GREEK POLISPolis Time LineGeographyClimateSlide 5What is a Polis?Major PoleiGreek Colonies 750-550 BCEComponents of a PolisSlide 10AthensSlide 12SpartaSlide 14Slide 15Persian Wars (490-479 BCE)Persian WarsSlide 18Slide 19Delian LeaguePericlesPericles Funeral OrationPeloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE)Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Peloponnesian WarAftermathGREEK POLISPolis Time Line•c. 700 Homer•750-550 Age of Colonization•490Athenians defeat Persians at Marathon•480Xerxes invades Greece•479Spartans defeat Persians at Platea•478-477 Formation of Delian League•431 Start of Peloponnesian War•413Athenian defeat at SyracuseGeography•Greece and surrounding islands are mountainous•no major rivers•little grassland•much marble.Climate•Unpredictable •supported olives and grapes•lack of arable land necessitates trade for other food stuffs•seafood forms a major source of diet.What is a Polis?•A city state•A community of citizens with distinctive customs, gods, and was also an object of intense religious-patriotic devotion•the Greeks answer to the perennial conflict between an individual and the community•What are some famous polei?–Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Argos, Delphi.Major PoleiGreek Colonies750-550 BCEComponents of a Polis•Geography•Population between 5,000 and 35,000 citizens•city populations about 10 times the citizen - mainly free farmers•interaction with other members of the polis•acropolis.Athens•Attica, patron deity is Athena•Center city of learning and democracy•education•position of women–hetaria.Athens•Athenian democracy pros and cons.Sparta•Political Structure–Kings–common man•Social Structure–labor•helots (Messenians)–money–women•turned into a military camp to maintain control.Sparta•education–age seven–barracks–tutor from amongst young citizens–public dining and “black broth” –“now I know why Spartans don’t fear death”.SpartaPersian Wars (490-479 BCE)•Ionian cities revolt against Persia–were Greek colonies–Greek city states support the revolt•King Darius retaliates by invading Greece–Battle of Marathon.Persian WarsPersian Wars (490-479 BCE)•Second Persian War 480 BCE•Xerxes (from chp 2 in textbook) invades–Thermopyle: Leonidas and 300 Spartans hold out until death–Platea: Spartan army victorious–Salamis: Athenian navy victorious.Delian League•Creation•150+ member city-states•drove Persians and pirates from the Aegean•Athenian imperialism.Pericles•aristocrat, general, leader in Athens, directed Delian league•moved treasury from Delos to Athens–religious justification•rebuilt buildings on the Acropolis•dissention within the league, Athens enforced participation•Aspasia.Pericles Funeral Oration“We are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few. But while the law secures equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is [selected for] public service… as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty a bar, but a man may benefit his country whatever may be the obscurity of his condition… There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private intercourse we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which though harmless are unpleasant… a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for authority and for the laws…”Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE)•Recorded by Thucydides–first “true” historian•emergence of the Peloponnesian League–preemptive strike.Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE)•Sparta was successful on land - invasion of Attica•no conclusive battle against an Athenian army•421 BCE both sides agree to a truce.Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BCE)•415 BCE Athenian Syracuse campaign–loss of 50,000 men and over 200 ships•Sparta resumes war 414 BCE–defection of Athenian allies–economic support from Persia–naval assistance from Syracuse•siege and defeat of Athens (404 BCE)•weakening of social and political system•“Thirty Tyrants”.Peloponnesian WarAftermath•Sparta unable to administer a large area•Weakened and divided Greek city states•professionalization of government•mercenaries replaced citizen soldiers•outbreak of civil wars in many poleis•rise of
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