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.
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