Chapter 4: The Rise
of Greek Civilization
Section 1-
Aegean civilization developed from sea routes
To early people, the sea meant mystery and danger
Slowly became less frightening
Became an important trading highway
Phoenicians were among the early traders who sailed on open waters
Map Test: Aegean Sea
Hellespont (Dardanelles)
and Bosporus
People of Aegean Sea also used sea routes
Greek Peninsula (Balkan
Peninsula) holds many deep harbors and covers about 400 miles
Mountainous land of Greece lacks
sufficient farmland, so the trading was necessary
Crete
developed a flourishing culture
Crete- an island southeast of Greece
in Mediterranean Sea
“The Stepping Stone of the Mediterranean” or “Crossroads of the Mediterranean”
Was settled by 6000 BC
First Neolithic’s from Asia
3100 BC- Egyptians
Became wealthy and powerful from 2000- 1400 BC
Civilization called Minoan
For legendary King Minos
One of most famous Greek stories was of Minotaur
Minotaur- flesh eating monster with bull head and human body
Death of Minotaur meant destruction of Crete by Zeus- father of Minotaur
King Minos with engineer Daedalus designed labyrinth to keep monster under palace
Was slayed by Theseus, who went to maze with ball of string
A prince from Athens who loved Ariadne daughter of King Minos
Seven boys and seven girls from Athens were fed to monster every nine
months
Tribute to make Athens suffer after Kings Son died in Athens
Immortal-live forever
Mortal- will die
Hercules was son of Zeus, son of person
King Midus’ wife had affair with Zeus
Zeus was in form of a bull- Minotaur
Until 19th century,
Minoan civilization was only known in legends
Sir Arthur Evans- 1894- British archaeologist excavated Crete
Found Clay Tablets
Bronze tools and weapons
Ruins of royal palace at Knossos
Contained a labyrinth
Had an excellent plumbing system
Exported olive oil, wine,
pottery and metal-works
Art shows a cheerful, pleasure-loving
people who enjoyed sports and nature
Women had equal social status to men
Chief deity was an earth goddess- owned universe
Animal sacrifices, grain, priestesses
Evans found wall paintings
with bull dancing pictures
Sport- dangerous
Bulls horns are low-animals can’t reason
Still dangerous-like battering ram- ribs splinter
One person summersaults on bull, other grabs partner
Mycenaean invaders spread
Greek civilization to the mainland
About 1900 BC, people of Caspian Sea invaded the Greek
Peninsula
Newcomers called Mycenaeans
Spoke form of early Greek
Built fortified cities- like Mycenae
Peasants worked around cities for princes
1450 BC- Captured Knossos
Captured other Crete cities in next century
1400 BC- Mycenaeans were driven off by Minoans
1400-1200 BC- Mycenae became unifying force in Greece/
Aegean
islands
People spoke same language
Worshiped same gods
Believed to live on Mt. Olympus
Mythology- group of myths
relating a particular country or person
Explains how Greeks believed
in questions answers
Sun rising etc
Mycenae
and Troy became rival centers of Aegean civilization
Aegean civilization included parts of Asia Minor
Troy was strategically placed on Hellespont
Hellespont no called Dardanelles
Straight (narrow channel) connecting Aegean and Black
Seas
Because of location, Troy controlled trade between these seas
After about 1300 BC, Mycenaean trade declined for reasons unknown
Mycenaean lords fought with one another
This time of crisis is written in the Iliad and The Odyssey
Epic Poems by blind poet, Homer
Around 800 BC
Iliad- tells of anger of a warrior Achilles , it’s tragic results and an
episode of war in
Troy and Mycenaeans
The Odyssey tells adventures of a solider Odysseus, on his ten year
journey home after end of Trojan War
30-19 BC- Roman Poet Vergile epic poem Aeneid based on Greek
sources tell how Mycenaean invaders built
a wooden
horse, Troy
thought it was a gift from the gods, and the
Mycenaeans
were inside and attacked
Movie Note: Theseus’ father died from suicide- jumped into sea when his son
left
Section 2-The Greeks expanded to control the Eastern Mediterranean
Mycenaean civilization was always threatened by outside forces
1200 BC- Dorians invaded from north
Survivors fled to Athens
Some went to Ionia and Agean Sea
islands
Ionia- coastline of Asia Minor
Dorians settled in Southwest Greece
Era called “Dark Ages of Greek History”
Little is known about this era
Dorians and remaining Mycenaeans intermarried
People cooperated for protection, trade and religion
Writing, learned from Minoans then lost, was revived in form from Phoenicians
Changing Government
Greek became universal language by 700 BC in Aegean area
All city-states came to
festivals for worship and games
776 BC- Olympics- to honor Zeus
Began as single day of racing and wrestling
By 7th century BC, chariot and single horse racing were also added
Winners got olive leaf crown and were escorted home with great ceremony
Greeks called themselves
Hellenes
Believed their common ancestor was Helen (god)
Great era of expansion
following Dark Ages is called Hellenic
Lasted from 750-338 BC
Independent city-states
were formed on Greek Peninsula
Early Society was simple
People were in clans with one king, or tribal chief and founded a settlement called a
polis-area around was for farming and grazing
Geographic isolation- led to many small city-states
City-states never cooperated unless invaders threatened their safety
City-states developed democracy
Democracy- government that
is run by the people who live under it, either in direct or indirect fashion
Three types of Government
1. monarchy- dictator, pharaoh, rule by one person, despot, tyrant etc
2. Oligarchy- representative democracy- a small group of people rule
3. Anarchy- no ruler/ government
Only male land-owners born
in certain city-states could become full citizens
Democratic government evolved
gradually in the Greek city-states
First step was oligarchy
Oligarchy- government that is run by a few people
Nobles wrote down laws
Placed for all to see
By 700’s BC, nobles became corrupt
Took land from farmland
Gave farmers more money than they could pay back in the spring- so
farmers had to sell their land and work on it as a slave
Mortgage- borrowing money against a paid portion of an unpaid
loan
Farmland is poor here- mountainous
If nobles have all the land- they can control prices
Increased wealth in farming, forcing farmers to mortgage land, or sell themselves
into slavery
Making of pottery, textiles and bronze weapons and tools flourished
Greeks needed more food/markets so they set up colonies
Each colony was similar to parent city-state
Less isolation
Colonies found on Aegean/ Black Sea coasts, Iberian Peninsula
and North Africa
The power of nobility was challenged by Tyrants
Colony establishment didn’t end discontent in Greece
Three trends ended the rule of nobility
1. Heavily Armed infantry of citizens
2. Development of money (people could rise socially)
3. New Group- business class of merchants, artisans and ship-owners
Revolutions occurred from 650-500 BC
Tyrants often took over
Not always bad rulers
Democratic Government developed
in Athens
Athens- city in Southeast Greece on coastal plain
of Attica, hugging Acropolis (hill where many
forts and temples were built)
From 700’s-500’s BC, was ruled by nobles
Chief Magistrate- most powerful
Upheld the laws
Was elected annually by the nobles
Some citizens became unhappy with their social status
Beginnings of Internal Reform
In 594 BC, nobles elected Solon, who had understanding of farmers and strong sense of
justice
Nobles knew if they didn’t they would be overthrown
Cancelled farmer’s debts and outlawed debt slavery, but refused to let land be
redistributed
Enlarged council to include rich property owners
Council like Congress- representatives
Athenian congress called “The Council of Nobles”
Leader of nobles was chief magistrate
Drew up 400 new laws
Offered citizenship to craft workers not born in Athens if they/ their
families settled there
Encouraged Trade
Shepard’s still unhappy they didn’t own land
Elected Pisistratus
Relative of Solon
Ruled as tyrant for over 30 years
Solved economic problems banished many nobles, and redistributed land
Encouraged trade and development of the arts
Next important Tyrant was Cleisthenes
Ostracism began
Ostracism- once a year all 6000 people in Athens got to vote to
temporarily banish any citizen or official viewed as dangerous to Athenian
State
Johnsens’s not an elected official- can’t have a recall
Superintendent can’t be- board members can
Only some states have recall less than half
Don’t recall national issues
Dickinson Midget Mascot
City- Hall building
Increased council to 500
500 BC, democratic governments were forming in
many city-states
The contributions of Athens
to civilization
Made many contributions to western culture from 400-500 BC
Statesman Pericles spoke of them in a speech in 431 BC
1. Citizens are equal before the law
2. Public service was honorable and necessary
3. Citizens free to live speak and go and come openly
4. awareness of Beauty enhanced Greek life
5. Public debates held before states took action
Sparta
became a warrior State
Peninsula Sparta is on is called Peloponnesus
Ancestors subdued natives, they called Helots
Helots allowed to grow food on land, but not become citizens
Sparta began to grow in 700’s BC, after conquering Messenia
600 BC set up constitution to maintain military strength of the state
Assembly of citizens had little power
Most of power was held by Council of Elders
Sparta was much like a military camp
Spartan means sternly disciplined
Only healthy babies were allowed to live
At age seven, entered a “pack” governed by teenage youths
Keeps away from parents- less protection
Physical training, and simple diet
Encouraged to steal, but beaten if caught
Each Pack was beaten annually to test physical endurance
At age 20, became field-soldiers, allowed to marry, but lived in the Barracks
At age 30, admitted to assembly, given head of government posts
At age 60, dismissed from army, and allowed to live with their families
Girls trained to be strong, healthy mothers of warriors
Didn’t go to school
Informal education at home
Given vigorous training in running, wrestling, and javelin throwing
Infantry- Foot soldiers
Cavalry- riders on horseback
Calvary- hill where Christ was crucified
Helots looked on as state
property, little better than slaves
Once a year, you could kill Helots legally to get rid of troublemakers
Shields were used to carry
dead back after battle
“Come back with your shield or on it”
400’s BC, made Peloponnesian
League- military alliance with nearby Greek City-states
Sparta is paid to protect more
Section 3- Defeat of Persians led to Athen’s recognized Leadership
Greeks extended to Black
Sea and west to Spain
Persians became most dangerous
enemy
Defeat of Persians ensured the leadership to Athens
Hostilities developed along east coast of Aegean Sea
Greek colonists’ descendents lived here since 700’s BC
Greeks revolted after put under Persian rule
Set up own government and appealed to Athens for help
Athens helped, but were defeated, so Athenians built a Navy
Persia wanted Greek land and to punish Athens
for helping Ionians
Battles at Marathon
and Salamis
Darius I, king of Persia, knew Ionia
was vulnerable as long as Athens persuaded allies to revolt
490 BC- went to defeat Athenians
20000 men to Bay of Marathon
Athens and Sparta already agreed
to Alliance against Persia-
were ready
Athens sent a runner to Sparta,
but wouldn’t come until next full moon- superstitious
Athenians battled 2-1 and still were victorious
Superior weapons and strategy
Greek Legend says Pheidippides ran about twenty-six miles to Athens from
battlefield to report
victory
Died from exhaustion after yelling “Rejoice! We conquer”
When modern Olympics revived in 1896, a marathon run was held to commemorate the act
Battle
of Marathon destroyed nation of Persians strength- gave Greeks confidence
Ten years later, Xerxes,
son of Darius attacked Greece
Sparta leads defense
Set up at narrow pass of Thermopylawe
Were defeated
Next Xerxes easily burned Athens/ Acropolis
Athens still had effective navy
Defeated Persians
Golden Age of Pericles
After Persian defeat Athens took the lead in forming defensive alliance
called the Delian League
Each member state was assessed ships or money
Amount dependent on wealth
Athens dominated the league- power, wealth, trade, prestige, supremacy
Pericles- Athenian statesman
and military commander
Athens reached highpoint of its democracy
From 460-429 BC
Parthenon- a temple to Athena was built and art/literature flourished
Real power of Government
was in the assembly
All male citizens over 18 years old were members
Passed laws, decided issues, elected officials
Pericles was president of board of generals
The Council of 500
Drew up laws
to pass
Divided into committees
Got Paid
Athenian Democracy was
based on the Principal that all citizens were equal
Nearly every citizen could hold office
Direct participation of citizens is a direct democracy
Most people couldn’t
become citizens
Athenians bought slaves or captured as POW’s
House slaves treated well
Silver-mine slaves harshly treated- chained
