S E C T I O N 1
Early People of the Aegean
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On the island of Crete, the Minoans built a brilliant civilization based on trade
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Mycenaean civilization, which dominated the Aegean world from 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C., absorbed Minoan, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian influences, which were passed on to later Greeks.
The Mycenaeans are best remembered for their part in the Trojan War, which they fought with Troy, a city in present-day Turkey. The Greek poet Homer is our chief source of information about the Trojan War.
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The conflict between the Mycenaeans and theTrojans was due to an economic rivalry over trade.
The Trojans controlled the importantstraits, or narrow water passages, that connect the Mediterranean
& Black Seas .
Homer, the blind poet who created the two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. These two epics tell
us about life during the Mycenaean period of ancient Greek history and reveal much about the values
of the ancient Greeks.
S E C T I O N 2
The Rise of Greek City-States
Geography
• Mediterranean & Aegean Seas provided link to outside world
• Peninsula is divided into isolated valleys by mountains
• separated from each other by rugged mountains, the early Greeks built many small city-states.
Economy Greek Polis (city-state) • Built on two levels (for protection) Government
Early government underwent an evolution:
• Were skilled sailors and traders
- individual city-states became known for certain products
Athens = decorated pottery
Corinth = jewelry & metal goods
• adapted ideas from other civilizations
• spread their own ideas & culture
• at top was the acropolis, with the temple
• below was the main city: homes,
• public buildings, marketplace, theater, agora
• aristocracy
- ruled by the landowning elite (only they could afford the bronze weapons & chariots)
• oligarchy - ruled by a small, powerful elite
Warfare Religion Despite geographic isolation, theGreeks spoke the same language,honored the same heroes,
• In 650 B.C. iron tools replaced bronze (cheaper, ordinary citizens could afford)
• Phalanx - massive formation of heavily armed foot soldiers (drill and training created a sense of unity
and reduced class differences)
• Polytheistic
• believed gods lived on Mt. Olympus
• resembled human beings
• honored them with festivals & temples
Athena = goddess of wisdom
Aphrodite = goddess of love
Ares = war
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon,
participated in the Olympics, and considered non-Greeks to be inferior.
Athens & Sparta (5.2)
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Two influential city-states developed very different ways of life:• Sparta became a military state with a rigid system of rule.
• Athens set up a limited democracy and encouraged the exploration of many areas of knowledge.
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Athens |
Sparta |
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Location |
Attica |
Peloponnesus |
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Government |
- democracy (only male citizens could participate) - (evolved from monarchy to aristocracy todemocracy) - Legislative Assembly – all male citizens over 30 |
- Two kings and a council of elders;
- Assembly composed of all citizens approved major decisions - 5 ephors (elected by Assembly) ran day – to – day affairs |
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Citizenship |
limited |
Male, native born Spartans over the age of 30 |
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Education |
-boys attended school if their families could afford it - reading, writing, music, poetry, public speaking, military training |
- military training beginning at age 7 (boys); moved into barracks - at age 20 could marry, but lived in the barracks for another 10 years - age 30, specialized training, joined the Assembly |
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Women's lives |
- no public life - within homes, managed the entire household - no formal education |
- trained to exercise and strengthen their bodies - had to obey husbands & fathers - could inherit property |
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Treatment of slaves |
- no political rights or personal freedom - (performed the daily chores and routine work of commerce and manufacturing) |
- state-owned - called helots - were made to work the land - were under a brutal system of strict control
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Economy |
Trade, farming |
Military state; (isolated themselves, no trade, arts, travel) |
Atheniean Government
Athenian government evolved from a monarchy to a democracy due to demands for
change from:
• merchants & soldiers (resented power of nobles)
• foreign artisans (wanted to be citizens)
• farmers (during hard times had to sell property, family)
Athenian Reformers
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Solon • outlawed debt slavery |
Pisistratus |
Cleisthenes |
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Ancient Athens 1. Direct democracy: citizens themselves were members of the legislature 2. Citizenship based on Athenian ancestry. Generally denied to aliens 3. Women denied voting and other rights 4. Slavery permitted |
Modern U.S. 1. Representative democracy: the citizens elect legislatures to represent them 2. Citizenship based on American birth. Granted also to immigrants following naturalization 3. Women & men granted equal rights 4. Slavery prohibited |
Spartan Facts Review
1. Children were trained for fitness with running, wrestling, throwing javelins -
and that was just the girls!
2. Girls also had to strip for processions, dances and temple services. That way they
wouldn't learn how to show off with fine clothes.
3. The marriage custom of Sparta was for a young man to pretend to carry his bride off
by violence. The bride then cut off her hair and dressed like a man. The bridegroom
rejoined the army and had to sneak off to visit his new wife.
4. A newborn baby was taken to be examined by the oldest Spartans. If it looked fit and
strong they said, "Let it live." If it looked sickly it was taken up a mountain and left to die.
5. A child didn't belong to its parents- it belonged to the State of Sparta. At the age of
seven a child was sent off to join a 'herd' of children. The toughest child was allowed to
become leader and order the others about. The old men who watched over them often
set the children fighting amongst each other to see who was the toughest.
6. At the age of 12 they were allowed a cloak but no tunic. They were only allowed a bath
a few times a year.
7. Children slept on rushes that they gathered from the river bank them-selves.
If they were cold in the winter they they mixed a few thistles in with the reeds- the
pricklings gave them a feeling of warmth.
8. The Spartan children were kept hungry. They were then encouraged to steal food - sneakiness is a good skill if you're out on a battlefield. If they were caught stealing
they'd be beaten. They weren't beaten for stealing, they were beaten for being careless
and getting caught. Sometimes the young men were beaten just to toughen them up.
If the beating killed the youth then it was just bad luck.
9. Older boys had younger boys serve them. If the younger boy did something wrong then
a common punishment was a bite on the back of the hand.
10. If you cried out while you were fighting then not only were you punished, but your best
friend was punished as well.
Athens & Sparta
Athens = 1 Sparta = 2 Both = 3
1. Military state
2. Schools taught reading, writing, music, poetry, public speaking 3. All male citizens over 30 were included in the Assembly 4. helots
5. Only native born males were citizens 6. Women denied voting 7. Economy was based on trade & farming
8. Located on Attica 9. Children belonged to the state 10. Direct democracy 11. Owned slaves 12. Women were trained to exercise
and strengthen their bodies 13. Military training began at age 7 14. Located on Peloponnesus 15. Two kings and a council of elders
16. Evolved from a monarchy to aristocracy to democracy