Survey Flashcards
Geography
Located in northern Greece, on Balkan peninsula, aegean sea to the south -> bordered by Thessaly, Epirus, Thrace & Pindus mountains
Strategic location in ancient Greece, crossroads of Greece and Asia, facilitated trade, and influenced many cultures.
Topography and resources
Southern region (Thessaly) fertile plains -> agriculture + livestock
Pindus Mountains: rugged landscape provided natural defence and military advantages + timber and mining.
Coastal regions along Aegean sea offered trade routes and naval resources
ANC Euripides: “Mountain with blocks of gold”
Macedon’s relationship to the Greek world
Greek world viewed them as barbarians-> weren’t allowed to participate in pan-hellentic games
A change in relationship began with Philip II rise to power -> due to battle of Chaeronea 338BC-> defeat of Athens and Thebes.
-> Never conquoured the Spartans.
Friendly relationship established through Macedon conquest of Greece. Head of Corinth league + Amphictyonic league (religious leage around the Delphic oracle)
An overview of Macedonian political and social structures.
Macedon operated on an autocracy, whose power stemmed from his Hetairoi -> military success tied to political power.
-> Kings companions were the backbone of the autocracy -> military status = social strata.
The king held abosolute power over Macedon.
* ANC Demosthenes: “master of everyone and everything”
Throne goes to the king’s son, but polgamy led to violent succession where the strongest will succeed.
-> MOD Anson: “The reward was kingship, the cost of failure was death”
Similar to Persia, they utilized Stratraps to govern Macedon.
Impact of Philip II’s military reforms
Development of heavy infantry using Sarrissa in the Macedonian phalanx, with cavalry to flank opposing commanders.
-> Increased cavalry divisions to 4000
-> Formed ‘foot companions’ of six battalions of 9000 heavy infantry.
Trained high discipline into troops, enabling technical manoeuvres -> ANC Diodorus: trained them constantly, prepared them for close range fighting
Allowed Phillip II, to become hegemony over Greece (Corinth League) & conquer the Thermanic coast. ASK TEACHER.
