The Greek Empire

Education

There were two forms of education in ancient Greece: formal and informal. Formal education was provided through attendance to a public school or was provided by a hired tutor. Informal education was provided by an unpaid teacher and occurred in a non-public setting. Like in many places all around the world the male gender was seen as superior; therefore greek boys went to school but, girls did not. One exception would be if girls in wealthier families might have been taught to read, but most stayed at home and learned how to do housework. Another exception would be that in Sparta, girls had more freedom and they were taught how to fight.

Religion

The Ancient Greeks were polytheistic, they believed in many gods and goddesses, as well as a range of lesser supernatural beings of various types. There are many gods and goddesses but the original six Olympians are Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter and Hestia, the children of the Titans Kronos and Rhea. The Olympians were a race of deities, primarily consisting of a third and fourth generation of immortal beings, worshiped as the principal gods of the Greek pantheon and so named because of their residency atop Mount Olympus. Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon are considered the “Big Three”. They are called this because after the defeat and imprisonment of Kronos, the three brothers each got a domain. Zeus got the sky and is also the king of Olympus, Hades got the underworld, and finally Poseidon got the seas. The other six Olympians that make up the 12 Olympians are Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Dionysus which are all children of Zeus. These are just the main 12 Olympians, there are many more gods and goddesses and each one has their own story. The Greek people worshiped the gods and goddesses because they believed that they had control over every part of people's lives. They would pray to the gods for help and protection, because if the gods were unhappy with someone, then they would punish them.

Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC), the son of Phillip the second, was one of the greatest military generals the world has ever seen. His father was assassinated and then he took the throne and promised to follow in his father's footsteps. He also built the biggest empire the world had ever seen.

Alexander the Great

Pericles

Pericles(494 BC - 429 BC ) was a renowned Greek statesman; he was also a politician, patron of the arts, and a renowned Athenian general. He was referred to as the golden age of Athens. During his rule, he encouraged the arts, philosophy, literature, and freedom of expression. Athens created -day theater.

Solon (630 BC - 560 BC ) was a poet, protector, and the founder of democratic government in Greece. He was the first to grant democratic rights to the common citizens. His Athenian policies brought an end to bonded slavery and the mistreatment of the common people. He was later democratically elected to Archon or governor of ancient Athens.

Solon

Democracy

Around 460 BCE, other Greek states did establish a similar political system to democracy, notably, Argos, (briefly) Syracuse, Rhodes, and Erythrai. Athens is, however, the state we know most about. The assembly of Athens met at least once a month, perhaps two or three times, on the Pnyx Hill in a dedicated space which could accommodate 6000 citizens. Any male citizen 18 years or over could speak (at least in theory) and vote in the assembly, usually with a simple show of hands.

Monarchy

In the Greek world monarchies were rare and were often only distinguishable from a tyranny when the hereditary ruler was more benevolent and ruled in the genuine interest of his people. The most famous monarchies were those in the states of Macedonia and Epeiros, where the ruler shared power with an assembly, limited though these were in practice.

Tyranny

Greek tyrants were not necessarily evil rulers, they simply looked after their own interests. Syracuse in Sicily had a run of famous tyrants, for example, Dionysios from 405 BCE and his son Dionysios II, who took over in 367 BCE. For Athenians, tyranny became the exact opposite of democracy, a position that allowed the citizens of Athens to feel a certain superiority.

Oligarchy

An oligarchy is a system of political power controlled by a select group of individuals, sometimes small in number but it could also include large groups. For the Greeks any system which excluded power from the whole citizen-body and was not a tyranny or monarchy was described as an oligarchy. Oligarchies were perhaps the most common form of city-state government and they often occurred when democracy went wrong. Unfortunately, information concerning oligarchies in the Greek world is sparse.

Philosophy

Philosophy

Ancient Greek philosophy shook cultural foundations. Ancient Greek philosophy showed a new and particular way of thinking. One of the key points was the role of reason and inquiry. Ancient Greek philosophy was created to make sense of the world using reason. It dealt with a variety of different subjects like astronomy, mathematics, ethics, logic, biology, and so on. The three main philosophers were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Several concepts that were developed by Greek philosophers are taught in today's educational institutions, things like materialism, rationalism, and ethics.

Mathematics

Mathematics

We owe basic ideas of geometry like the pythagorean theorem to the Ancient greeks. Greek mathematical learning was later spread to the West. Euclid, an ancient Greek scholar who had the biggest influence on modern math, left behind a book named Elements which contained theorems and mathematical proofs that would later form the foundation for modern mathematics. Math using the ideas of Euclid is called Euclidean geometry. Euclidean ideas are also at the foundation of algebra and number theory.

Medicine

Medicine

A doctor named Hippocrates of Cos changed medicine for the better and his influence in medicine is carried on till this day. Hippocrates was the first to say that illness was not random but instead scientific and could be treated. He prescribed diet, hygiene, and rest as treatments for illness which is something that doctors still do. Something else that Hippocrates created was the Hippocratic oath. It is the promise physicians make to a higher power that they will protect any sick or injured person that comes their way. Medical students recite the Hippocratic Oath or at least variations of it to emphasize the importance of ethical and professional standards in medicine.

Drama and Art

The works of playwrights like Sophocles and Aristophanes formed the foundation for all modern theater. A playwright named Aeschylus introduced dialogue to the theater. Dialogue was not always part of literature and it wasn't until Aeschylus introduced the idea of dialogue did the characters start interacting with dialogue. The simplicity, proportion, and harmony in the buildings of the ancient Greeks greatly influenced Roman architects and provided the foundation for the classical architecture that dominated the western world.

Drama and Art

Interestingly enough, our story with Greek history started with two factions of people and not one, the Minoan culture and the Mycenaean culture. Greece developed over time through cultural diffusion between the two factions, many culture changes and add options are what founded the basic beliefs and religious practices.

During the formation of what we know as Ancient Greece today, one of the most famous and earliest recorded wars took place, The Trojan War. The Trojan war is still being debated over whether or not it truly took place but Archaeologists are starting to find artifacts and other evidence to prove it may have actually happened. The war began over Helen the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, the Trojan prince Paris had kidnapped her and when the king asked for his wife back the Trojan King Priam refused. Soon an army was sent in siege of Troy to reclaim his wife and conquer the city. After the siege Paris was killed in action but Helen was recovered and reunited with the king.

Whilst the Greeks had been in a rather recessive point during the Trojan War actually due to rule under the Dorians. City-states still were ever changing and growing culturally, politically, and economically.

The trojan war

Athens had been struggling due to poor and rich power conflicts and in turn would decide to reform into a democracy. Athens democracy went through many reforms, from involving every citizen, to only certain classes of people, to only certain people; all the while laws being passed and reformed. Sadly all of the foreigners and women would not have rights in Athens or at least very rarely. The upper class of their people were called metics and allowed into court and able to prosecute but were not ever granted citizenship. People that were not able to be educated would go to sparta to become a warrior

Sparta after barely being able to stop a revolt of a city they had conquered realized just how vulnerable they were. Realizing this they dedicated themselves to becoming a strong city state and or military state. Sparta would be ruled over a council of 30 older men, 5 men as lawmakers, and two kings. Essentially Sparta dedicated themselves to having the strongest military in Greece, and soon would be so. People from all over Greece would come to get trained to become a warrior.

During this time, due to beliefs in strong citizens of city-states The Olympics began. Originally the Olympics only had one event called the stade and it lasted one day, but soon more events would be added and the olympics would be extended to five days. Women would hold their own event similar to the Olympics called the Hera Festival.

Then the Persians invaded, There was much struggle and the war lasted over fifty years. It led to the unification of Greece and resulted in a truce between Greece and Persia.

Shortly afterwards the Peloponnesian Wars would begin, a war fought between the two strongest city-states: Sparta and Athens. Sparta was largely dominant in this war and would indeed be victorious, nearly destroying Athens. Though one of the kings of Sparta wanted to destroy it, Sparta refused. After Sparta refused to destroye Athens, Athens would soon regain some of its lost power but would not resume the conflict.

Greece advances intellectually and philosophically during all the conflict and many temples and institutions are formed. Many of the most famous philosophers, scientists, architects, playwrights, and authors make their mark of the world during this period.

Alexander the Great is announced king in Macedonia and a great conquest is started. Alexander is largely known as one of the greatest kings in history and one of the smartest in terms of war, he quickly dominates many kingdoms expanding the Greek empire and is celebrated everywhere. Due to all this expansion Greece expands culturally as well and this starts the Hellenistic Period.

Greek art is best known for its display of knowledge and expertise, often including nudity to exemplify their vast understanding of the human physique. They used many forms of art including but not limited to murals, paintings, sculptures, pottery, literature, and plays.

Art

Greek Architecture is by far some of the most genius, beautiful, and simply magnificent works of art that most architects still admire to this day.

Much of Greek architecture can be described and put into three styles of architecture,the corinthian the Doric, and the Ionic. The Doric is a type of column that is plain and has no base, this style of architecture was meant to show strength and masculinity. The Ionic was a much more resplendent and intricate style of architecture and column, it had a base and would nearly always have a scroll shaped decoration on top, it was typically also adorned with beautiful etchings and detailed design. Greek architecture focused on being as spectacular as possible, including their research on geometry and symmetry. Using very intentional changes in angle and shape to make it so their works of art were easily admired from all sides. The temples were the pinnacle of Greek architecture and knowledge, showing off all their power and sophistication in one building, this was also in praise of their gods as the greeks were heavily religious.

Architeture