Ancient Greek

Greek CivilizationHistorical BackgroundThe region : mainland and many islandsGreece was organized into polis (independentcity states)The outstanding cities : Athens and Sparta

Greek City-StatesGreece Asia Minor Aegean Sea Athens SpartaMediterraneanSea

The Political Evolution of Greek City-States1. Monarchy : is ruled by a single leader2. Oligarchy : is ruled by a few, always the wealthiest members of the society3. Tyranny : gain power illegally4. Democracy : is ruled by the people as a whole

Sparta

Sparta (Militarism) • Spartan society was dominated by the military. • The Spartans believed that military power provided security and protection.

• The main character : warrior The class system (three groups) 1. The Spartiates - Citizens of Sparta - All Spartiates males were full-time soldiers.

2. The Perioeci - Non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta - They had the rights to own lands. - They could not participate in any political decisions.

3. The Helots (serfs) - An unfree population group servant, slaves• The political rights : male citizens

Athens

Athens • The Athenians valued education, clear thinking, and the arts.

The Political Evolution of Athens Draco was the first to write down the laws of Athens. His code became famous for its harshness. Solon wrote a code of laws, simpler and less brutal than the existing laws. Establishment of Oligarchy.

• Pesistratus : the first of the Athenian tyrants• Hippias : Son of Pesistratus, the bad tyrant, people rejected him.• Cleisthenes : ‘Father of Athenian democracy’ - Democracy = the power of people - Introduction of ostracism (voting to expel someone from the community for ten years)

• Athenian democracy introduced principles of freedom, equality and citizenship to modern democracy.Athenian democracy & Modern democracyAthenian Democracy Modern Democracy1. Women and foreigners 1. Men and women got thewere excluded from the same political rights.political rights. 2. Indirect democracy :2. Direct democracy : Representative democracyIndividual democracy

Two Outstanding Wars of Athens 1. The Athenian-Persian WarIn 519 B.C. the Persians conquered a group of peoplewho lived in Asia Minor called the Ionian Greeks.In 499 B.C. the Ionian Greeks asked the mainlandGreeks to help them rebel against the Persians.Athens sent troops to support the revolt.• Athens won and emerged as the most powerful city-state in Greece.

Two Outstanding Wars of Athens(continue) 2. The Peloponnesian War (Athens and Sparta) - The Growth of Athenian imperialism - The social and cultural differences between Athens and Sparta - The economic factor• The result : Sparta wins and the power of Athens declines.

Macedonia and Alexander the GreatKing Phillip II of Macedonia led his armyfrom the north and conquered Greece.After his death his son, Alexander theGreat, went on to conquer the entire Greekworld.

• Alexander the Great - The growth of trade - The great expansions - The introduction of Hellenistic civilization• Hellenistic is a new civilization that combines the western and the eastern civilizations.

Religion - Polytheism - Gods and goddesses : anthropomorphic character - Humanism - Dignity of man - Value of man - Ability of man

Gods and Goddesses - Zeus (the sky god and father of gods and men) - Hera (wife of Zeus) - Poseidon (Zeus’s brother and the sea god)

- Ares (god of war)- Aphrodite (goddess of love)- Athena (goddess of wisdomand goddess of Athens)

- The Greek temples : house of gods and goddesses and religious place

Greek Art1. Literature : long epic The Iliad, telling the story of the Trojan War The Odyssey, telling the story of the hero Odysseus

Troy :- It presented the abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus, by- Prince Paris of Troy- It is the war between Agamemnon and Troy.- Troy was destroyed.

- The Odyssey presented 10 year journey home of Odysseus after the Trojan war.

Greek drama : Comedy and Tragedy• The Greeks began the practice of performing plays in outdoor amphitheatres.• Theatre began as a festival worshipping• Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility

2 Architecture :Greek Columns• Greeks developed three different orders• Doric, Ionic and Corinthian• Corinthian was further developed and used• by Romans

3.Sculpture - Greek sculptures : Greek gods, human figures

Greek Philosophy Sophist• - Individualism (answer the questions about human being) - Reject believe of gods, use logical for judged everything - The arts of debate

The Great 3 Sophists in this periodSocrates : the first father of sophists - He emphasized human ethics. - Socrates’ method of learning is questioning. Taught people how to think. It consists of asking questions andanalyzing the answers to get the truth.

• Plato (Socrates’ student) - His school : Academy - He was not interested in politics.

Outstanding Works 1. Theory of Ideas Human world - Material world (Physical thing) - Ideal world (Spiritual thing) - Ideal world is the most important part of human world.

2. He wrote the book name “The Republic” Plato’s ideal state, perfect plan of society- Three classes of people : Philosophers, soldiers, and farmers- Good ruler was philosopher-king.

• Aristotle (Plato’s student) - His school : Lyceum - He believed in human reasons. - Theory of Ideas - Agreement of material world and ideal world of Plato but Both material world and ideal world were equal importance.