FROM HOMER TO
HERODOTUS
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FOUNDATIONS OF CLASSICAL
GREECE
STAGES IN GREEK
CIVILIZATION
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Ca. 2900-1400 BC:
Ca. 1600-1150 BC:
Ca. 1250 BC:
Ca. 1250-1150 BC:
Ca. 1100-750 BC:
 Ca. 750 BC:
 Ca. 750 BC:
 Ca. 750 BC:
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Minoan Period
Mycenean Period
Fall of Troy?
Fall of Mycenaean
Empire
“Dark Ages”
Written Greek Language
Homer
Beginnings of Greek
colonization
Greek Alphabet
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Ca. 8th century BC
Adapted Phoenician Alphabet
23 letters:16 consonants & 7 vowels
Earliest examples ca. 740 BC
Standardized 4th century BC
Tablets and Papyrus
Greek word for papyrus is biblos, hence Bible
Map of Ancient Greece
Trojan War (c.1250 BC)
Legend of Paris and Helen
Achilles and Patroclus
Achilles and Hektor
•Achilles’ pride
•Vengeance for Patroclus’
death
•Battle of heroes
•Disgracing Hector’s body
Archaic Literature
Epic Poetry from dark ages
– Iliad
– Odyssey
 Oral vs. written forms: bardic tradition
 Written by 700 BC
 The authorship of Homer questioned
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The Iliad and History
Iliad as the Trojan War
– For Ancient Greeks “mythos” as truth
– For us “myth” is thought of as legend
– To the Greeks (and other ancient peoples),
myths provide explanations (science=body
of knowledge)
 Levels of History
 Distinctions between 800 BC- 1250 BC
– Mycenaean burial vs. archaic cremation
– Mycenaean chariots
– Temples
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What can the Iliad reveal?
•What is the relationship between gods and
mortals?
•What is the role of war?
•How is the battlefield managed?
•What is the status of women?
•What does this say about democracy?
•What are the values of this society?
Homer, The Iliad
Homer, The Iliad
VALUES AND VIRTUES IN
GREEK SOCIETY
Virtues of arete and Penelope
 Honor (timé) and Family
“Always be the best and distinguished above
others”
“Do not bring shame on the family of your fathers”
 Bravery (agathos) expected
Trojan War
Olympic Games (776 BCE)
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Values and virtues for women in Greek
society
Management of the household as wife and mother
 Helen and Paris
 Andromache and Hector
 Penelope and Odysseus
 Clytemnestra and Agamennon
Rise of Polis
8th Century BC to 5th Century BC
Polis = city (->politics)
Corinth, Sparta, and Athens
Monarchy, Oligarchy, and Democracy
Tyranny
Citizenship
Hierarchy
Expansion of Greece
Age of colonialization: 750 BC to 500 BC
Mother city (metropolis) established colonies
under founder (oikistes); colony independent
Major areas: Black Sea, Southern Italy, Spain, Asia
Minor, Macedonia, North Africa
Purpose of Colonization
Trade
Resources
Citizenship
Greek Colonization of the Mediterranean
750 – 500 B.C.
PANATHENAIC PRIZE AMPHORA
c. 530 BC