ANCIENT GREECE- A quick Overview
Background Information
Ancient Greece played an enormous part in the history and
development
of western civilization. Therefore, you must read up to acquire
a working knowledge of Greece in order to give you a base of
essential information about the emergence [birth] of ideas that
still play a relevant role in the modern world. [ Remember our
discussion on the concept of Change and Continuity?]
Ancient Greece was a powerful civilization 1city-states [ see
footnote no. 1 at the bottom of the page], that thrived around
the third millennium to the first century BCE. It was known for
its unique philosophy, architecture, drama, government, and
science. The most famous period of ancient Greek civilization is
called the Classical Age, which lasted from about 480 to 323
BCE. During this period, ancient Greeks reached their highest
level of prosperity and produced amazing cultural
accomplishments. Unlike most other peoples of the time,
Greeks of the Classical Age were not usually ruled by kings.
Greek communities valued the freedom to govern themselves,
although they argued about the best way to do that and often
warred against each other. What Greek communities shared
was their traditions of language, religion, customs, and
international festivals, such as the ancient Olympic Games.
1
City states- Were also known as ‘polis’ in Greek. These city states were cities with their own independent
political, social and economic systems [ which means that they had their own kings/heads, government, trade
systems, language, cultures and traditions as well as their own army.
The city-states of ancient Greece fell to Roman conquerors [
you know what this means] in 146 BCE. Long after Ancient
Greece lost its political and military power, its cultural
accomplishments deeply influenced thinkers, writers, and
artists, especially those in ancient Rome, medieval Arabia, and
Renaissance Europe [ We will discuss these highlighted words in
class, however you may look up these words…but do not stress
yourselves out, again we will discuss them in class]. People
worldwide still enjoy ancient Greek plays, study the ideas of
ancient Greek philosophers, and incorporate elements of
ancient Greek architecture into the designs of new buildings.
Modern democratic nations owe their basic political principles
to ancient Greece, where democracy originated. Because of the
long-lasting influence of its ideas, ancient Greece is known as
the cradle of western civilization. In fact, Greeks invented the
idea of the West as a distinct region; it was where they lived,
west of the powerful civilizations of Egypt, Babylonia, and
Phoenicia.2 [ Remember influences on the modern world]
2
www.Encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia. Las accessed on 10/10/2019
Geography
Greece lies on the crossroads of three continents [ what does
crossword , Europe, Asia and Africa. Mainland Greece forms a
mountainous peninsula with deep valleys and is almost
completely surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea east of Italy.
Greece has more than 1400 islands and jagged coastlines. To
the south is the long island of Crete. Each island has its own
history, folklore and customs
which have contributed to the culture of the country as a
whole. These Greek islands are tips of ancient underwater
mountain ranges that shift and move because of forces inside
the earth.[ So, were these islands city states??]
The climate in Greece has some variation depending whether
you are on the mainland or the islands. Southern Greece
(comprised of the island of Crete and the Aegean Islands) has
mild winters and long, dry summers. Northern Greece (made
up of Macedonia, Thessaly, and Thrace) has a moderate
climate, with cool summer temperatures and mild winters.
Snow is common in the mountains.
History
The term “Ancient Greece” is usually referred to the time
period from the Dark Ages, around 1100 BCE, to the Roman
conquest, about 146 BCE. This period of Greek history is
considered to be the foundation to modern Western
civilization.
All of ancient Greek history is divided into three main periods:
the Stone Age, from prehistory until 4000 BCE, the Bronze Age,
from 3000 to 1100 BCE, and the Iron Age, from 1100 BCE until
30 BCE. The Iron Age is the period of history with the most
lasting achievements and accomplishments of the Ancient
Greeks.
Interesting read…so try and link the below paragraphs to our
lessons on THE STONE AND METAL AGES
Stone Age
The Greek Stone Age is further divided into the Paleolithic (to
9000 BCE), Mesolithic (9000 to 7000 BCE), and Neolithic ages
(seventh to fourth millennia BCE). There is evidence that
Greece was an agricultural society beginning in the early
Neolithic age. Villages were small during this time, and the
social structure was relatively egalitarian, with farmers
depending on neighbors and social ties in the event of a crop
failure. By the end of 5000 BCE, settlements were growing and
economic production and consumption took place primarily in
the household.
Bronze Age
The period from 3000 BCE to 1100 BCE is referred to as the
Bronze Age. It is so named because of the development of and
improvements in metal working during this time. The Bronze
Age of Greece saw an increase in exploitation of natural
resources, involvement trade exchange, and periods of
geographic expansion. Various tribes entered the peninsula and
settled on the islands in the Aegean Sea and on the coast of
Asia Minor, warring and eventually integrating with the native
populations of Minoans and Mycenaeans. This time was full of
wars that helped in the formation of city-states to provide
protection. City-states were political units that included a city
and the land surrounding it. An ancient Greek was loyal only to
his or her city. At certain points over the years, some city-states
became more powerful or expanded their control through
colonization. [ Do you know that India, too was colonized
?..and that India, too had a pre-historic period through the
Stone and meta ages?!!]
Iron Age
The period dating from 1100 BCE to 30 BCE is called the Iron
Age of Greece. It includes the Greek Dark Ages, the Classic
Period, the Hellenistic Period, and includes the time when
Greece was ruled by the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The
first Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE, which is often
considered the starting point of the most significant period of
Ancient Greece.
Few written records exist for the period known as the Dark
Ages. During this era, it is thought Greece’s growth had slowed
down a lot. During the Greek Iron Age, the governments
evolved from 3monarchy to 4oligarchy, and then to 5tyranny [
see footnotes for meanings] , where a eupatrid- i.e a Greek
born into a well to do family, would seize power. In the sixth
and fifth centuries BCE, democracy was established in nearly all
3
Monarchy- means when a place is ruled by a monarch/king
4
Oligarchy-means a country/place governed by a group of people or a powerful organization
5
Tyranny- means when a state is ruled by a very cruel and an oppressive government/ruler
of the Greek city-states. Athens and Sparta were the two most
influential and powerful city-states.
Athens and Sparta:
Athens was the first city-state to evolve into a democracy,
emerging as an aristocratic government, meaning it was ruled
by officials (archons).They were elected by nobles. The
aristocracy was overthrown by Pisistratus, supported by the
people, in reaction to harsh laws, in 560 BCE. Though Sparta
was the most powerful military state in Greece, Athens had a
strong naval force. With its naval fleet, Athens succeeded in
defeating the invading Persians in 480 BCE, and in uniting Greek
cities of the coast of Asia Minor and the Aegean islands. Thus,
Athens became wealthy and powerful, able to invest in art,
architecture, philosophy, and other intellectual endeavors. The
culmination of this fruitful age was the age of Pericles6, also
called the Golden Age, from 460 BCE to about 430 BCE. It was
around this time that philosophy reached its pinnacle, with
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle contributing to its development.
An important factor that contributed to Athens’ success was
slavery. Between two-fifths and four-fifths of the population
were slaves. They labored hard to produce much of the wealth
that allowed the free Greeks to engage in artistic, cultural, and
political ambition. A supply of slaves was provided by the
military: prisoners who were captured in conquered cities,
usually non-Greek states, became slaves. Some slaves were
skilled and educated, and worked as craftspeople, while others
6
with fewer skills provided physical labor. At times slaves were
able to obtain their freedom, then becoming metics, or resident
aliens. [ So, are you reminded of our discussions on human
resources??]
The Peloponnesian War broke out due to Sparta’s jealousy of
Athens’ power. This war lasted from 431 BCE to 404 BCE, with
Sparta emerging as the victor. After power changed hands
several times, Alexander the Great came to power around 338
BCE and proceeded to unite many city-states and to build an
empire. This Hellenistic Age was a time of wealth and splendor,
where art, science, and the humanities developed; cities’
infrastructures and peoples’ lifestyles improved greatly. This
age ended around 146 BCE when the Greeks came under the
power of Rome. From this time forward Greece experienced
many invasions and defeats. Ancient Greece is considered to be
the most influential civilization in the Western world. The
philosophical debates, dramatic plays, literature, and laws of
Greece are in use and continue to be relevant to Western
society.
Pericles (l. 495–429 BCE)
He was a prominent Greek statesman, orator, and general
during the Golden Age of Athens. The period in which he led
Athens, in fact, has been called the Age of Pericles due to his
influence, not only on his city's fortunes, but on the whole of
Greek history during the 5th century BCE and even after
his death. He strongly believed in democracy, but with one big
difference compared to modern day democracy, as only male
citizens of Athens could participate in politics. Even then, his
7
reforms would lay the foundation for the development of later
democratic political systems.
Pericles' name means "surrounded by glory" and he would live
up to his name through his efforts to make Athens the greatest
of the Greek city-states. His influence on Athenian society,
politics, and culture was so great that Thucydides (l. 460-395
BCE), his contemporary admirer and historian, called him "the
first citizen of Athens" (History, II.65).
Pericles promoted the arts, literature, and philosophy and gave
a lot of freedom to some of the most inspired writers, artists,
and thinkers of his time. He increased Athens’ power through
his use of the 8Delian League to form the Athenian 9empire and
led his city through the First Peloponnesian War (460-446 BCE)
and the first two years of the Second Peloponnesian War (431-
404 BCE). He was still actively engaged in political life when he
died of the plague in 429 BCE.10
7
Reforms means to make changes and bring about improvement/ development
8
The Delian League (or Athenian League) was an alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens and formed in 478 BCE
to liberate eastern Greek cities from Persian rule and as a defence against possible revenge attacks from Persia
after the Greeks won the wars at Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea in the early 5th century BCE.
9
Empire- A group of states or countries that are ruled by a monarch or an oligarchy
10
www.ancient.eu/pericles/ Joshua J. Mark. 28th March,2018. Last accessed on 31st Dec.2018
