Greece Books
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Thames & Hudson (28 June 2004)Price: $21.69 -
Viking Adult (15 October 2009)Price: $10.78 -
Princeton University Press (28 September 2009)Price: $19.77 -
(01 January 1970)Currently unavailable -
Penguin Classics (29 April 2003)Price: $7.91
Definition
Early Greek history is most easily understood by dividing it into time periods.
The Mycenaean Civilization (2750-1150 BCE, roughly) is commonly acknowledged as the beginning of Greek culture, even though we know almost nothing about the Mycenaeans save what can be determined through archaeological finds and through Homer’s account of their war with Troy as recorded in The Illiad. The Mycenaeans appear to have been greatly influenced by the Minoan culture of Crete (an island kingdom dating from 7000 BCE which they later conquered and stamped with their own language and ideals) in their worship of earth goddesses and sky gods, which, of course, become the classical gods and goddesses of ancient Greece.
By 1100 BCE the great Mycenaean cities of south-west Greece were abandoned and, some claim, their civilization destroyed by an invasion of Doric Greeks. Archaelogical evidence is inconclusive as to what lead to the fall of the Mycenaeans and, as no written records of this period survive (or perhaps were never made) one may only speculate on causes. It seems clear, however, that during what is known as the Greek Dark Ages (1100-800 BCE, so named because of the absence of written documentation) the Greeks colonized much of Asia Minor and the islands surrounding mainland Greece.
The Archaic Period (800-500 BCE) sees the introduction of Republics instead of Monarchies(which, in Athens, move toward Democratic rule) the institution of laws (Draco’s reforms in Athens) the great Panathenaeic Festival established and the first coins minted (on the island of Aegina) which set the stage for the flourishing of the Classical Period of Greece (500-400 BCE) also known as the Age of Pericles, after the great Athenian statesman who initiated the building of the Acropolis and spoke the eulogy for the men who died defending Greece at the Battle of Marathon. During this time Greece reached the heights in almost every area of human learning and the great thinkers and artists of antiquity (Phidias, Plato, Aristophanes, to mention only three) flourished. During this time Leonidas and his 300 Spartans fell at Thermopylae and, the same year (480) Themistocles won victory over the superior Persian naval fleet at Salamis leading to the final defeat of the Persians at Plataea in 379. Socrates was executed in Athens in 399 and Athens fell to Sparta in 404, ending the Pelopponesian Wars and ushering in the Late Classical Period (400 -330 BCE roughly) which saw the rise of Macedon as a power under King Phillip II (who unified Greece under Macedonian rule) and lead to the Hellenistic age (330-30 BCE) brought about by his son, Alexander the Great. Tutored in his youth by Plato’s great student, Aristotle (a man who, in his time, was said to know everything there was to know) Alexander would spread the ideals of Greek civilization throughout the known world through his conquests and, in so doing, pass down Greek thought and learning through the ages.
Articles
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Xenophon (430-354 BCE) was an early disciple of Socrates and a contemporary of Plato. He is best known as the mercenary general who wrote The Anabasis, which relates his adventures in leading his men out of Persia and back to Greece after the disastrous campaign of Cyrus the Younger. The Anabasis has long been considered a classic and was used by Alexander the Great as a field guide for his own successful campaigns in Persia.
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Just as the Athenian Agora was home to the many legal and political headquarters of the polis, it also was home base to the all-important Athenian army. In the chronicles of ancient history, we can see how armies and navies played a vital role on the succession of power of important ancient civilizations, and Athens is no exception. The Athenian military power was a vital ingredient in the success of Athens. In ancient history, no respectable city would have gone unfortified by walls, or unprotected by an army.
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We've all heard stories about the "Lost City of Atlantis", sunken into the ocean thousands of years ago. This intellectually and technologically advanced civilization, with its electricity and sophisticated plumbing systems, was far ahead of any other ancient culture thriving during its time. Then, like a flash, it was gone, sunken at the bottom of some ocean in a catastrophic event.
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The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also known as the Artemesium, was constructed in the mid 6th century BC. It was located in Ephesus (modern Turkey), and was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Antipater of Sidon included it on his definitive list of monuments, partly because of its size and grandeur, but also because of its location. Its location on the rim of the Greek world helped to provoke admiration to non-Greeks of the vastness of the Greek world.
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In the ancient world, there were many temples dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. But there was only one temple to Zeus that housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Temple of Zeus at Olympia was home to one of greatest sculptural achievements of ancient history. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia represented the pinnacle of Classical sculptural design, as well as showcased the engineering that was required to construct such a massive chunk of marble and gold.
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