is the counter-argument to the unity shown through alliances?
Poleis often only entered alliances for their own benefit, not for other poleis, going against the idea of Panhellenism, which could alter how scholars view Greek’s perception of others
Should not fall into the trap of falling into overstating their importance as there are many poleis who aren’t included in the alliances e.g. 31 poleis in the Persian Alliance, yet at least 500 more poleis than this
How many poleis were included in the Persian Alliance?
31
State PERLMAN (1976)’s view
Greek poleis used Panhellenism cynically. In politics, panhellenism was used as an idea, but never became a reality
What two poleis can be used to support PERLMAN (1976)’s argument?
Athens and Sparta
Athens - Plutarch, Life of Pericles. The meeting of different poleis shows Panhellenic ideas, however, the real reason for the meeting is for Athens’ own benefit by encouraging other poleis to split with Sparta. The meeting is called off when Sparta tells its allies not to go, showing that this was the main aim. This shows that Athens sees other poleis as instruments to benefit themselves, not mutual respect
Sparta - 400BC - wage war against Persia. Make an attempt to ‘save’ and liberate Eastern Greeks so appears like panhellenism, but in reality in order to create an alliance that will benefit Persia which will aid Sparta’s own agenda. Sparta allies with Persia, showing it was about using Panhellenism as an excuse for their own political advantage
Did poleis have a sense of ‘togetherness’?
To an extent yes, but mainly not. Poleis may on occasion form alliances, but usually for their own benefit (many also did not participate).
Also were highly autonomous, especially in a political sense, with all poleis having their own political identity
Where can panhellenism be seen in religion?
There were Panhellenic deities e.g., Zeus, the Olympians
Panhellenic sites e.g., Olympia, Delphi
Panhellenic festivals e.g., Olympian Games
Treasuries
However, religion was mainly organised at polis level, with the polis’ needs at the forefront of all religious festivals. Can be supported through the C4th BC calendar found at Erchia where most religious festivals were at polis level and focused on agriculture as in a rural area
How was panhellenism used politically?
Often exploited for the benefit of the polis e.g., Athens and Sparta
In what passage is Herodotus’ idea of ‘Greekness’ explained?
8.144
Name 4 things that are all important to the concept of Greekness
Language, ethnicity, religion and culture - ‘we are Greek, we share the same blood’
This shows a sense of togetherness and unity, showing that the idea of Panhellenism must be apparent at least to an extent
What do the Athenians tell us that hints at the idea of Panhellenism?
That they share an identity with other Greeks with go above and beyond their identity as Athenians
Where could Herodotus’ idea of ‘Greekness’ have come from?
- His education - his work is highly sophisticated and gives him the ability to explore ideas of identity
- The sense of identity promoted by Greek heritage e.g., Homer - anyone who considered themselves Greek at least knew of Homer. Shown through The Cup of Nestor 700 BC - made in Rhodes, founding in Ischia shows a shared culture and deep knowledge and understanding of Homer
This cultural heritage promoted Greek identity, presenting Greece as a cultural unit
The Iliad also gives the Greeks a collective identity as ‘the Achaeans’, demonstrating a Greekness above the level of the polis
State CARTLEDGE (1995)’s view
Greeks’ historical experience of colonisation caused them to sharpen their sense of what it meant to be Greek, as it showed a more distinctive difference in culture
Allowed for a sense of ‘otherness’ to be created, with the Persian Wars creating the concept of an ‘outsider’. This creates a further distinction between the Greeks and others, as opposed to Greeks and other Greeks, changing Greeks’ views towards themselves and others
Was a sense of ‘Greekness’ really promoted by the factors that Herodotus sites at 8.144?
To some extent, yes. All factors were important to communal identity
But 8.144 implies that all Greeks had the same outlooks and values which is not necessarily the case. Certain elements that were shared, but still considerable differences
What was religion largely centred around on a day-to-day basis?
the polis, deme or oikos. Panhellenic sites were visited relatively rarely in reality, however their existence shows that they were important to an extent
Where was the Cup of Nestor made and found?
Made in Rhodes, found in Ischia around 700BC
Did Greek culture tend to promote a sense of Greekness?
Yes
Was language important to a sense of ‘Greekness’?
State a clear example
Yes - shown through Homer. To have Greek culture you had to have Greek language
Eleusinian Mysteries = clear example. One had to speak Greek in order to participate. Defined by what made someone Greek
Was ethnicity important to a sense of Greekness?
yes, they did depend on ancestry - Pericles citizenship law 451
In what year did Pericles propose a new citizenship law and what did it mean?
451 BC - prevented the son of an Athenian father and a non-Athenian mother from becoming a full citizen
State ANTONACCIO (2003)’s view
Distinct local identities did exist throughout the Greek world
What evidence can be used to support ANTONACCIO (2003)’s view?
- Herodotus’ Histories 5.88 - a change of dress and style highlights differences in local identities
- Syracuse cemeteries - hybrid cultures
- Archaeological discoveries at Olbia - money (arrows) and clothing all varied from the Greek norm
