Chapter 10: Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase

Vocabulary

• Minoans: The people of the Minoan Society. This society prospered between 2000 and 1100 (B.C.E.). It existed on the island of Crete. Had a detailed writing system known as Linear A, in which the symbols stood for syllables. The Minoans society declined after experiencing a number of natural disasters within a short period of time. By 1100 (B.C.E.) it had been completely dominated by foreigners. 

• Mycenaeans: A society that began about 2200 (B.C.E.). Developed a syllabic script known as Linear B, which was a conversion of the Minoan Linear A to their language. Between 1500- 1100 (B.C.E.), the Mycenaeans expanded greatly. They participated in the Trojan War. Declined around 800 (B.C.E.). 

• Polis: Another name for city-state. It originally referred to a citadel or a site that had extra fortification which was used to offer refuge to local communities during wars. But over time, they became so populated that they evolved into city- states.

• Sparta: A city-state of people who were characterized by their simplicity, frugality, and austerity. To gain social respect in Sparta, you must have prowess, discipline, and military talent. Was primarily a military state. 

• Athens: A city-state in which instead of a fierce military government of which the like ruled in Sparta, there was a largely democratic government. They sought to negotiate the interests of its entire people. They even opened up all government positions to all citizens. 

• Pericles: Athens’ most influential leader, while also being the most popular, even though being born into the class of aristocracy. He supported the needs of the working class more frequently than previous leaders. Athens became the most sophisticated of the poleis, under his rule, with a large number of the best philosophers, scientists, etc. 

• Peloponnesian War: A war between the many poleis that caused the city-states to be brutal to one another. This was in short, a struggle for the power of the Greek world. During this war, Athens gained the reputation for being arrogant, insensitive, and imperialistic, while losing its reputation as the moral and intellectual leader of the Greek people. 

• Alexander: Often called Alexander the Great, and the son of Philip of Macedon. Invaded the Persian Empire, and some of the Indus River region. After his many years on conquest, his troops refused to go further, and they returned to Macedon in 327 (B.C.E.). He suddenly died in 323 (B.C.E.) at the age of 33, before he even had the chance of constructing and instituting a genuine state and government. 

• Hellenistic: What is referred to as the “Hellenistic Era” is the age of Alexander and his successors, when Greek cultural traditions expanded their influence beyond Greece’s borders. 

• Sappho: A literate, upper-class women that created nine volumes of poetry around 600 (B.C.E.). She could be called an early form of a teacher, because she would invite young women into her house to teach them literature and music. Because she was considered homosexual by her fellow citizens, and female homosexuality was frowned upon during this time, most of her poetic works were destroyed. 

• Socrates: A pivotal figure in the development of philosophy from Athens. Born in 470 (B.C.E.) and died in 399 (B.C.E.). Studied scientific ideas at first, but than became interested in human affairs. He was condemned to death by his own people, because he “encouraged immorality and corrupted the Athenian youths”. 

• Plato: Socrates’ most devoted follower, lived from 430-347 (B.C.E.). Continued the work of his mentor, Socrates, and even elaborated a systematic vision of the world and human society. Was in the pursuit of wisdom. An important theory of his was his theory of Forms or Ideas. 

• Aristotle: Plato’s most devoted disciple, who lived from 384-322 (B.C.E.). Aristotle eventually came to distrust his previous mentor’s theory of Forms or Ideas, and instead tried to use logic and reason to explain things. As well as being a renowned philosopher, he more than dabbled in other fields, such as biology, physics, astronomy, psychology, politics, ethics, and literature. Later on, he was known as “the master of those who know” by Christian scholastic philosophers during medieval times.

Focus Question #1

            In what ways did Greek politics contrast with the Mesopotamians?

            Through Greek politics, the world saw the first democracies implemented while also being more socially equal, and socially opportunistic, than the monarchies of Mesopotamia. The democracy that Greeks established, allowed rulers such as Pericles to be elected and rule fairly. This allowed for rapid advancements in many scientific fields or fields related to science.

            Greek’s democracy allowed for many social boundaries to be eliminated or at least to take on a diminished role in society, unlike in Mesopotamian society, in which social boundaries could rarely be crossed, if at all. Pericles, who was born into the class of aristocrats, was undoubtedly Athens' most influential leader. He brought prosperity to all classes, especially to those of the working class of which he was born into.

            Also, the Greeks were a largely decentralized society (with the one exception being during Alexander the Greats conquest). They had many poleis, or city-states, that controlled their own business while never really being a dynasty or empire for long periods of time. This changed during times of war, of course, as such was the case during the Peloponnesian War and Persian Wars. In which many poleis fought for control of the whole Greek world.

            Another way the two societies contrasted was in the fact that Greek colonization took place while Mesopotamian colonization did not. Such colonies could be found as far away from the central Greek World as modern day Spain and modern day Israel.

Focus Question #2

            Even after the Peloponnesian War devastated the political power of Greek city-states, Greek culture persisted in the Mediterranean. Which aspects were retained and why?

            Although the Peloponnesian War did have major effects on the Greek world, many Greek cultural aspects were retained because their influence had been spread all over the world through colonization, conquests, and political relations. Aspects such as their writing forms, Linear A and Linear B, which evolved into hundreds of different versions, the idea of democracy, and many others, were retained.

            An example of a major conquest would be that of Alexander the Great (he was actually from Macedon). He took over the conquest of his father at the young age of 20, and took most of the Greek world and surrounding regions under his control. But even though he died before being able to set up an established government and empire, the Greek culture was officially spread throughout all those regions in which he conquered.

            Colonization occurred at a high level, with colonies being founded as far away from the central Greek world as modern day Spain and Israel. Some examples of colonies were Salamis, Cyrene, Saguntum, Tarraco, Massalia, Neapolis, Messana, Syracuse, Byzantium, Olbia, Phasis, and Naucratis. These colonies also served as gateways for Greek culture to spread throughout the world.

            These reasons above are why the aspects were retained, now which aspects may be the more important question. An example of an important retained aspect would be that of writing. Almost all early societies based their writing systems off one of the Greeks two forms, Linear A and Linear B. Linear A was founded by the Minoans and Linear B was founded by the Mycenaeans and was basically Linear A translated into their language.

            Perhaps the most important idea that remained through the Peloponnesian Wars however, was that of democracy. Almost the entire modern day world is run by democracy, and the first democracy was found in Athens. This early form of democracy allowed lower class citizens to become influential leaders.