Chapter2-AncientGreece&Rome

2.1-AncientGreeceEarlyGreekCivilizationThePolis:CenterofGreekLifeSpartaAthensClassicalGreeceTheCultureofClassicalGreeceAlexandertheGreatEarlyGreekCivilizationThemountainsandtheseaswereimportantgeographicinfluencesonGreeceEarlyGreekCivilizationMycenaeancivilizationflourishedbetween1600and1100B.C.GreecethenenteredaDarkAgewhenpopulationdeclinedandtherewaslessfood.EarlyGreekCivilizationTheworksofHomerappearedattheendoftheDarkAgeTheIliadandOdysseyareepicpoems

TheGreeksregardedtheIliadandOdysseyashistoryHomergavetheGreeksanidealpastpeopledwithheroesGenerationsofGreekmalesusedthesepoemsasmodelsofheroismandhonorThePolis:CenterofGreekLifeBy750B.C.,thepolis,orcity-state,hadbecomethecentralfocusofGreeklifeThepoliswasthetown,city,orvillageanditssurroundingcountrysideThepeoplemetforpolitical,religious,social,andeconomicactivitiesThePolis:CenterofGreekLifeCity-statesvariedinsizeMostwerebetweenafewhundredandseveralthousandpeopleAthenswasoneofthelargest,withapopulationofmorethanthreehundredthousandby400B.C.ThepoliswasacommunityofpeoplewhosharedacommonidentityandcommongoalsThePolis:CenterofGreekLifeGreekstatesdevelopeddifferentformsofgovernmentSomecity-statesbecamedemocracies,ruledbymanyOthersbecameoligarchies,ruledbythefewTwoofthemostpowerfulcity-states,AthensandSparta,illustratethedifferencesTheGreeksfeltthatrightsalsomeantresponsibilities.WhatmightbesomeresponsibilitiesofacitizeninaGreekcity-state?Possibleanswers:SomeresponsibilitiesofacitizeninaGreekcity-stateincludeparticipatingingovernment,payingtaxes,defendingthepolis,andprovidingforothers.SpartaBetween800and600B.C.,thelivesoftheSpartanswererigidlycontrolledanddisciplinedBoyslearnedmilitarydiscipline,enteredthemilitaryatage20,andlivedinthebarracksuntiltheywere30At30,Spartanmaleswereallowedtovoteintheassemblyandliveathome,buttheyremainedinthearmyuntiltheageof60SpartanwomenlivedathomewhiletheirhusbandslivedinthebarracksSpartanwomenhadmorepowerthanwomeninotherGreekcity-statesSpartanwomensupportedSpartanvalues,expectingtheirhusbandsandsonstobebraveinwarSpartaTwokingswholedtheSpartanarmyheadedtheoligarchyFivemenknownastheephorswereresponsibleforeducationandtheconductofcitizensAcouncilofelders,madeupofthetwokingsand28citizensover60yearsofage,decidedonissuestheassemblyofmalecitizenswouldvoteonTheassemblydidnotdebate,butonlyvotedSpartacloseditselfofffromtheoutsideworldForeignersandtravelwerediscouragedSpartansfrowneduponnewideasandtheartsOnlytheartofwarmatteredAthensAkingruledearlyAthensBytheseventhcenturyB.C.,itwasruledbyanoligarchyofaristocratswhoownedthebestlandandcontrolledpoliticallifeNeartheendoftheseventhcenturyB.C.,economicproblemsledtopoliticalturmoilManyAthenianfarmersweresoldintoslaveryfornonpaymentoftheirdebtstoaristocratsCriesarosetocancelthedebtsandgivelandtothepoorCivilwarthreatenedAthensThearistocratsgavepowertoSolonin594B.C.SolonfavoredreformHecanceledthedebtsbutdidnotgivelandtothepoorThisleftthearistocratsinpowerandthepoorunabletoobtainlandAthensIn508B.C.,Cleisthenes,anotherreformer,gainedtheupperhandHecreatedanewcounciloffivehundredtosuperviseforeignaffairs,overseethetreasury,andproposelawsHegavetotheAthenianassembly,composedofmalecitizens,authoritytopasslawsafterfreeandopendebateForthisreason,Cleisthenes’reformslaidthefoundationforAtheniandemocracyClassicalGreeceClassicalGreeceisthenamegiventotheperiodfrom500to338B.C.Duringthistime,theGreeksfoughttwowarsThefirstwarwasagainstthePersians,whoweredefeatedbytheunifiedGreeksAthenstookovertheleadershipoftheGreekworldafterthePersianWar.ClassicalGreeceAthenstookovertheleadershipoftheGreekworldafterthePersianWarUnderPericles,thedominantfigureinAthenianpoliticsfrom461to429B.C.,Athensexpandeditsempire,whiledemocracyflourishedathomePericlescreatedadirectdemocracyEverymalecitizencouldparticipateinthegeneralassemblyandvoteonmajorissuesThisperiodwascalledtheAgeofPericlesClassicalGreeceTheGreekworldwasdividedbetweentheAthenianEmpireandSpartaAthensandSpartahadbuiltverydifferentsocieties,andtheydistrustedeachotherAfteraseriesofdisputes,thesecondwarofClassicalGreece,theGreatPeloponnesianWar,brokeoutin431B.C.Thecivilwarlasteduntil405B.C.AthenssurrenderedwhentheAthenianfleetwasdestroyed.TheGreatPeloponnesianWarweakenedtheGreekcity-statesandruinedanyhopeofunityamongthem.Forthenext66years,Sparta,Athens,andThebesstruggledfordominationTheseinternalstrugglescausedtheGreekstoignorethegrowingpowerofMacedonia,anoversightthatcosttheGreekstheirfreedomTheCultureofClassicalGreeceThestandardsofclassicalGreekartdominatedmostofWesternarthistoryClassicalGreekartwasconcernedwithexpressingeternalidealsThestylewasbasedonreason,moderation,balance,andharmonyArtwasmeanttocivilizetheemotionsThemostimportantarchitecturalformwasthetempleThegreatestexampleistheParthenonbuiltinthefifthcenturyB.C.dedicatedtothepatrongoddessofAthens,AthenaTheParthenonexemplifiestheprinciplesofclassicalarchitecture:calm,clarity,andfreedomfromunnecessarydetailTheCultureofClassicalGreeceTheclassicalstyleofGreeksculpturedepictedidealized,yetlifelike,malenudesGreeksculptorsdidnotseektoachieverealismTheCultureofClassicalGreeceThedramasweseetodayarethedescendantsofGreekdramaPlayswerepresentedaspartofreligiousfestivalsTheoriginalGreekdramasweretragedies,presentedintrilogiesaroundacommonthemeOnlyonecompletetrilogysurvivestoday,theOresteiabyAeschylusIttellsthestoryofAgamemnon,aTrojanWarhero,andhisreturnhomeGreektragediesexaminedsuchuniversalthemesas:thenatureofgoodandeviltherightsofindividualstheroleofthegodsinlifethenatureofhumanbeingsTheCultureofClassicalGreecePhilosophy(“l(fā)oveofwisdom”)referstoanorganizedsystemofrationalthoughtEarlyGreekphilosopherswereconcernedwiththenatureoftheuniverseSocrates,Plato,andAristotleareconsideredtobethreeofthegreatestphilosophersoftheWesternworldTheCultureofClassicalGreeceSocratesdevelopedtheSocraticmethodaquestion-and-answerformattoleadpupilstounderstandthingsforthemselvesbasedonSocrates’beliefthatknowledgeisalreadypresentwithineachofusThetaskofphilosophyistocallforthknowledge.Socratessaid“theunexaminedlifeisnotworthliving.”Thebeliefintheindividual’sabilitytoreasonwasanimportantcontributionofGreekthoughtTheCultureofClassicalGreecePlatowasoneofSocrates’studentsandconsideredbymanytobethegreatestWesternphilosopherPlatoexplainedhisviewsongovernmentinaworkentitledTheRepublicPlatobelievedthatpeoplecouldnotachieveagoodlifeunlesstheylivedinajustandrationalstateTheidealstatehasthreegroups:rulerswarriorscommonersLedbyaphilosopher-king,menandwomenwouldhavethesameeducationandequalaccesstoallpositionsPlatoestablishedaschoolinAthenscalledtheAcademyTheCultureofClassicalGreecePlato’smostimportantpupilwasAristotle,whostudiedattheacademyfor20yearsAristotlehadwide-ranginginterestsincludingethics,logic,po