Although the most impressive town in early Greek civilization is at Mycenae, a site known for the Lionâs Gate, its sculpted entryway, its huge âCyclopeanâ walls, and its royal tombs with beehive shaped interiors, other early Greek towns included Athens, Tiryns, and Pylos. The Mycenaeans (c. 2300-1100 B.C.E.) obtained a great deal of their achievements from the Minoans, including writing and an administration system that centered on the royal palace.
Many Mycenaens who were overrun by Dorian Greeks fled to Anatolia and established Greek culture in an area called Ionia.
Dorian Gray took over the Mice's palace so the mice made a new culture called I Own-ia.
During the transition in which the Mycenaens fled to Anatolia after being overrun by Dorian Greeks, their art of writing and related administrative skills were lost and thus, the cultural achievements of these Greeks declined leading to a historical era from 1100 to 800 B.C.E. known as the Dark Age of ancient Greece. During the Dark Age, the military was controlled by small groups of wealthy nobles who could afford to fight on horseback.
Having a pony made you a big boy.
The Aegean Sea became an important geographical core of Greek civilization in that it stood between the Balkan Peninsula and Anatolia; sea travel was much more efficient than land travel due to the terrain of the land surrounding this early Greek civilization. Sea-faring was paramount for Greek civilization to survive and for city-states to defend themselves against foreign invasions.
Once aegean, the sea is an important factor as to how great a country is.
As the population and trade both increased and farming declined in the Archaic Greek period, a large spread developed between the rich and the poor leading to threats of anarchy between classes. This period in early Greek history lasted from c. 800 to 500 B.C.E. The poleis addressed this problem by expanding political power to the lower classes and using a dictator to arbitrate between the classes. The former of these solutions depended upon major changes being made in the military.
As Greek military techniques changed from small, wealthy cavalry units to large infantry groups, soldiers who would buy spears and armor became known as hoplites who were organized into large units able known as Phalanxes that were able to resist cavalry charges. The hoplites insisted on being granted more political rights from upper-class nobles who controlled the polis. Middle-class and lower-class citizens were appeased at these concessions that allowed them to have additional rights and power.
Phalanxes = A group of lanky fey strolling through the forest, guarding the squirrels and insisting to have a more important vote in the upcoming election.
When other methods to resolve social conflicts failed, the polis would use a tyrant, an individual given complete power in order to restore the polis, to mediate. Tyrants were generally nobles who appeared to support and protect the common people in order to increase their standing at the expense of rival upper-class families. Although this method was generally unstable, it was used as a temporary method of mediation from about 700 to 500 B.C.E. until a more lasting and stable government was formed.
So that's where we get the word...
After fighting with and enslaving neighboring Messenia, a Greek city-state known as Sparta came to control the Peloponnesus c. 620 B.C.E. In Order to conquer Messenia, Sparta moved its entire society to a warring nation; all male citizens were planed into a standing army, needs of the state came before those of the individual, and all endeavors other than readiness for war were placed aside.
So Sparta was just a tough country to live in. If you were a boy, you were put in the military and the government was more important than you. THAT IS SPARTAAAAA.
The Lycurgan code of the Greek city-state Sparta dictated that all males ages 7 to 30 live in military barracks and undergo military training. Women were also deprived of comforts and given physical training in order to make the whole of society keep a militaristic mind-set. Merchants in Spartan society, perioikoi, were a marginalized people who were denied many rights including citizenship and were prohibited from conducting business with Spartan citizens, Spartiates, in order to avoid corruption of these citizens. Those persons controlled by the Spartans were known as helots.
It just sucked to live in Sparta. Really. If you were a woman, you were forced to work out. Your babies were taken away and put in the military. And if you sold stuff instead of being in the military, you weren't allowed to be a citizen or interact with Spartans.
Sparta lead a system of alliances known as the Peloponnesian League that was composed of other city-states and served to guard Sparta from outside revolts and threats. This league provided a sort of unity not present in former Greek societies. Other city-states joined mainly for purposes of protection and joint defense. Helots, people who were subjects of Sparta, 10:1, outnumbered Spartan citizens; thus, a protective alliance was essential.
Peloponnesian = Pillow Pony Shan League, a wall of pillows around a pony named Sparta to keep it safe from other ponies.
Athens was the only Mycenaean Greek city state to survive when the Dorian Greeks invaded the Balkan Peninsula.
This one should be easy since I live in Athens...I'll just imagine that Huntsville and all the surrounding areas exploded, leaving only Athens.
In order to deal with the socio-economic crisis occurring in Athens during the seventh century B.C.E., a certain man known as Draco was given a tyrant-like status; this leader was faced with revolutionary-type violence and responded with a severe law code with severe punishments. Dracoâs code of laws began to cut back the nobilityâs power due to the fact that the nobles had proved unable to control the turmoil Athens was facing. The nobles, who were fighting among themselves, were unable to deal with the crisis; men such as Draco and Solon were brought into power in order to address the issues. These menâs solutions included strict law codes to reduce the nobilityâs power, cancelled debts, and restored citizenship to farmers who had become slaves.
Malfoy took over Athens...and it was actually a good thing.
Like Draco, Solon (594 B.C.E.) was elected as archon and given a great deal of power to deal with the agrarian crisis facing Athens. Solon canceled the farmersâ debts and restored citizenship to those farmers who had been forced into slavery; Solon did not give back land to farmers who had their land taken away.
Solomon without the mo. He was a good guy
While the Athenian Draco is known for his strict âDraconianâ law codes, Solon is known for the constitution which he brought to Athens; Solon structured Athenian government into a Council of 400 members (boule), a general Assembly (ekklesia), and public courts of law. Solonâs constitution restructured Athenian government and military. He divided citizens into four classes on the basis of the annual agricultural yields. The wealthiest class could be elected as archons to the Council of 400; the lowest class, thetes, which owned little or no land, was allowed to participate in the general Assembly and serve in the lower courts but could not hold public office.
In 546 B.C.E., a benevolent dictator named Peisistratus gained control of Athens and won support of the people through public works funding, new religious celebrations, and expansion of the agora, the marketplace for the Council of 400. Peisistratus kept Solonâs constitution in place, put his supporters into office, and got rid of his enemies. One new religious celebration enacted by Peisistratus was the festival for Dionysos, god of wine and reproduction.
Peisistratus = Pays his traders, said like a gangsta. Pays his trayduhs.
The Nobleman Cleisthenes emerged into power in Athens during a time of revolutionary unrest and worked to reform the structure of society and replacing the aristocratic brotherhoods (phratries) who ruled the Council with the demes (townships of the people), changed the four tribes of Athens, which all had ties to aristocracy, to ten tribes made up of the demes, and altered the size and structure of the Council. Cleisthenes gave final political authority to the Assembly, which was made up of all adult male citizens who discussed and voted on issues/policies.
Cleisthenes = Cleans things. He pretty much took away the power of the aristocrats and replaces them with the people, and gave final authority to the Assembly, which was basically a jury of four.
A policy of ostracism, exiling an individual for ten years, was used by the Athenians to make sure that no one politician gained too much power. A vote completed by writing the politicianâs name on a piece of broken pottery was necessary to exile a politician who was seen as a threat to democracy.
When one man got too powerful, the Athenians sent him out of the country for ten years so he couldn't take over.
Cyrus the Great expanded his Persian empire into Greece in 546 B.C.E. when he gained control of a region in Asia minor known as Anatolia.
Cyrus the Great took over part of Greece.
In 499 B.C.E., the Ionian Greeks in Anatolia, who had been invaded by the Persians in 546 B.C.E., rebelled against Persian control and were aided by the city-state Athens on the Greek mainland. Athens sent ships to raid the Persian-controlled city of Sardis. In 494 B.C.E., the Persians regained control over Ionia and decided to invade Greece to seek revenge against the Athenians.
The Ionian Greeks rebelled against the Persians and Athens came to help. Athens raided the Persian city Sardis (sardines). But the Persons gained control again and invaded Greece.
Through a series of battles at land and at sea, the Athenians were able to defeat the Persians with the assistance of the city-state of Sparta. The Spartans came to the Atheniansâ aid and brought with them soldiers from the Peloponnesian League.
Didn't work out too great for the Persians though. Athens kicked their butts, with the help of Sparta.
The word âmarathonâ came from a battle in 490 B.C.E. in Attica in which greatly outnumbered Athenians defeated the Persian army under emperor Darius I and afterward, a messenger ran 26 miles to report this remarkable victory.
So...where does the word Marathon come into this? Though a guy running 26 miles is pretty durned awesome.
The Greeks prevented further westward expansion of the Persian empire when they defeated the army of King Xerxes at the battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.E. At this battle, the smaller Greek fleet of ships defeated the isolated Persian fleets and forced the Persians to land where Greek armies under Spartan leadership once again defeated the Persians at Plataea in 479 B.C.E. Ionian Greek cities kept their independence.
The Battle of Salamis. The Greeks defeated the Persians, because the Persians fought with large sticks of Salami. The Greek's swords easily cut through them. Xerxes was too obsessed with sandwiches. That's what made him kick his wife out. (Veggie tales lovers only reference).
In order to protect themselves and neighboring city-states from future attacks from the Persians, the Athenians formed the Delian League (478 B.C.E.), a naval alliance made up of over a hundred poleis (city-states)Â all located along the Aegean Sea shores. Athenian leader Themistocles encouraged citizens to build a defense system including walls around the city and its port; Athenians completed these tasks and formed the Delian league as an alliance system. Under this league, the Athenians provided most of the ships while other smaller poleis provided funding; the League patrolled the Aegean Sea and carried out raids on Persian controlled Anatolia.
The Delian League was a group of Deli sandwich makers along the sea shore. Themistocles ( them obstacles) was the deli boss who encouraged the people to keep their turkey safe.
After the polis (city-state)Â of Thasos decided to leave the Delian League in 465 B.C.E., Athens invaded this city-state and overthrew its government as an example to others who may in the future try to leave the league. Other similar city-states were met with the same consequence when they attempted to leave.
Thasos was lassoed and toppled over when they tried leave the deli league. You cannot leave the deli league.
The Delian League led to the formation of the Athenian Empire as Athens, led by the general Pericles conquered city-states who attempted to secede from the league; the Delian League treasury was moved from Delos to Athens in 454 B.C.E.
The Deli League formed the Athenian Empire and took over delis who attempted to leave the league.
In the fifth century B.C.E., Greek ruler Pericles ordered the construction of the Parthenon, a temple to the goddess Athena, on the hill known as the Acropolis.
Pericles = perilous spectacles, Parthenon = part neon, Acropolis = a crop of Ollies.
Athens was made into a complete democracy under the ruler Pericles and entered into a time of prosperity known as the Golden Age of Athens.
Democracy is always a golden age. Perilous Spectacles did a good job.
The Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 B.C.E.) are generally thought of as an attempt of Sparta, whose military power was land-based, to prevent rival Athens, whose military power was sea-based, from taking over all of Greece.
Pillow Pony Shan wars. The Spartans were afraid of Athens taking over all of Greece with their awesome navy, so they picked a fight and thus the Pillow Pony Shan wars began.
Pericles hoped to exhaust the Spartans quickly as he used a strategy of keeping the Athenians inside the city walls and avoiding direct conflict with the Spartans, who were far superior on land than at sea; contrary to the short siege that Pericles expected, the Spartan siege continued for several years and during that time, the many Athenians cramped inside the city experienced a plague which killed many people, including Pericles. After Periclesâ death, his successors used a much more offensive strategy.
Perilous Spectacles thought if he put all his people in the city surrounded by walls, they would be safe from the Spartans. But the people were stuck in the city for years, and the Athenians caught a plague that killed a lot of people. Including Perilous Spectacles.
The Athenians were defeated in 413 B.C.E. after Alcibiades, Periclesâ nephew, led them in a failed invasion of Spartan allies at the city of Syracuse in Sicily. Following this defeat, many Athenian city-states rebelled, the Athenian navy was weakened, and the Spartans gained a large naval fleet paid for by the Persians. Although democracy was restored in the Athenian empire, Athens was greatly weakened.
The Athenians lost the war when Alkie Bia Des tried to invade Sparta's friend Syracuse (USE THE SYRUP). Sparta gained power and awesome perks and Athens was weakened.
Following defeat by the Spartans in the Peloponnesian Wars, a Spartan oligarchy known as the âThirty Tyrantsâ took control of Athens for several years. Following the Athenian defeat, Classical Greek culture declined. In 403 B.C.E., the Greeks overthrew the Thirty Tyrants and restored their democracy for approximately 150 years. The Greek democracy ended with takeover by the Romans.
Everything went downhill for the Greeks. The Spartans took over and culture declined. The Greeks finally overthrew the tyrants, but only 150 years later the Romans took over.
Greek culture established in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C.E. became known as âclassicalâ as later generations used it as a standard by which they could measure their own accomplishments; Greek culture influenced Roman literature, art, and language, Medieval church theology, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Greek society served as the foundation for Western Civilization.
Classical Greece is the Greece we all know and love. It influenced everything; the Romans, church, everything.
After the formerly illiterate Greeks acquired literacy through trading contacts with a group known as the Phoenicians, they were able to write down and record early poetry, which has been passed down through the generations as oral traditions. After the Dark Ages, the Greeks modified the Phoenician alphabet to include vowels and distinctive sounds.
The Greeks learned to read and write from the Phoenicians, and wrote books that we're still stuck reading in school.
Homer, a blind poet who lived between 850 and 700 B.C.E., has been attributed with writing the great Greek epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Some scholars wonder if Homer was an actual person or if he was a representation of the joint efforts of several generations of poets.
How did a blind poet write, anyway?
Homerâs epic poem the Iliad describes the siege of Troy by the Mycenaeans.
The movie 'Troy' in ancient literature form.
Homerâs epic poem the The Odyssey tells of Odysseus, Mycenaean king of Ithaca and hero of the Trojan War, and his journey back to Ithaca. The Greek word arete, the Greek ideal of virtue, strength, and courage is used to describe heroes and nobles in Homerâs epic poems.
An odd story about an odd sight to see.
Greek poet Hesoid (c. 700 B.C.E.) wrote the Theogony, a work describing the birth of the gods, and Works and Days, which tells about the life of a farmer.
He's on steroids. Hesoid. Theo's gone. Theogony.
Greek drama was generally used to honor the gods, originally involved a chorus (group of singers) alternating verse with a single leader, and grew to include dialogue between actors. Greek drama developed into three categories: tragedy, comedy, and satyr. Greek drama, which originated out of a festival in Athens to honor the god Dionysus, had a lasting impact on Western culture and drama. Greek drama was written in verse; prose literature came on the scene in the fifth century B.C.E. but was primarily used in scientific analysis such as in studying history and philosophy.
The Greeks loved plays. Plays were for the gods.
Some of the greatest actors in the earliest form Greek drama, tragedy, (sixth century B.C.E.) include Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; Athenians engaged in competitions for the best performers in this type of drama.Â
Aeschylus = A shill us. I don't even know. Sophocles = soft bifocals. Euripides = a man who was obsessed with Europe.
The plays of Aeschylus (c. 525-456 B.C.E.), which have moral and religious themes, focus of hubris, exaggerated pride and self-confidence, that leads to individuals bringing nemesis, divine punishment, upon themselves. Aeschylusâ plays based on this theme include The Persians the Oresteia trilogy, and Prometheus Bound.
Aeschylus' plays were basically about people who got too arrogant and were then punished. I guess the guy couldn't stand pride.
Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E.) was an ancient Greek tragedian who wrote several plays including Oedipus and Antigone which each address moral and religious issues; this playwright wrote from the perspective that humans were born into a world that lacks knowledge and is full of suffering. Sophoclesâ play Oedipus the King, also known as Oedipus Rex, is considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written. This play describes the life of Oedipus, who is left to die as a child, but was saved and raised by people he believed to be his true parents; Oedipus kills a man who is actually his father, returns to Thebes, becomes king, and ends up fulfilling a prophecy that he would marry his mother and kill his father. The play has a tragic ending in which Oedipusâ mother/wife hangs herself, Oedipus blinds himself and goes into exile.
Sophocles wrote depressing things, and many Korean dramas were greatly effected by his writings.
The Greek tragedies of playwright Euripides (c.480-406 B.C.E.) lack the moral and religious concerns of other tragedians, but rather, restructured the traditional Athenian tragedy and focused on the inner lives and motives of his characters. Euripides is known for his unconventional tragedies; for example, in the play Medea, the main character, a sorceress named Medea, escapes punishment after murdering her children upon learning of her husbandâs adultery. Other unconventional methods of Euripides included portraying women as strong and slaves as smart and creating satires out of characters in Greek mythology.
Euripides wasn't as concerned about moral and religious themes as other Greek play writes. He was more concerned with character development.
The most well known Greek writer of comedies was Aristophanes (c. 450-385 B.C.E.), a playwright who used the medium of a comedy to make fun of other Athenians. Aristophanesâ plays, The Archarnians and Lysistrata were intended to expose the foolishness of the fighting occurring in the Peloponnesian Wars. Aristophanes also wrote plays with the intention of ridiculing tragedians Sophocles and Euripides.
Aristophanes wrote funny stuff based on the Athenians and tragedies.
Ionian Greek Herodotus (c. 484-425 B.C.E.), the âFather of History,â wrote an account of the conflicts between the ancient Greeks and the Persians. It is important to note that just as Herodotus earned the title âFather of History,â he has also been given the title the âFather of Lies,â which alludes to the long-lived questions and debates regarding the veracity of much of his narratives. In spite of these questions, it is essential to add that Herodotus identified the Greeks as representatives of a unique Western civilization and was the first to separate civilization into East and West.
Herodotus (Harod Otis), wrote history books, but they might or might not be true. He first divided the world into East and West.
Greek historian Thucydides (c. 460-400 B.C.E.), recounts the Peloponnesian Wars in an impartial manner in which he interviews contenders on either side. Thucydides records speeches of various leaders in the Peloponnesian Wars including the funeral oration in which Pericles (in 430 B.C.E.) honors Athenian soldiers who died in the early conflict of the war.
Thuydides (they did is) wrote an impartial history book.
Thales of Miletus (c. 600 B.C.E.), who believed that water was the universal substance behind all things, was the earliest known Greek Pre-Socratic philosopher.
Thales fails at science. His water theory was wrong.
Early Greek philosopher Democritus (c. 400 B.C.E.) theorized that physical objects were composed of atoms (the Greek word atoma meant âindivisibleâ). Early Greek philosophers were mainly interested in physics; these philosophers are called the âPre-Socraticsâ because they came before Socrates.
Democritus Democratus Democrat atom.
Greek philosopher Pythagoras (c. 530 B.C.E.) theorized that mathematical relationships could be use to describe all of reality; this philosopher is also believed to have coined the term âphilosopher,â stating that he was a âlover of wisdomâ and the moral life. Ancient Greeks were important in that they laid foundations for western science as they composed simple theories of elements, atoms, and mathematics to describe the relationships between objects.
The Pythagorean Theorem. The man who invented triangle math thought math was the answer to everything.
Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus (c. 500 B.C.E.) was the first individual in the Western world to create a forceful philosophical system and was preoccupied with the universality of change. Heraclitus presented fire as the basic substance. In addressing the concept of change, Heraclitus noted that one cannot step into the same river twice.
Hairy Cletus was the man who started obnoxious philosophy and made a habit of deep thinking.
Hippocrates of Cos (c. 460-377), the âFather of Medicine,â was an ancient Greek physician who rejected beliefs of supernatural forces inflicting illness and is known for his great advances in clinical medicine including the doctrines of clinical observation and documentation and relationship between good health and hygiene, diet, and the environment. Hippocratesâ Oath, a document on the ethics of medical practice, has served as the foundation for modern oaths and laws that define good medical practice.
A hippo dressed in a Greek toga thing like Socrates. This hippo-greek will force you to use your doctor powers for good.
Socrates (c. 469-399 B.C.E.), an ancient Greek philosopher who is credited with laying the foundation for Western philosophy, emphasized the welfare of the soul and believed that knowledge was gained through divine dispensation rather than through instruction. Much of what we know of Socratesâ beliefs stem from the Dialogues of his student Plato. Socrates lived during the transition period from the peak of Athenian glory to conquest by the Spartans in the Peloponnesian Wars; Socrates gained much opposition as he praised the wisdom of the Spartans and condemned Athensâ attempts at glory and fame. Socrates was accused of corrupting the morals of young Athenians and sentenced to death by drinking a goblet of hemlock.
Watch this and you will never forget who Socrates is.
The Socratic Method, which is perhaps Socratesâ greatest contribution to Western philosophy, involves a didactic (answering a question with a question) method of examination to help an individual determine the extent of his or her knowledge and underlying beliefs and morals.
Greek philosopher Plato wrote dialogues in order to recount, expound upon, and defend the philosophical methods of Socrates that had led to his trial and conviction. The most famous of Platoâs Dialogues is the Republic in which he describes (using the words of Socrates) the ideal city and governing structure: three classes are arranged into a hierarchy with workers at the bottom, brave warriors in the middle, and enlightened philosopher-kings at the top. Like Socrates, Plato was against democracy as a form of government. Ancient and medieval readers of the Dialogues viewed Timaeus as the most important in that it described the creation of the universe and how humans fit into the cosmos.
You know, I'm starting to wonder why people are so obsessed with Socrates and Plato.
In order to continue the work of Socrates, Plato also founded a school in Athens called the Academy, a school which was the first institution of higher learning in the Western world.
The first collegesque academy was just...the Academy. The original. The rest are all sequels.
Platoâs Theory of Ideas indicates that there is a higher realm that exists beyond the material, sensory world of our present reality and gives the empirical world its existence. The Theory of Ideas is also known as the Theory of Forms. Plato believed that certain physical objects in the present material world are merely copies of these ideas/forms that exist in the higher realm in a perfect and unchanging state. Plato believed that the Athenians had put Socrates to death because they failed to understand the Idea/Form of Good, which served as a source of enlightenment for making proper moral decisions.
So it's pretty much The Matrix: Plato Edition.
Platoâs student Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) founded a school in Athens known as the Lyceum in which he taught many subjects and a form of logic that could be applied to all studies. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed that philosophy dealt with âthe science of the universal essence of that which is actual.â Aristotle believed that all substances are composed of matter (potentiality/potential being) and form (actuality/actual being), which are the same thing. Aristotle taught that moderation was much preferred over extreme behavior of any sort, in which the good life could be obtained.
Aristotle who wore Aeropostale shirts founded the Lysol-scented Lyceum to learn smartness.
Aristotle opposed democracy as a form of good government but rather, divided government into three types with the ideal rule by the majority, âpolity,â for the good of the people. The two other types of government described by Aristotle include rule by one man (âtyrannyâ if the ruler was unjust and âmonarchyâ if the ruler was just) and by a few men (âaristocracyâ when the ruler was just and âoligarchyâ if the ruler was unjust). Aristotle compared democracy to mob rule in which the majority oppress minorities and individuals. Alexander the Great was a student of Aristotle.
The Elgin Marbles, sculptures depicting battle scenes that originally decorated the pediments (the triangular sections enclosed above the columns and below the angled roof) of the Parthenon, were removed from this temple in the 19th century and taken to the British museum.
The Elgin Marbles. The Elfin Marbles. Elves battling with marbles. A deadly game of marbles, indeed...
King Phillip II (r. 359-336 B.C.E.) established the Macedonian empire and extended this empire to the Near East.
King Phillip the Sequel created Macedonia, named after his favorite nut of all. The deelishus Macadamia.
As Phillip II and Alexander the Great extended the Macedonian empire to the Near East, the blending of eastern and western civilization led to a culture known as hellenistic. This word means âGreek-likeâ and is distinguished from the Hellenic, âGreek,â culture. Hellenistic culture lasted form Alexander the Greatâs death in 323 B.C.E. to when Rome conquered Egypt, the last Hellenistic kingdom, in 30 B.C.E.
Hellenistic. Helen of Troy. Greek-like. I don't even know...sigh.
Following the Peloponnesian Wars, bickering continued between the Greek city-states in an effort for supremacy and Sparta could not remain strong enough to control all of Greece. Philip II of Macedon won the Battle of Chaeronea after invading Greece in 338 B.C.E. and therefore, was able to unify all of Greece.
Sparta still had control of Greece, but after the Battle of Chaeronea Philip II of Macedon had it all. One great big Greece. (Chaeronea = Chae Rin = CL = 2NE1 EH EH EH!!)
After unifying Greece, Macedonian King Philip II created the League of Corinth as federation of Greek city-states as self-ruling entities who were required to give allegiance to Macedon and facilitate King Philipâs use of military forces in foreign affairs. The League maintained an army from each city-state in proportion to their size with Philip as the leader and also worked to prevent any aggression or subversion by any city-state against Macedon.
The League of Cornth (it was called the League of Corns, but dear old Phil had a lisp) was a group of city-states that ruled themselves, but they had to promise to stay on Macedon's side and help out King Philip's military in foreign affairs. Every city-state had an army according to it's size, with Philip as the boss.
Alexander the Great assumed power of the Macedonian empire in 336 B.C.E. when his father, King Philip II, died from assassination and is remembered for his conquest of the Persian Empire in 328 B.C.E. and creation of the largest empire in the world until that point in history. Alexander extended the Hellenistic kingdom almost as far east as India and along the way, adopted many Persian and Near East customs. Alexander experienced mutiny from his men on the borders of India so they returned to Persia. Alexander died in 323 B.C.E. of uncertain causes. Following Alexanderâs death, his empire was divided between three kingdoms.
Alexander the Great became the boss of the Cookie-Nut empire after his dad was murdered. He conquered the biggest nation in the world, made his kingdom huge, and adopted Persian and Near East customs. Mutiny from his men in India made them go back to Persia. Alexander died and his empire was divided into three pieces.
The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic state established in the years following the death of Alexander the Great that spanned from Anatolia and Syria in the west to Mesopotamia and Persia in the east). Although Perdiccas originally controlled the Hellenistic kingdom following Alexanderâs death, Seleucus helped to assassinate Perdiccas and founded the Seleucid Empire in 312 B.C.E.
The cellulite of a squid = Seleucid.
The Antigonid Dynasty, spanning from the original Macedonia, areas in Asia Minor, and Greece, was established following Alexander the Greatâs death by Alexanderâs foremost general.
Anti-gonad. *blush*. Yet...heh.
The Ptolemaic Empire was established by Alexander the Greatâs general Ptolemy after Alexanderâs death and included Egypt and Palestine. Ptolemyâs family ruled this empire until the Roman conquest in 30 B.C.E. Although Ptolemy was originally appointed satrap of Egypt following Alexanderâs death in 323 B.C.E., he declared himself King Ptolemy I over the region in 305 B.C.E. The Egyptian city of Alexandria was a center of learning, culture, and commerce between Europe and the Near East, and soon became the largest city in the world, boasting over one million inhabitants. Overall urban culture and trade flourished throughout the regions of the Hellenistic empire.
Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E., many of the Greek city-states reasserted their independence and formed the Achaean League as a confederation of city-states in the southern area of Greece. This League grew and as it did, weakened the Macedonian hold over the region for a period of time; overall, the League did not last long. The Aeolian League was formed for a similar function in the northern area of Greece. City-states remained in a conflicting, politically disorganized state until the establishment of the Roman Empire forced unity in the region.
Achaean reminds me of archaic.
Epicureanism, a philosophical school of thought prominent in the Hellenistic period, taught that the greatest good came from seeking modest pleasures in order to reach a state of tranquility and freedom from fear (ataraxia) and absence of bodily pain (aponia) through limiting our bodily desires and learning the workings of the world. Epicurus (c. 341-270 B.C.E.) encouraged that one obtain the highest pleasure (ataraxia) through friendship, knowledge, and temperate, moral living.
Epic Urean ism. Epic Urine ism? Epic Pee Ism? Anyway. Basically sounds like a Greek version of Buddhism.
The Hellenistic system of philosophy known as Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium (c. 335-263 B.C.E.) in Athens and teaches that inner peace and clear-thinking could be obtained through self-control and suppression of passions, emotions, and desires. Zeno encouraged love for all other beings and the practice of universal tolerance. This school of thought seemed to be the most successful in Hellenistic society.
Zen Zeno was Stoic in Stoicism.
Skepticism was a philosophical school of thought in Hellenistic culture that proposed that morality was relative and questioned the existence of any philosophical certainty. This school of thought did not become a dominant movement, as did Epicureanism or Stoicism because it seemed to lack the provision of any philosophical comfort.
Skepticism was a very skeptical philosophy.
