Athenian Power and Hellenistic Kingdoms: Ancient Greece
Classical Greece: Athenian Ascendancy
During the 5th century BC, Athens was the richest, most powerful, strong, and educated city-state in the Greek world. The population consisted mostly of peasants who cultivated the vine and the olive tree to produce wine and oil.
Trade and Maritime Power
Maritime cities like Athens established colonies, and trade stimulated artisanal production. Merchants traveled throughout the Mediterranean, exporting oil and wine. The currency used for trade across the Mediterranean was the drachma. This wealth fostered a new class of heavily-armed warriors.
The new artisan economy, trade, and the political system that triumphed in Athens gained significant prestige following the successful war against Persia. Many Aegean islands and city-states formed an agreement with Athens, creating the Delian League in 478 BC (often cited as 476 BC in some contexts).
Conflict and Society
The Peloponnesian Wars were ruthless and ultimately ruined Athens, leading to its defeat along with many other Greek cities.
Athenian Democratic Society
Athens had a democratic society where the people held command. Athenian society was structured into three main groups:
- Citizens: Approximately 130,000
- Metics: 30,000
- Slaves: 200,000
Athenians convened four times a month to pass legislation. Each year, 6,000 people were chosen by lot to serve on the courts. Only men over 20 years old who were citizens could vote in Athens.
The Rise of Macedonia
Macedonia was a region north of Greece whose government was a monarchy. The kings of Macedonia conquered the Greek polis (city-states) and adopted their culture. As the Greek polis continued attacking each other, Macedonian power increased, allowing them to conquer the Greek city-states.
Alexander the Great and Hellenism
Alexander the Great conquered Persia and reached the Indus Valley, where he died on his return journey. After his death, his generals divided the empire into kingdoms such as Macedonia and Egypt, thus founding the Hellenistic Kingdoms.
Greek Culture and Thought
Religion and Mythology
The Greeks were polytheists, meaning they worshipped several gods who were anthropomorphic (having human form). These gods lived on Mount Olympus. The Greeks believed that demigods could perform great acts.
Greek religion was based on mythology. Mythology provided stories (myths) that explained unexplained phenomena.
Worship and Games
The Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus at Olympia. The Greeks were the first to seek logical explanations for natural phenomena. In Greece, there were great philosophers and scientists.
Theater and Architecture
Theater was born in Greece, and performances were only acted by men who wore masks. The Greeks favored tragedies but also enjoyed comedies.
Theatrical Structures
The Greeks built theaters for plays that featured a semicircular design. These buildings were constructed to accommodate human scale and were not megaliths like structures in other cultures.
Temples and Styles
Temples were the dwelling places of the gods, where people left offerings and prayed. There were several architectural styles, including the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corinthian orders.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis of Athens was the hill where the temples were situated.