ANCIENT GREECE I

CHAPTER1,ANCIENTGREECEANDTHEHELLENISTICAGE(I):HistoryandArt,MAPOFGREECE,Introduction:GreekCulturalInfluences,Introduction:GreekCulturalInfluences,AncientGreekideasaboutart,architecture,drama,philosophy,andgovernmentgreatlyinfluencedWesterncivilization.AmongthemostinfluentialofGreekculturalachievementsistheParthenoninAthens,anoutstandingexampleofclassicalarchitecture.TheGreekteacherandphilosopherSocratesaffectedWesternspeculativethoughtandphilosophywithhisemphasisondialogueandrationalargument.Greekscientistsdevelopedmethodsofreasoningtodemonstratemathematicprinciples.GreekdramassetstructuralandthematicstylesemulatedbygreatWesternplaywrightssuchasWilliamShakespeare.,1.MinoanPeriod(2200-1400BC):PalaceofKnossos,TheancientcityofKnossoswasacenteroftheMinoancivilization,anadvancedsocietyonCretenamedafterMinos,alegendaryCretanking.Skilledinsuchfieldsasengineeringandarchitecture,theMinoansconstructedthepalaceatKnossosin1700bc.Aseriousfireatleastthreecenturieslatercausedthecollapseofthepalaceandforeshadowedthesubsequentdeclineofthecity.,2.MycenaeanPeriod(1550-1000BC):LionGate,ThefamousLionGateintheancientcityofMycenaeinGreeceshowsthedetailedstonecarvingatwhichtheMycenaeansexcelled.Mycenae,whichwasthecenterofAegeancivilizationfromthe14thcenturybctothe12thcenturybc,includedmassivewallsandbeehive-shapedtombs.,3.TheGreekDarkAge(1000-750BC),CivilwarsledtothedisruptionoftheMycenaeankingdomandcausedGreeceseconomytocollapseanditspopulationtoplummet,whichcreatedpovertyandpoliticalconfusionthatlastedformorethan200years.ThisperiodtraditionallyiscalledtheGreekDarkAge,partlybecausealackofwrittenevidencelimitsourknowledgeofit,butalsobecauselivingconditionswereharsh.Greekshadlostthedistinguishingmarksofcivilization:cities,greatpalacesandtemples,avibranteconomy,andknowledgeofwriting.ArchaeologyshowsthatduringtheearlyDarkAge,Greekscultivatedmuchlessland,hadmanyfewersettlements,anddidmuchlessinternationaltradethantheyhadduringtheperiodofAegeancivilization.Settlementsshranktoasfewas20people.,4.TheArchaicAge(750-480BC),Theperiodfromabout750to480bctraditionallyiscalledtheArchaicAgebecauseitwasconsideredarchaic,orold-fashioned,incomparisonwiththeClassicalPeriodthatfollowed.However,Greeksduringthisperiodproducedstartlinginnovations:theself-governingcity-state,imaginativetypesofartandarchitecture,andthepoetryofHomer.BreakingtheMediterraneantraditionofroyalrule,Greeksstruggledtocreatenewkindsofpoliticalorganizationfortheirgrowingcommunities.Themaingoalwastoavoidstrongcentralpoliticalauthority.TheGreekstriedtosharerule,sometimeswithinalimitedgroup(oligarchy)andsometimesamongtheentiremalepopulation(aformofdemocracy).Inafewareas,theyalsodevisedtheleaguealooseallianceofgeographicallyseparate,smallgroupswhoagreedtosharelawsanddefenseasanewformofpoliticalorganization.,4.1HoplitesinBattle,Thedesignonthis7th-centurybcwinepitchershowsGreeksoldiersknownashoplitesinbattle.HoplitesweretheinfantrymenorfootsoldiersofancientGreece,equippedwithbronzebodyarmor,shields,spears,andswords.,4.2SportsinAncientGreece,ThefiguresonthisamphorarepresentparticipantsinafootraceatthePanathenaicGames.City-statefestivalsprovidedthemostexcitingentertainmentinancientGreece.AtthesegatheringsGreekshonoredthegodswithcompetitionsinsports,music,dance,drama,andpoetry.,4.3RuinsatOlympia,ThesiteoftheancientOlympicGameswasasanctuaryconsistingoftemplesandbuildingstohonorthemythologicalgodsofancientGreece.Thegamesbeganin776bc,andopenedwithaceremonyandsacrificetothegods.Theexedra,orsittingarea,picturedhereisamongtheruinsatOlympia.,4.4Discobolus,TheDiscobolus(DiscusThrower)wasafamousstatuecreatedinthe5thcenturybcbyGreeksculptorMyron.Theoriginalislost,andthestatueisknowntodayonlyfromtheRomancopyinmarbleshownhere.ThrowingthediscusformedpartofthepentathloninancientGreekfestivalssuchastheOlympicGames.,4.5MusicandDance,MusicanddancewerepopularformsofentertainmentinancientGreece.Thispainting,whichadornsatwo-handleddrinkingcupfromthe6thcenturybc,showsamanplayingflutewhileawomandances.,5.TheClassicalAge(480-323BC),5.1WarwiththePersians:LeonidasI(480BC),SpartanleaderLeonidasIisbestknownforhisheroicdeathatThermopylaeduringhisattempttostopaninvadingPersianarmyfromadvancingthroughGreece.WithasmallGreekforce,LeonidasheldoffseveralthousandPersiansoldiersatanarrowpass.Heandhissoldiersfoughtbravelyuntilallofthedefendershadbeenkilled.,5.2TheGoldenAgeofAthens(1):Pericles(461-430BC),Pericles,whotookcontrolofAthensin461bc,wasresponsibleformakingAthensmostprominentamongtheGreekcity-states.Periclesbuiltmanynewstructures,includingtheParthenonontheAcropolis.,5.2TheGoldenAgeofAthens(2):Acropolis,TheAcropolis,amassivelimestonehillwhereafortifiedcitadelwasbuilt,dominatesAthens.TheywereconstructedduringtheGoldenAgeofAthens(5thcenturybc)undertheruleofthefamousAthenianstatesmanPericles.,5.2TheGoldenAgeofAthens(3):AncientParthenon,TheParthenon(aDorictemplebuiltforAthena,thegoddessofwisdom)isoneoftheworldsmostfamousclassicalstructureslocatedatthesite.,5.2TheGoldenAgeofAthens(4):DoricColumns,Parthenon,TheDoricorderistheearliestandsimplestoftheGreekarchitecturalorders.Bytheclassicalperiod,whenarchitectsusedtheDoricorderfortheParthenon(447-432bc),theyhaddevisedrulestogoverntheproportionsofeachpartofthebuildingsfaade.TheParthenonscolumnsgiveanimpressionofgracefulsolidityandpower.,5.2TheGoldenAgeofAthens(5):IonicColumns,Propylaea,IoniccolumnsaretallerandmoreslenderthanDoriccolumns,andaretoppedbycapitalsthatresemblescrolls.TheIoniccolumnsshownherearepartofthePropylaea(437-432bc),amonumentalgatewaytotheAcropolisinAthens,Greece.,5.3FalloftheAthenianEmpire:ThePeloponnesianWar(431-404BC),AthensdominatedtheGreekcity-statesinthe5thcenturybc,leadingtheDelianLeagueandcountingothercity-statesasallies.RivalSpartaledthesmallerSpartanConfederacy.ThetwosidesfoughtinthePeloponnesianWar(431-404bc),andAthenslost,leavingittemporarilyweakened.,ThePeloponnesianWar,5.4AlexandertheGreat(356-323BC),5.4AlexandertheGreat(356-323BC),AlexandertheGreatbecamekingofMacedoniawhenhisfather,PhilipII,wasassassinatedin336bc.Hetookimmediatemeasurestoquellinsurrections,bothdomesticandabroad,establishinghimselfasapowerfulleader.AlexanderledhistroopsincampaignsagainstGreece,Egypt,andthePersianEmpire,rulingmostofthecivilizedworldbythetimehediedin323bc.attheageof33.Hiscelebratedmilitaryandtacticalgeniussharerenownwithhisegoandruthlessness.,EmpireofAlexandertheGreat,6.TheHellenisticAge(323-31BC),6.1Alexandria,Egypt,This6th-centurymosaicfromJarash,Jordan,depictsthecityofAlexandriainEgypt.Foundedin332BCbyMacedoniankingAlexandertheGreat,Alexandriabecameacultural,religious,andeconomiccenteroftheGreekworld,effectingthespreadofGreekcultureduringtheHellenisticAge.,6.2TheRuinsofPergamum,TheancientcityofPergamumwasanimportantcenterofGreekculture,housinganimpressivelibraryandanaltartoZeus.ThecitywasthecapitalofthekingdomofPergamum,oneofseveralso-calledHellenistickingdomsthatemergedafterthebreakupofthevastempireofAlexandertheGreatin323bc.TodaytheruinsofPergamumlieontheoutskirtsofthetownofBergama,Turkey.,6.3TempleofApolloatDidym