Ancient Athens and Sparta: An Overview

The Greeks were also known as:

(a)  

Who were the early Greeks?

• Indo-European nomads of Dorian, Aeolian and Ionian tribal heritage.

• A group of peaceful nomadic people who did not settle down and travelled throughout Europe.

• Roughly 1400 - 1000 BCE they migrated from the Black Sea and Danube regions, to modern day Greece and Turkey.

• They conquered Cretans and other natives and by circa 1000 BCE they controlled Greece, some of Asia Minor, and the Aegean islands.

When was the age of Homer and what did it consist of?

• The people were farmers, traders, and warriors during the age of Homer and the crops and livestock consisted of cattle, grapes, olives, sheep and wheat.

• Occurred circa 1000 - 750 BCE.

• The age of Homer was known as Greece's 'dark ages' and little is known.

• The Iliad and Odyssey are dated to the age of Homer and Troy, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann

The geography of Greece:

• Many mountains that hindered communication and unification and caused the growth of independent city-states.

• Easily accessible and made for little strategic or military advantage.

• Seas and seaports were set up on peninsulas with irregular coastlines, and seaports encouraged developments of trade.

• Poor farmland meant few crops could be grown, forced trade, and made the Greeks leading traders of the Aegean and eastern mediterranean.

What is significant about Greece's colonies?

• The Greek colonies were the main reason the Greeks met their downfall.

• Circa 800 - 600 BCE

• Colonised areas around the Mediterranean, including Italy's west coast (Naples), Sicily (Syracuse), Southern France (Marseilles), Egypt, Byzantium (Constantinople / Istanbul)

• Spread Greek culture, language and religion.

What did all Greeks have in common despite their geographical and social differences?

• Ancestry: they believed in a common ancestor, Hellen

• Language: they spoke different Greek dialects but could understand one another, and used phoenician alphabet and added vowels

• Literature: Homer's Illiad and Odyssey

• Religion: Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses living on Mount Olympus

• Olympic games: every four years

Which forces worked against the unity of the Greeks?

• The city-states also had different types of government: Athens had a democracy, Sparta had a authoritarian and militaristic nature, and other city-states had aristocracies, oligarchies, and tyrannies.

• Their first loyalty was to the city-states and they often fought one another. This disunity eventually allowed the Macedonians to conquer Greece.

• The geography of Greece, especially the mountains of Greece, divided city-states and hindered communication.

• Some city-states had different religions and believed in different gods, and this often caused wars.

Government: Limited democracy (only male citizens could participate), Council of 500 which made the laws, voting occurred in the Assembly:

• Athens

• Sparta

Government: Two kings (military generals) and council of elders, citizens were male, born natives and over 30:

• Athens

• Sparta

Soldiers: Citizen soldiers - only during wartime:

• Athens

• Sparta