Archaic Age of Greece

•Rise of the πολις /city-state

•Colonial Expansion around Mediterranean

•Governmental upheavals

•Rise of Tyrants

•Common religious pursuits

Main City-States of Greece

• Athens• Sparta• Corinth• Thebes• Megara• Aegean island states (e.g. Samos, Chios, Lesbos)• Asia Minor city states (esp. Miletus)

Early Polis

• Includes dependent rural territory• Centered around defensible citadel

(acropolis)• Rudimentary political authority/institutions• Agrarian, classed society with strong family

units• Extreme local particularism (e.g. hero-

worship)

Unifying all Hellenes• Religious festivals Panionian Festival Oracle & Shrine of Delphi League of Amphictyones Festival of Zeus at Olympia & Games Pythian Games Nemean Games Isthmian Games• Language• Homer

Battle of Lapiths & Centaurs (Civilization vs. Barbarians)

Pediment of temple to Zeus at Olympia

800-500 BC

• Economic Development-extended colonies

• Polis-political evolutions and class friction (e.g., story of Pisistratus and factionalism in Athens)

• Literature- Hesiod & Lyric often at variance with Homeric values

• Rise of Hoplite-based military tactics

Polis systems- early

• Monarchy- Basileus

• Aristocracy- Aristoi

e.g. Athens & Corinth- abuses of aristocracy led to tyrants

Colonies• Rise of industry & wealth led to class extremes

(hereditary dominance of aristocrats & debt slavery of poor)

• Growth of cities led to demands for food & raw materials

• Process – metropolis sends out founding group• E.g. settlements in Italy and France to west

north to Chalcidice on the Black Sea

south to Naucratis in Egypt

Tyrannies

• Athens- Peisistratus & sons

• Megara- Theagenes

• Miletus- Thrasybulus

• Sicyon-Cleisthenes

• Corinth-Cypselus & Periander & Psammetichus

Policies of Tyrants

• Construction programs

• Glorification of city-state

• Colonization continued

• Patronage of poets & artists

• Organization of cities

Benefits of Tyrannies

• Increased state power by lessening power of leading families

• Pursued ambitious foreign policies

• Hoplite fighting added to power of state by encouraging cooperation in ranks

• Put state money to work in glorification of cities

Only Sparta never had a Tyrant

• Lycurgus, the original lawgiver

• Dorian invaders

• Helots & Messenians revolting

• Military State evolved

Gerousia

Classical Hoplite Bronze Helmet (horsehair crest)

Cuirass with Metal ScalesOplon (3” diameter)

Bronze GreavesLeather Sandals

Thrusting Spear (6’-10’)Short Iron Sword (2’ blade)

PeltastNo body armor

Pelta light shield, wicker with goatskin cover, crescent-shaped

javelin (4’) thrown

Phalanx Formation

A solid wall of shields and spears, the hoplites stood shoulder to shoulder.