The Hellenic Age
of Ancient Greece
The Rise of the City-State
and Greek Culture
Rise of the City-State
► The
Greek Dark Ages ran from
1100 BC to ≈ 800/750 BC.
► The brief era of re-birth was
known as the Archaic Period of
the Hellenic age.
 During the late Dark Ages (900-800
BC) There was a revival of the Greek
economy
 Also there was a cultural and
political revival.
Rise of the City-State
► The
Greek Dark
Ages ended
around 750 BC.
► Following that
the city-state or
polis became the
central focus of
Greek life.
The Ruins at Delphi
Rise of the City-State
► Various
Greek City-States and
their Governments:





Thebes & Monarchy
Corinth & Plutocracy
Delphi & Theocracy
Athens & Democracy
Sparta & Aristocracy
Rise of the City-State
Why the City-State?
► Cities
were separated by mountains
and bodies of water which kept them
from uniting into one country.
► Instead of one ruler for all of the citystates together, the Greeks preferred
having their own government in their
own community.
► The main gathering place in Greek citystates was a fortified hill top called
an acropolis. Below was the agora, an
open area for people to assemble and
for a market place.
The City-State
► City-states
varied in size, some
were a few square miles to a few
hundred square miles.
► Populations varied by size of the
cities.
► Overall, the Polis was a
community of like-minded people
with common goals.
The City-State
► Only
adult males had rights
within the Polis.
► Slaves, agricultural laborers,
and resident aliens also had no
rights.
► City-States distrusted one
another, and were extremely
patriotic.
 i.e. people who lived in Athens, were
Athenians, not Greeks.
The City-State
► All
Greek colonies were
established as city-states as well.
► City-states popped up all over the
Mediterranean as the Greeks
settled.
 The most notable of these colonized
city-states was Byzantium.
► The
colonies of Greece supplied
the mainland with numerous
resources not available within
Greece.
The City-State
► Aristocrats
eventually began to
control power within the citystates.
► The men that took complete
control of the city-states were
known as Tyrants.
 Tyrant was the Greek name for
anybody with absolute control.
 Most Greek tyrants were beloved
rulers.
The City-States
► Tyrants
were wealthy, land
owning citizens of their cities.
► Eventually the power of tyrants
came to an end, in favor of other
forms of government.
Map of Greek & Phoenician Colonies.
Sparta
► Dominant
citystate of the
Peloponnesus.
► Their Greek
name was the
Lacedaimonions
(Lakedaimwnio)
Sparta
the Military
► Sparta
was a military culture.
 Men fought in the summer and rested
in the winter, every year.
► First
in Greece to have a
professional army.
► Spartan and Greek soldiers alike
were called hoplites.
► Spartans were the first to
perfect the phalanx.
Sparta
the Military
► Spartan
soldiers were well-
trained.
► Taken from the age of seven to
begin training for battle.
► Soldiers served from the age of 7
to 60.
► Soldiers were granted citizenship
at the age of 30.
Sparta
the Military
► The
Spartan training camp was
the called the Agoge.
► Men trained, ate, slept, and died
together from the age of seven.
► Recruits were forced to steal,
kill, and become immune to pain,
all to be better soldiers.
Sparta
the Military
► The
Phalanx was the arrangement of
men in battle.
► Men used their shields to guard the
man to their left, from thigh to neck.
► Spears were the primary weapon in a
phalanx, swords were secondary.
Sparta
the Military
►A
proper
marching
Phalanx
formation.
Sparta
the Military
► This
is the proper Spartan
phalanx in battle:
Sparta
the Military
►A
Spartan Hoplite:
 Wielded a Hoplon
► Was
36” in diameter
► Roughly 18 lbs.
 Swords had 27” blade,
6” hilt
 Only leaders had plumes
► Plumes
were made from
colorful horse hair.
 Armor was either
bronze or brass.
Sparta
the Military
► The Spartans used two
different types of
swords:
This is a Falcutta, used by the Spartans in the
3rd and 4th centuries BC.
This is a standard
Greek sword used by
the Hoplites.
Sparta
the Military
► Sparta’s
Most
Notable leader
was King Leonidas
 Son of King
Anaxandridas II.
 He was the 17th
King of Sparta
 Famous for his
“Last Stand” at
Thermopylae.
Sparta
the City-State
► Sparta
also had a rich and diverse
culture
 All citizens were given a basic
education unlike Athens.
 Women and slaves (Helots) enjoyed
more freedom than most.
 But the military and the culture led
to what is known as the Spartan
Mirage.
Sparta
the City-State
 Helots were people who had been taken
prisoner during war and forced into
slavery.
 Helots farmed the soil and were forced to
give part of their crops to their master.
This angered the slaves and led to
occasional rebellions.
 25,000 Spartan citizens had defend
themselves against a revolt by 500,000
“helots.”
 Once a year, Spartans declared war on the
helots, thereby giving them an excuse to
kill suspected troublemakers.
Sparta
the City-State
► The
women of Sparta lived a much
freer life than women elsewhere.
► Along with boys, Spartan women went
away to school at age 7 to learn
survival skills, wrestling, and
gymnastics
► Returned home at 18 to marry and
raise a family
► Women were also allowed to own
businesses and property – they owned
more than 1/3 of Spartan property.
Sparta
the City-State
► The
Spartan government was an
oligarchy, a government ruled by
a small group of people
► Ruled by 2 kings
 Both of which led the Spartans into
battle
►5
ephors overlooked education
and the conduct of citizens
 These men were elected officials
Sparta
the City-State
► Art
and science didn’t really
thrive in Sparta
 The Art of War was the only thing
Spartans cared about
►War
led to a life of honor and glory, and
ideal that carried over from the heroic
age.
►Most Spartans thought that the kings
were descendants of Heracles.
Athens
the City-State
► Athens
is by far
the most famous
Greek CityState.
► Primary CityState in the
Greek area
known as Attica
Athens
the City-State
until the 5th century BC,
aristocrats ruled Athens.
► Up
 Eventually they grew tired or
political turmoil and elected a
leader.
► The
first single man to control
Athens was Solon.
 Solon was very reform oriented, and
helped change Athens.
Athens
the City-State
► Around
510 BC, the Athenians rid
themselves of an unpleasant
tyrant and put Cleisthenes into
political power.
 He created a council of 500 male
citizens that overlooked all of
aspects of Athenian life.
 Helped create the foundations for
the soon to be Athenian democracy.
Athens
the City-State
A bust of Solon
A bust of Cleisthenes
Athens
the City-State
► Eventually
Athens enters into an
Alliance known as the Delian League.
 Called this because it was located on the
island of Delos.
► Athens
was the city-state that
controlled everything
 Athens controlled the treasury as well as
the military of the Delian League.
► By
entering into the alliance, Athens
had built an empire.
Athens
the City-State
► Eventually
a benevolent Tyrant
named Pericles came to power.
► Athens flourished under his
guidance.
► This is known as the Age of
Pericles.
 Otherwise known as the Athenian
Golden Age.
Athens
the City-State
► Pericles
had created the first
democracy, a direct democracy, in
which every male citizen got a
vote.
 Males met every ten days to discuss
laws, taxes, politics, etc.
► Also
created a practice of
ostracism.
 This was the practice of expelling
any political figure in disfavor for 10
years.
Athens
the City-State
Artist’s rendering of Pericles in Sid
Meyer’s Civilization IV
Most famous bust of Pericles
Athens
the City-State
► Under Pericles,
Athens had
established itself as the hub of
the Greek world.
► Pericles commissioned the
building of the Parthenon, as
well as numerous other public
works projects.
Athens
the City-State
The Parthenon was built as a
temple to Athena. Athena was
the patron goddess of Athens.
Athens
the Military
► The
Athenians weren’t a land
military power like Sparta. The
Athenian army ruled the seas.
► Athens had a exceptionally
trained navy.
 This was due to Athens being a semi
port city, and Sparta was
landlocked.
Athens
the Military
► The
crown jewel of the Athenian
navy was the Trireme.
 Called a trireme because it had
three levels of rowers
► It
was roughly 131 ft. long and 20
ft. wide.
Athens
the Military
► The
Athenian fleet never
exceeded more than 250 triremes,
but didn’t need anymore.
► The purpose of a Trireme was to
ram opposing ships.
► The ram was made
of solid bronze.
War with Persia
► The
Persian Empire had always
been a bother to the Greeks and
vice-versa
► The Greek colonies in Ionia were
under Persian control and the
Ionians revolted around 499 BC.
 The Athenians aided in the revolt
 The Persian king Darius manages to
squash the rebellion, but it leaves
him bitter.
War with Persia
► In
490, Darius tries to invade
Greece.
► Crosses
► Darius
the Aegean sea
tried to invade mainland
Greece directly.
War with Persia
Marathon
► The
only battle was at Marathon
► Marathon was located roughly 26
miles away from Athens.
► Athenians make a stand at the city
of Marathon.
 Athenians obliterate Darius’ forces.
War with Persia
Marathon
► The
Persians
under
Darius try
to take the
mainland
directly.
War with Persia
Marathon- The Aftermath
► Athens
was victorious
► After winning the battle, a man by
the name of Pheidippides ran from
Marathon to Athens.
 Runs into Athens and shouts
“Victory!” then he falls over dead
from exhaustion.
►This
is where the modern day Marathon
run gets its name from.
War with Persia
► Darius
never forgave the Ionians, or
the Athenians
 One of his aids would say at every meal,
“Sire, remember the Athenians”
► This
hatred carried over into his son,
Xerxes.
 Xerxes vowed revenge following his
fathers death, because Darius never saw
the Athenians fall.
► Greece
heard that the Persians were
coming and prepared to defend their
homeland
War with Persia
The Key Players
 Xerxes, led the Persian
Armies into Greece.
Themistocles, 
Leader of the
Athenians
Leonidas, the King of 
Sparta
War with Persia
► Many
Greek City-States planned a
land defense under the guidance
of Sparta.
► Athens went with the policy
proposed by Themistocles and
built a navy.
► Xerxes led a force of 180,000
troops, and brought thousands of
warships with him.
War with Persia
► The
Red
shows the
movement of
the Persians
► the
Blue, the
movements of
the Greeks
War with Persia
► The
first skirmish was at
Thermopylae.
 This is the famous story of the last
stand of the 300.
 Epilates then betrayed his Greek
brothers and led the Persians down
a path behind the Greeks.
War with Persia
Thermopylae
► 300
Spartans, led by King
Leonidas I, controlled a Greek
army of 7000.
► Held the Persian forces at bay by
funneling them into a small
mountain pass known as the “Hot
Gates”
 This strategy worked for two days,
and would’ve worked even longer if
not for Epilates.
War with Persia
Thermopylae
War with Persia
Thermopylae
This would
have been a
semi accurate
clip despite
some of the
geography.
The proper
phalanx was
followed, and
I will point
out where it
stops.
War with Persia
Thermopylae
Contrary to the
movie, the Greeks
would have faced
the “Immortals”
from the
beginning of the
fight because
that was the
nickname for the
Persian Army.
Also, the
“Immortals”
would have not
been demons as
portrayed here.
War with Persia
Thermopylae
► Leonidas
died early in the second
day of skirmishes
 Spartan policy dictated that the king
lead the soldiers into battle, and
that they were on the front lines.
► The
Spartans fought the Persians
over his body for five hours
 Leonidas’ body was not returned to
Sparta for 40 years.
►Thermopylae
was a loss for the Greeks,
but a valuable example of courage and
valor.
War with Persia
Salamis
► The
battle of Salamis was a naval
battle
► 200+ Greek Triremes squared off
against 1000+ ships.
► Used the same strategy as the
Spartans.
► The Athenian navy obliterated the
Persian navy.
War with Persia
Salamis
War with Persia
Plataea
► This
was the final battle of the
Greco-Persian war.
► The Greeks made the largest
unified stance up to this point in
their history.
► Defeat Xerxes and send him back
to Persia, humiliated.
War with Persia
Plataea
War with Persia
► The
war’s greater significance is
that it unites the Greeks amongst
a common enemy
► During the war, the Greeks had a
national sense of pride
► This unifying theme didn’t last
long though
War with Persia
Summed-UP
The Peloponnesian War
► Following
the defeat of the
Persians, the Greeks go to war
amongst themselves.
► The two biggest instigators were
Sparta and Athens.
► Sparta and its allies feared the
growing power of the Athenian
Empire.
The Peloponnesian War
► This
map
clearly
shows the
size of the
Athenian
Empire,
compared
to Sparta
and its
allies.
The Peloponnesian War
► Both
sides thought they could win
 The Athenians were going to remain
in their city, getting supplies from its
colonies
 Sparta wanted a face to face battle
► Then,
a stroke of bad luck strikes
Athens
 A plague broke out within the city,
killing 1 in 4 people.
The Peloponnesian War
► Athens
only
movements
during the war
was to get
supplies.
► Sparta marched
to Athens and
burned
everything in
their path.
The Peloponnesian War
► Pericles,
the leader of Athens
dies following the outbreak of
the plague and Athens limps on.
 The Spartans eventually starve them
out
 Athens surrendered and the
Spartans sacked the city.
 For the next half-century, Sparta,
Athens, and Thebes fight over
control in Greece.
The Peloponnesian War
The Aftermath
► Following
the war, both Athens
and Sparta were near bankrupt.
► They still fought over control of
Greece, but on a smaller scale.
► All the while, the Macedonians to
the north were slowly gaining
power.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: The Religion
► Ancient Greece
was polytheistic
► They were very superstitious
about the goings on in the world
► 12 major gods; all of whom
resided upon Mt. Olympus.
► The main god was Zeus, the God of
Thunder, and leader of the
Olympians.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: The Religion
► The
main 12 gods
were:







Zeus
Hera
Poseidon
Hades
Athena
Aphrodite
Apollo






Ares
Artemis
Dionysus
Hermes
Demeter
Hephaestus
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: The Religion
► No
formal doctrine.
 Their religion was heavily based on
rituals or ceremonies.
► They
also wanted to know the
will of the gods
 This was done through the Oracles
►The
most famous oracle was at Delphi
 The responses were usually cryptic, and no
one could make heads or tails of them.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Architecture
► The
Greeks made monumental
advances in this field.
► Most Greek architecture was
based around beautiful
colonnades.
► Greeks built fantastic temples to
their gods.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Architecture
► The
various
types of
columns, and
architecture
styles
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Architecture
The current ruins of Delphi
Model reconstruction of the temple at
Delphi
Hellenic Greece
The inside of the Parthenon
The Culture: Architecture of the Parthenon
Painting of the Parthenon in it’s days of glory
Architectural rendering of the Parthenon
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Theatre
► The
Greeks took great pride in the
theatre.
 The earliest Greek dramas were
known as tragedies.
► Some
of the greatest playwrights
ever are from the Hellenic Age of
Greece.
 Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: History
► During
the Hellenic age is when
Greeks started to record their
history.
 This was known as the practice of
‘Istoria. ( ‘Istoria)
► Scholars
today still rely on two
key Greek historians.
 Herodotus and Thucydides gave
fantastic first hand accounts of
Greek events.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Philosophy
► During
the Hellenic age there was
a rise in Greek thought or
philosophy, meaning the love of
knowledge.
► Early philosophers tried to
explain the universe through
unifying principles.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Pythagoras & Sophists
► Pythagoras
gave the idea that
numbers and music gave us
insights into the methods of the
universe.
► Sophists were scholars that
walked the Greek country side
and said man was too stupid to
understand the complexities of
the world.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Socrates
► Socrates
was an
avid opponent of
the sophists, and
the most famous
philosopher in the
western world.
► Socrates left no
writings, all of
his wisdom was
remembered and
recorded by his
student, Plato.
Socrates was the only nonmilitary citizen of ancient
Greece to be put to death for
his ideals.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Plato
► Plato
was
Socrates’ only
student.
 Was a
philosopher
himself, but is
mostly known
for his writings
on the words of
Socrates.
The Apology and the Republic were two of the most famous works of Plato.
The Apology was the story of Socrates’ trial, and the Republic is Plato’s own
thoughts on government.
Hellenic Greece
The Culture: Aristotle
► Aristotle
was the
third most famous
philosopher of ancient
Greek.
► Studied at the academy
established by Plato.
► His biggest exploit was
that he was the
personal tutor of
Alexander the Great.
Hellenic Greece
Conclusion
► The
Hellenic age of Greece was
the era in which everything that
we know of as Greek came into
existence.
► It was also an era of great men,
not just military leaders.