Ancient Greece Notes
Minoans to Alexander the Great
Mr. O’Rourke
THE GEOGRAPHY OF GREECE
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Greece is a peninsula, which means that it is surrounded on three sides by water.
Greece has a lot of smaller peninsulas sticking out from it, which means Greece enjoys many
natural harbors.
Greece is also covered with mountains. They are not huge mountains but if you are trying to go
from place to place in Greece, you'll find the mountains a bit of a hindrance.
Three thousand years ago, it was very difficult to get from place to place in ancient Greece by
walking. But it was easy to get from place to place in Greece by boat.
In the ancient world that grew up around the Mediterranean Sea, the Greeks became known as
great sailors. They sailed about the Mediterranean, setting up colonies and outposts where they
could. They established new towns on the coast of Turkey, on the coast of Italy, on the coast of
Africa, and on the coast of France.
As the Greeks turned to the Sea they flourished and spread their culture throughout the areas
touched by the Mediterranean Sea. They shared not only goods, but ideas with many people
throughout the area. –Cultural Diffusion took place!
Due to limited natural resources, interdependence between the peoples of the Mediterranean
region was established.
In mainland Greece, cities thrived. The soil was mostly fertile. The Greeks had a wealth of
seafood, fresh fish, a wealth of vegetables, and fresh drinking water.
The Minoan Civilization
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The first major civilization in Europe.
It began on the island of Crete.
Discovered in an archeological dig. (1898) It existed from 6000 BC until 1450 BC
It was named after its legendary ruler King Minos.
They had an economy based on trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. They traded wine,
grain, and olive oil from Crete for amber, ivory, and precious metals.
Their towns were built around large palaces. Knossos was the largest palace. It was built
around a central courtyard used for religious ceremonies and had 1300 rooms:
They also believed in mythical figures. The “minotaur” was a legendary monster that was halfman and half-bull. It lived in a maze under the palace of Knossos:
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By 1450 BC the Minoans had lost their civilization to destructive earthquakes and Crete was
taken over by the Mycenaeans from mainland Greece.
The Mycenaeans
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From about 1600 BC to 1100 BC the Mycenaeans dominated mainland Greece.
They were sea traders and travelled as far as Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. They were
also farmers and warriors.
Through cultural diffusion, they absorbed writing from the Minoans and other traits from their
trading partners.
They lived in separate city states. Each city state contained a well fortified fortress built on a
hilltop or “acropolis”. Mycenae was the largest and contained the “Lion’s Gate”:
The Trojan War occurred between Mycenae and Troy and took place around 1250 BC.
Troy was located in present day Turkey.
During the war, the Greeks entered the city in a “Trojan Horse” and opened the gates for others
to defeat Troy.
The poet Homer wrote of the Trojan War in his epic poems ‘Iliad” and “Odyssey”. Homer lived
about 750 BC.
Mycenae faded from power around 1100 BC.
THE RISE OF THE GREEK CITY-STATES
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In the 8th century BC, Greece began to emerge from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of
the Mycenaean civilization. Literacy had been lost and Mycenaean script forgotten, but the
Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, modifying it to create the Greek alphabet. From about
the 9th century BC, written records begin to appear. Greece was divided into many small selfgoverning communities, a pattern largely dictated by Greek geography, where every island,
valley and plain is cut off from its neighbors by the sea or mountain ranges.
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The Greek Alphabet
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Because of Greek geography; small, independent, autonomous government formed.
o Monarchies – rule by one man, inherited
o Aristocracies – rich noble class rules
o Oligarchies – few –usually military leaders rule
o Tyrannies – 1 man take over, usually with popular support – often a general
o Democracies – many rulers, the people
The basic unit of politics in Ancient Greece was the polis, sometimes translated as city-state.
"Politics" literally means "the things of the polis". Each city was independent, at least in theory.
The supreme power in each city was located within that city. This meant that when Greece went
to war (e.g., against the Persian Empire), it took the form of an alliance going to war. It also gave
ample opportunity for wars within Greece between different cities.
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Two major city-states emerged in Greece. They were Athens and Sparta:
ATHENS
SPARTA
Government & Athenian Government
Political
Usually classified as a "direct
organizations democracy" (because everyone, not
just politicians attended the Assembly),
Athens claims to be the "birthplace of
democracy".
Spartan Government: Usually classified as an
"oligarchy" (rule by a few), but it had elements
of monarchy (rule by kings), democracy
(through the election of council/senators), and
aristocracy (rule by the upper class or land
owning class).
The Assembly open to all citizens (all
citizens were eligible to attend such
meetings and speak up). They passed
laws and made policy decisions. The
Assembly met on the Hill of the Pnyx at
the foot of the Acropolis.
The Assembly of all Spartan males aged 30 or
over could support or veto the council's
recommendations by shouting out their votes.
Women did not participate in the
political life of Athens.
Women did not participate in the political life
of Sparta.
Social Structure Freemen were all male citizens: divided
into numerous classes: at the top were
aristocrats who had large estates ;
middle ranks were small farmers;
lowest class was the thetes (urban
craftsmen). Metics - those who came
from outside the city; they were not
allowed to own land, but could run
industries and businesses. Slaves were
lowest class, but less harshly treated
than in most other Greek cities. Slaves
had no rights, and an owner could kill a
slave. Slaves varied in status: some
were given important roles in Athens,
like policemen.
Three classes: Spartiates (military professionals
who lived mostly in barracks and whose land
was farmed by serfs; they served in the army
and could vote).
Perioeci or "neighbors/outsiders" who were
freemen; they included artisans, craftsmen,
merchants; they could not vote or serve in the
army; foreigners could be in this class.
Helots (serfs descended from those peoples
who had resisted subjugation by Sparta and
who were constantly rebelling. They were
treated like slaves and gave 1/2 of their
produce to the Spartiate citizens who owned
the land.
Women had few rights, but were more
Women were rarely seen outside the independent in Sparta than elsewhere in
home and had no rights in the Athenian Greece.
democracy.
Military
strength
Strong navy.
Strong army, best and most feared fighters on
land.
Life style and
values
Democratic values for citizens. They
believed in participation in government
as a civic responsibility. Athenians
believed in their cultural superiority
and in their role in an empire and
benefiting from trade.
Spartan culture: Militaristic values. Children of
citizens were raised to be "Spartan", taught to
get along with almost nothing. Spartiate
citizens were not permitted to own gold or
silver or luxuries. Spartan children were taught
to respect elderly, women, and warriors
Education
Spartan mothers would say to their sons,
"Either come back with your shield or on it"
(meaning return victorious or die fighting).
Boys: Schools taught reading, writing Boys: Boys were taken from parents at age
and mathematics, music, poetry, sport seven and trained in the art of warfare. They
and gymnastics. Based upon their birth were only given a cloak - no shoes or other
and the wealth of their parents, the
clothes, and not enough food so they had to
length of education was from the age of steal (to learn survival skills). At age 20 they
5 to 14, for the wealthier 5 - 18 and
were placed into higher ranks of the military.
sometimes into a student's midTo age 30 they were dedicated to the state;
twenties in an academy where they
then they could marry but still lived in barracks
would also study philosophy, ethics,
with other soldiers. They were educated in
and rhetoric (the skill of persuasive
public speaking). Finally, the citizen
boys entered a military training camp
for two years, until the age of twenty.
choral dance, reading and writing, but athletics
and military training were emphasized.
Girls: Girls were educated at age 7 in reading
and writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival
skills. Could participate in sports; treated more
as equals.
Girls: Girls received little formal
education (except perhaps in the
aristocrats' homes through tutors); they
were generally kept at home and had
no political power in Athens. The
education of a girl involved spinning,
weaving, and other domestic art.
Role of women Athenian women and girls were kept at Girls were educated in reading and writing and
home with no participation in sports or could participate in sports; they were treated
politics. Wives were considered
more as equals to men. The goal was to
property of their husbands. They were produce women who would produce strong
responsible for spinning, weaving and healthy babies. At age 18 she would be
other domestic arts.
assigned a husband and return home. Citizen
Some women held high posts in the
women were free to move around and enjoyed
ritual events and religious life of Athens a great deal of freedom. Domestic arts
(where the goddess Athena was the
(weaving, spinning, etc.) were usually left to
the other classes. Spartan women could own
patron).
and control their own property. In times of war
the wife was expected to oversee her
husband's property and to guard it against
invaders and revolts until her husband
returned.
Cultural
Art, architecture, drama and literature, Military supremacy and simple lifestyle are the
achievements philosophy, science, medicine, etc.
major inspiration behind the philosopher
and legacy
Government (democracy, trial by jury) Plato's book 'The Republic' - the first attempt
to formulate an 'ideal' community.
Classical Greece City-States Comparison
ATHENS
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Limited democracy
Laws made by Assembly
Only male citizens in
Assembly
Trade with other citystates
Education for boys
Women inferior, no
legal rights
BOTH
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SPARTA
Common language
Shared heroes
Olympic Games
Same gods and religious
beliefs
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Monarchy with two
kings
Military society
Trade and travel not
allowed
Military training for all
boys
Girls trained to be
mothers of soldiers
Women obey men
Women own property
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The Greeks were polytheistic. They worshipped many gods and created a mythology. Everyday
experiences were explained in terms of gods. The gods had human flaws and characteristics.
12 major Gods:
o Zeus: Chief God, ruled the universe, used thunder/lightning/earthquakes
o Poseidon: Brother of Zeus, Ruled the Seas
o Hades: Brother of Zeus, ruled the underworld
o Hestia: Sister of Zeus, goddess of Hearth and Home
o Hera: Wife of Zeus, goddess of marriage
o Athena: Daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom and agriculture
Lived on Mt Olympus
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Oracles interpreted messages from the gods.
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The Persian Wars:
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The Greek city-states united for victory against the invading Persians during the Persian Wars
490 BC-479 BC.
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Miletus – a Greek colony on Asia Minor (modern Turkey) under the rule of the Persians
“Revolts”
Athens sends military aid to Miletus but the revolt is crushed by the Persians
Persian King Darius invades Greece in revenge for Greek interference.
Darius and Persians are defeated at Marathon
10 years later Xerxes (Darius son) invades in revenge of his father’s defeat.
Met by the Spartans at Thermopylae (300). This is basically a delaying tactic to hold up the
Persians until the rest of the Greeks can concentrate forces.
It works; The Greek navy led by Athenians defeats the Persian Navy and Army at Salamis, ending
the war
Athens now becomes the most Powerful of the City-States based on its leadership of the war.
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From 460 BC to 429 BC Pericles ruled Athens. Athens thrived during the Age of Pericles. It
prospered in its economic life and cultural life. This period of prosperity is called a Golden Age.
The Athenian Empire
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Delian League
o A group of City-states united for protection from invasion & economic security.
o Led by Athens
o Eventually Athens forces the other city-states to pay tribute (money)
o Athens created an empire
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Sparta fearing that Athens would become too powerful, formed an alliance with the remaining
city states called The Peloponnesian League
Eventually the two alliances went to war
It is a civil war known as the Peloponnesian War
o Lasts for 27 years
o Athens vs. Sparta
o Athens is defeated
o Greece is devastated
o Greek influence and power declines
 Known as “The suicide of Greece”
o Sparta would also be defeated by the Kingdom of Macedonia in 359 BC.
The Olympic games
o To honor Zeus
o Every 4 years
o Men only
o All fighting stops during the games
Greek and Hellenistic Contributions
Philosophy: Greek thinkers tried to use observation and reason to understand why things happened.
The Greeks called these thinkers philosophers, a word that means “lovers of wisdom”. Three of the
most famous Greek philosophers were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
Socrates
 Developed the Socratic
method: learning about
beliefs and ideas by
asking questions
 Government put him to
death
Plato
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Believed government
should control the lives
of people
Divided society into
three classes: workers,
philosophers, and
soldiers
Aristotle
 Believed one strong and
good leader should rule
 Believed people learn
through reason
Literature:
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The first Greek plays developed from religious festivals. Stories of the gods were usually the
plots for plays.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote tragedies or stories of human conflict. Other Greek
playwrights wrote comedies.
The Greek poet Homer wrote the epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. These epics continue to
inspire writers in our lifetime.
Greeks applied observation and logic to their writing of history. Herodotus is often called the
Father of History because of his careful writing of history.
Art and Architecture:
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The Greeks believed in beauty, balance, and order in the universe. Their art and architecture
reflected these ideas.
Greek paintings and statues were lifelike but they also showed the human body in its most
perfect form.
The Parthenon was the most famous Greek building. It contained Greek columns which are still
used today.
Science:
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The astronomer Aristarchus discovered that the earth rotates on its axis and moves around the
sun.
Archimedes explored the principles of the lever and pulley.
Hippocrates, a Greek physician, studies the causes of illness and looked for cures.
Mathematics:
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Pythagoras developed a formula to measure the sides of a right triangle.
Euclid wrote a book that would be the basis for modern geometry.
Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Culture
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Macedonia was a mountain kingdom north of Greece.
In the 300s BC King Philip of Macedonia conquered Greece which had weakened itself through
civil war.
His son, Alexander the Great, went on to build an empire that included the Nile Valley, Persia,
and parts of India.
Alex spread Greek culture through his conquests. Cultural diffusion created a blend of Greek,
Persian, and Indian life. This culture was called Hellenistic culture.
Hellenistic culture gave more rights and opportunities to women, who gained political power.
Alexander’s empire fell apart after his death but Hellenistic culture lived on.