Classics Lecture 003 Notes PDF

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Classics 1000 – David Lamari – Lecture 003 Monday, September 23rd Notes

Archaic Greece (750-490 BC); The Polis In Archaic Greece we find the development of the Polis. The Polis was the institution in which almost all Greeks lived from the dark age to Alexander the Great. All Greeks show interest in trying figure out the purpose of human life. They believe that the Polis was an institution that allowed you to fulfil that end.

The Polis (pl. Poleis) The Greeks didn't list any of the achievements that we credit to the Greeks. They thought we live in Polis, therefore we're free. Others don't, so they're slaves and barbaric. That's not to say they didn't respect other culture or take ideas from them.

Small and Numerous Very numerous number of settlements, and they're very small, coming out of the dark age. The mergers that happened eventually stopped. There were 50 polis on crete alone. Polis average around 5,000 male citizens. Probably around 5,000 women on top of them. Total number of inhabinants would be around 30,000. Only 3 Greek Polis had more than 20,000 citizens. A Polis is usually half the size of London, land wise.????? REFER TO PPT. Synoecism, the coming together to form a Polis – bringing together families not related to create a new community. People create stories about how their Polis was founded. Usually some god or hero founded this Polis, even though evidence says otherwise. What ever Polis seems to have an oligarchy – small leadership by a few people on council. Similar to tribal elders or leaders (respected people) who provide governance in the community. They were often called the elders. A Polis is all of the land inhabited by the people in the Polis. They call all of the land one name, and a central city another. Most communities gave the most important cities the name of their farm land. Ie, Athens is the central city, the Polis of Athens was the surrounding farm land.

Autonomy of the Polis All Greek Polis bragged about similar things. They all bragged that they were otonomous. They created their own laws, had their own customs, ect. As we move ahead in the Greek culture they compare themselves often to the Persians. Kings weren't above the law in Greek Polis. The Greeks speak about their adherence to their Polis. The highest claim is to obey your own laws. Each Polis has its own curreny, gods, festivals, calander. There wasn't a movement to form one larger Polis. Though there were defensive alliances, ie i wont fight you if you don't fight me. They had the concept that a Polis had to be their own. They refused to import or water down their customs by merging with Polis or other people. You had to have at least one parent a member of the Polis to be a citizen. You can't just emigrate to the Polis. There's a feel that this is our own thing. They're quite exclusive. Though they're anti social, if you're part of Polis you are expected to give your part in the Polis. There was stigma attached to someone who only focused on himself. Most Greeks accepted that you have to live in a Polis. Man is a Political Animal – he meant that man is an animal who lives in a Polis. They felt that when a community becomes too large the individual components (citizens) are no longer playing an important role in a community.

Wealth and War Greek communities were so poor that you didn't have extremes in wealth. This makes it easier to have smaller communities and come together. (Extremes of wealth) Secondly, the Greeks develop a warfare – foot soldiers called hoplites (comes from shield name) they fight in a formation called the phalanx. Phalanx warfare is where hoplites stand side by side with their shields together become an effective army. In Greek communities almost every citizen could afford to be a hoplite, therefore almost all citizens had value to the community. People in Polis often could not stand one another.

Tyrants (670-500) Tyrants were people who were untraditional leaders chosen by a group of people who had an issue with someone. The tyrant would voice the peoples' opinion to impose the views/laws of the repressed group that was angry.

Structure of a Polis There was little bureaucracy. There was little tax, around 1 to 2% of your income used for small things around the Polis – building the walls, ect. Governance There was an assembly of the people that would meet. They would speak to the council of elder. They would tell them what they wanted. The council of elders would hear what the assembly of the people wanted, but they wouldn't have to impose what the people voiced. That said, if they completely ignored a specific set of people they run the risk of having a tyrant overtaking them. Elders chosen as leaders.

The Oikos The Oikos is defined by being a legitimate citizen running a household. Read into this!!!!! ****

Greek Citizenship Barbarian was a term for a non-greek speaker. Someone who wasn't in a Greek Polis. Barbarians couldn't compete in the olympics. Metic is the term for a non citizen who resides in a city. They have very basic rights. Read into comparison of barbarians, slaves, and women.

Status of Women Women always have to have a guardian, the husband. If she doesn't have a husband then it's the nearest male relative. If she doesn't have a close male relative then it's on the state to provide one.

If a man dies with the property and a women is the only option, then the nearest male relative would need to marry the women who recently acquired the property through the death of the man. The man owning the property before he died. Women had to have a guardian (kyreios). Epikleros is the property attached to women if she inherits it. There's only one female voice that prominent Culturally assigned role of women – the primary role of the women is to transmit the bloodline of a father to heirs. Therefore emphasis is placed upon her reliability to fulfil that role. Purity of appearance is important. For example, a women cannot allow a male visitor into the house if the husband is not there. If a man steps into the house it's grounds for assault and prosecution. Women are untrustworthy and are driven by their desires. Women are the ones who run the household. When there are ceremonies women take the lead. (festivals, funerals) Outside of these women are porne and hetaira. They were women who would live in cities and were either non citizens or were slaves, or they could be citizen women from poor families. Porne is a prostitute. (male or female) Hetaira (buddy/friend) is a female friend/pal. It means someone who is a mistress or kept women of a citizen man. Adultery can only involve a citizen women. There is no restriction on a man sleeping with a porne or a hetaira because they're not citizen. Being a hetaira is a respectable job, especially if you were the hetaira of a wealthy man. Hetaira were expected to be intelligent, beautiful, smart, witty, sophisticated, ect.

3 Stages of a Women's Life: 1. Parthenos Parthenos – means virgin ready for marriage. In polite Greek society you called every Greek citizen who was a girl around 14 a parthenos. This phase of a women's life is best documented because men desired these girls. These girls were veiled and kept behind key. They weren't allowed to show their ankles. They were so secluded that men desired them so much that they become the focus of many poems. They had a lot of sexual appeal.

Lots of art that depicts women juggling. Lots of art of courtship.

The Greek Wedding The wedding is arranged between men. Women around 15, men around 30. There is a transcaction between the father and the groom. The father gives the groom money or property in exchange for the women. There is no official state ceremony. It's not religious, though there are religious elements. They throw raisins at the groom

Eros In the art there is a different message, than written testimony. On the pots you see sexual attraction, and winged creatures indicating love. The uncovering is where a girls veil is lifted off.

2. Nyphe Nyphe is the title given to a women who is married but hasn't had a kid. 3. Gyne Once the women is married and has a kid she is called a gyne. From here on out you don't see images of sexual attraction. A good wife is, depicted in art, spinning and weaving thread. Women would take clumps of coal by twisting thread and using the weight of the coal. It's something a wife can do while walking to town or with the baby.

Oikos The household itself, inside the city, the walls were painted monochrome, not a lot of furniture. They were like townhouses, they had shared walls. There was rarely a detached house. Rooms changed dramatically on whether or not men where home. The women would need to retreat upstairs when the men where home. A room could be a bedroom then a workroom. The andron (room for men) – room where men would hold a dinner or drinking party. Pornes and hetairas would be invited.

Female seculsion

In the art we see that women are clearly outside talking to each other and running errands. Likely because the women are high class. The reality of literary and depictions in art conflict. Lower class women have to buy things, help out, ie.

Divorce and Widowhood Only the man can divorce. He didn't need a reason. In some Polis he's required by law to divorce his wife if she commits adultery. Very often if the wife has been rape she will get divorced. This is the literary ideal in an upper class ideal. If a man dies someone will step in and raise the kids

Children When the wife has a child the father must acknowledge the child within 10 days. The child now becomes an heir. The husband can always expose the child – leave him. The exposed child is left and anyone can take him on. In Athens you put olive branches for guys, wool for girls on the front of your house.

Slavery in Ancient Greece Every ancient source presupposes that slavery is necessary. Most ancient slaves viewed that they were going to eventually be free and get their own slaves Assumed slavery was necessary. Owners voices.

Slave Population 35% of population, so 1/3 people was a slave. If a family can't afford one slave then they're very poor. It's assumed that most families could afford an unskilled slave. We rarely hear about families owning dozens of slaves. Occasionally 10 – 20. 50 max.

Occupations This society is slave driven. Slaves did: Mining – which was the worst job to have. “I'm going to sell you to the mines.” Slaves were always able to be sold to the mines, where precious medals were. Mining slaves never saw sunlight. They put rocks in baskets which were raised to groundlevel where they were then processed. If you had a sick slave you would sell it to the miner, the miner would use him and he'd last around a month. You wouldn't get much money for the sale of the slave to the mines. Manufacture – which was the best job. Many slaves could have practical skills, they could make pots, lamps, clothes. These slaves, if you had a skill were a valuable commodity. They would be treated well by their masters and could even have a good diet (the slave would have a good diet, that is). The master could even set up shop and let the slave run the shop and give him say 2%. If he earned enough money then he could buy his freedom. Any skilled craft meant you were a lucky slave. One a slave has the money he signs a formal contract and there is a ceremony and he will become a medic. Public building – you can rent out your slave (to a neighbour). Or you can rent him out to the city they will make use of him. Domestic slave – which were the largest number. They were attached to the house. Most families who could only afford one slave would have a male slave doing it all – cleaning, cooking, working in the fields. If the family has more money then they would have slaves with specific duties. Prostitute and Entertainer – a slave by virtue of property can be forced to do anything. Male or female slaves would perform sexual acts. There were also prostitute who were also entertainers.

Look up ancient greek police force The greeks so strongly believed in citizenship that they ran into the problem of law enforcement. It would be intolerable to put your hands on a citizen if you were another citizen. We're going to have certain slaves who would be the police force. At the end they would be given a ceremony and they would be owned/honoured by the goddess of athena. They are the only ones who can put their hands on citizens. Public slaves are owned by athena. Trade and banking – there were slaves good at sales and numbers. The master would give the slaves a cart and they would sell pots and get a small portion of the earnings. 'wage-earning slaves'

Legal Rights of Slaves They had no rights. It's called Chattel slavery – meaning they're pure and simple property. Any offspring the slaves have is the masters. A master was being mean to a slave so the family sued him for brutality. The masters relatives must stop him, not another family.

Slave Resistance There is very little slave resistance. We don't hear of slave revolts. We hear of sabotage – slaves would break things or pretend to play dumb to not have to slave away anymore because they have no incentive. Slaves are liars, lazy, stupid, deceitful. Most Greeks believe the same thing about women as slaves.

Manumission meaning freeing a slave, letting him go from your hand. Economic motives – you will lose him but he'll work harder knowing he can eventually be free. Limits to his freedom, he's not a full citizen....