Ancient Greece: Civilization, Politics, and Culture
Ancient Greece: A Historical Overview
The Western World and Greece
Geographic Location
The Western world encompasses the settlements around the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, a region considered part of the “known world.” Greek civilization flourished south of the Balkan Peninsula, along the coasts of Asia Minor, and across the Aegean islands. It comprised:
- Continental Greece: Peloponnese peninsula, Attica, regions of Italy and Thessaly.
- Island Greece: Crete, Delos, and Samos.
- Ionian Greece: Miletus, Ephesus, Troy, Phocis, and the coasts of Asia Minor.
Greek Contributions to the West
Greek society introduced innovative systems of governance and new perspectives on humanity. This era witnessed the construction of magnificent temples and palaces.
Pre-Hellenic Era
4) The pre-Hellenic period runs from 2500 BC, when Crete was the center of the Cretan or Minoan civilization. During this period the island’s main activity was trade. By 1450 BC, Achaeans, Aeolian and Ionian, from mainland Greece, invaded and dominated.
5) Explain the development of Athenian democracy led by Pericles.
5) The political system could der implemented because Athens was a small state, the army of democracy was limited to citizens and the high economic level that existed in Athens was financed l slave labor and tax contribution of Delian League, organized alliance between cities in order to defend against the Persians.
6) What is called the period of Hellenism?
6) Sparta and Athens fought the Peloponnesian War, which resulted in Greek society were weakened and was invaded by the Macedonians. In the second half of the fourth century BC, Philip of Macedon united the Greek city-states. While her son Alexander, to succeed him, extended the empire to the Indus River and conquered other peoples of the East. This period is called Hellenism.
7) Explain the political, social, economic and cultural life of the Mycenaean civilization.
7) Society: was rigidly governed by powerful rulers. Mimos, which speak earliest records I have been a king or a dynasty that ruled over the island and created a Thalassocracy or maritime empire.
The economy was initially based on agriculture and later evolved into the commercial. The use of ceramic throne and mastery of the metalworking trade boosted export or import of tools and implements. Agricultural and manufactured goods exported and imported commodities. They also developed a profitable chain of middlemen in trade between its neighboring towns.
The Art: set about building palaces and interior decoration, religious inspiration was present in their art forms, made columns.
8) Who formed the Mycenaean civilization?
8) The Mycenaean civilization was comprised of the Achaeans and the Cretans; combining.
9) Why call Mycenaean?
9) In the city of Mycenae, the richest and most powerful center.
10) How could develop the Polis?
10) Around 1200 BC Dorians and Ionians invaded the Greek area, displacing the Achaeans to Asia Minor. The Dorians settled in the territories in the south and in the central Ionian, in Attica. After the invasion, spent a long period of instability. That is why the Greeks came together to protect themselves from constant attacks from other villages. From this union came the cops. This dark time known as “ archaic Greece.”
The political and social organization of this period was based on land ownership. Those who belonged to the founder gens were the privileged class.
The political leadership rested on a king who was elected from among the names. The community problems were discussed and resolved in the downtown, where they could attend or participate free men.
From oligarchy to democracy:
11) Essential characteristics of Athens: political, economic, social and cultural development.
11) Athens, Polis Democracy:
After the victory over the Persian Empire, Greece reached its greatest splendor and Athens became the most powerful polis. “ For”the Age of Pericles (461 BC-431 BC), the president managed to bring the city to its height and the economic and artistic development. One of the most important works of this ruling was the consolidation of democracy.
This political system could be implemented because Athens was a small state, the exercise of democracy was limited to citizens (women were excluded metics and slaves) and the upscale development in living. Athens was financed by the labor of slaves and tax contribution of the Delian League, organized alliance between cities in order to fend off the Persians.