Classical Societies PDF

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Dr. G. Cruz-Taura's course...

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9/2/15 Greece 

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Minoan civilizationo On the island of Crete o Peaceful, sea-faring o Palace at Knossos Mycenaeano Wars between cities o Influenced by Minoan o 2000 BCE Greek invaders from the north o 1250 BCE sacked Troy, Illiad o legacy: myths, honor code o 1100 BCE collapsed (war plays a role?) Greek epic literature o Homer (8th century): the Illiad and the Odyssey o Greek values  Courage  Family honor  Excellence  Respect of Olympian gods  Will vs. Fate  Consequences for actions Greek cultural features o Polis “city-state”  Avenue to a good life  Worship of gods < loyalty to you polis  Will of citizens  law o Greek language, literature  Phoenician alphabet o 12 gods of Mt. Olympus  Games  Oracle of Apollo at Delphi o Fear of the Persians Persian wars o Phase 1: Ionian revolt. Athens helped o Phase 2: Darius I sends small detachment o Phase 3: Xerxes’ major invasion  300 Spartans defeated at Thermopylae  deserted Athens burned  Athenian naval victory at Salamis  Spartan victory at Plataea and destroyed Persian fleet at Mycale Greek Polis o Idea of a legal state through reason o Removal of myth from the sphere of politics

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o Developmental path:  Monarchyoligarchytyrantdemocracy o Sparta and Athens- 2 most powerful polis SPARTA o Militarized city-state o 2 kings with limited power, a council of elders elected for life, assembly of all males over 30 only ratified o every male citizen a soldier o fear of helot revolt turned Sparta into a garrison state o Leader of Peloponnesian League- demand troops ATHENS o Open city-state o Evolution by tyrants: Areopagus < Council of 500, debate open to all in assembly o Check: ostracism o Every male citizen to engage in political life o State- a moral association enabling fulfillment of human potential o Leader of colonization and trade Golden age of Athens: democracy and splendor with imperialist policies over Delian League of 150 poleis o Members could not withdraw o League’s treasury used to finance public works o Athens did protect against pirates and Persians o Members enjoyed more trade and not overtaxed o BUT resented Athenian control 460-404 BCE: Peloponnesian Wars (destroy Athens) o 3 phases, final and most brutal: 431-404 BCE What does Thucydides tell us about the Peloponnesian Wars? o Thucydides  Historian’s analysis of war  Pericles, “funeral Oration” th o 4 century: Sparta, Athens and Thebes continue struggle for hegemony o Demosthenes (384-322 BCE) Warned about Philip of Macedon  Fought Alexander Why the decline of the Greeks? o Greeks unable to see a world moving toward larger states and empires against which the small city-state coul not compete  Needed a Pan-Hellenic Federation o Capabilities vs. limitations of REASON o Law not sacred facilitated waning of civic responsibility  Ex. Use of mercenaries  Discontent of the poor Philosophy in the Hellenic Age

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o Greeks broke with mythopoeic outlook o Emphasis on REASON is turning point o NOTE: mythical modes persisted Cosmologists searched for natural explanations of how things came to be o Matter philosophers  Thales of Mileus: water Sophists- rational investigation of people and society o 1st to promote formal secular education  paid teachers of political arête  how to formulate law, policies  eloquence, persuasion o Relativists: futile to search 1st principles o use reason to be a better citizen Radical Sophists o Undermined religious and moral values: attacked the old order without offering constructive replacement o Might as the highest principle o Encouraged disobedience and selfishness o Sophrosyne (moderation and self-discipline) denied human instincts, pleasure o Contributed to spiritual crisis that accompanied Athenian decline...