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Ancient Greece: Chronological Periods


Figure 1.--.

The democratic city state is the concept that most have of ancient Greece. This was, however, only one phase of Greece history. Greeks in the Mycenean age were organized into small, waring kingdoms. This era is not well understood. The Greek kingdoms appear to have collapsed and the populations abandoned urban centers about 1200 and 1100 BC. For a long period of about 400-500 years, Greeks society was based in tribal groups. Some but not all of the tribes shifted to a nomadic lifestyle. Some historians call this era the Greek Dark Age. The Greek tribl grouos by about 700 BC had begun to coalese into larger political groupings. Trade linkiages between these groups increased in inortance. To accoimodate the growing trade, marketplaces began to appear in villages and the evolving political structures came to be called a polis or city state.Greece during the Classical period was composed of independent city-states, the largest and most important was Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. Although these city states were relatively small a fierce spirit of independence and desire for freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the massive Persian armies and navies in some of the most notable battles in human history. The Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and proceeded to Hellenize large areas of the easter Mediterrean. Greece in 146 BC fell to the Romans. Large numbers of Greeks were enslaved. Many wealthy Greeks used learned Greek slaves to teach their children. The Emperor Constantine in 330 AD moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was to become known as the Byzantine Empire or Byzantium. One of Byzantium's many achievements was to transform the linguistic and cultural heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilization.

Mycenean Age

Greeks in the Mycenean age were organized into small, waring kingdoms. This era is not well understood. The Greek kingdoms appear to have collapsed and the populations abandoned urban centers (1200 and 1100 BC). The Minoan civilization is sometimes described in terms of a generalized Aegean civilization. It is named after King Minos of Greek legend. The assocaited Mycenae culture is that of mainland Greece at the same time. It is one of the earliest important civilizations not founded on a river valley. The Minonan civilization endured 1,500 years, from 3000/2600-1100 BC, and reached the height of its grandeur in the 18th-16th centuries BC. The civilization was centered on Crete but influenced the neighboring Greek islands of the Aegean Sea as well. It was the founding culture for the Achaean Greeks more familiar to the modern reader. The Minoans who virtually unknown to modern scholars until archeologists at the begnning of the 20th century found the palace at Knossos. Previously Greek legends about King Minos were not known to have had actual historical basis. The Minonan civilization is notable as the foundation stone for Greek culture upon which so much of Western thought and culture is based. Of special importance to HBC is that it provides some of the earliest non-religious depictions of people, including children.

Greek Dark Age (9th-6th centuries BC)

For a long period of about 400-500 years, Greeks society was based on tribal groups. Some but not all of the tribes shifted to a nomadic lifestyle. Some historians call this era the Greek Dark Age. This began to change (700 BC). Greek tribl grouos began to coalese into larger political groupings. Trade linkiages between these groups increased in importance. To accomodate the growing trade, marketplaces began to appear in villages and the evolving political structures came to be called a polis or city state which were composed of neighboing villages which comined to from a defensable unit that could support military forces and build fortifications. Political systems were also in a flux leading to tumult (late-7th century BC). Attica,te region inclusing Athens) had been ruled by kings but the region had become dominated by land-owning powerful arstirats. New political structures were emerging as tyrants (single rulers) arose. he result was politcal violence. Excavations at the Phaleron Delta, a coastal area in southern Athens which served as a port, have uncovered the remains of 80 males, mostly military age mem. There were also 4 boys. Many were shackled together at the wrist and killed with a blow to the head. Clearly a political execution, probably connecte with the struggle among aristocrats or between the aristocrats and would be tyrants (mid-late 7th century BC). Some suggest the execution was related Cyclonia affair (632 BC).

Classical Greece (5th-4th centuries BC)

Greece during the Classical period was composed of independent city-states, the largest and most important was Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. Although these city states were relatively small a fierce spirit of independence and desire for freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the massive Persian armies and navies in some of the most notable battles in human history: Marathon, Thermopiles, Salamis, and Plataea. HBC at this times has little information on historic Greek boys' clothing. We do note that the warm Medditeranean climate of Greece is an imoprtant factor even in antiquity. Historians report the ancient Greeks considered children to be miniature adults. There is no indication that the Greeks regarded children as anything different from small-sized adults. By the time a child was about 13 years old, he or she was considered an adult citizen in every respect. Alexander was, for example, involved in military engagements at age 12. There were differences from city to city, especially with Sparta. There were, however, many similarities. Boys and girls were reared very differently. Plato discusses the education of children in The Republic. Boys were educated separately for their future responsibilities as citizens of the state. Women had a different role and have been described as little above slaves. Girls were informally educated in the home by their mothers. Children of both sexes often wore no clothing at all when they were very young. There does not appear to have been any specialized garments for children before they began wearing adult garments. Boys spent a lot of time naked in athletic training. Here some illustrations/vase decorations provide useful information.

Alexander (4th century BC)

The Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world. Alexander put down a Greek revolt. He then led his army accross the Hellesport and launched his invasion of the Persian Empire which at the time extended west to Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Persian Emperor Darius III at first did not fully appreciate the danger posed by Alexander. In some of the great battles of the ancient world, Alexander destroyed huge Persian armies at Granicus (334 BC), Issus (333 BC), and Gaugamela (331 BC). Aleander reduced Tyre (332 BC) after whicvh the Egyptians recognized him as Pharaoh. He calls himself "Lord of Asia". While in Egypt he founds Alexandria which becomes one of the great city of the ancient world. Alexander after his great victory at Gaugamela persued Darius, hoping to capture him alive. Darius was killed by one of his generals, Bessus. The circumstances are disputed by historians. Alexander hunted down Bessus hunted down and then publicly flogged and executed. Alexander then returns Darius' boby to his family for a state funeral. Alexander after completing the conquest of the Persan Empire, pushed east to Bactria and enters India. Here his men refuses to go further. On the way back Alexander and his men sack and plunder cities. On one such assaukt, Alexander is almost killed by an arrow. He sends a fleet back under Nearchus. He returns to Persia on an overland route and he and his men suffer intensly in the overland route which passes through deserts. He finally reaches Susa (334 BC).

The Diadochi

Alexander's death began a struggle for power among his commanders. On his deathbed, legend has it that Alexander was asked who should inhedrit his edmpire, he isaid to hsve replied, "To the strongest." Their was no obvious heir capable of holding the vasr empire he created together. The royal family was involved in the struggle among the Diadochi. There was a phosthumously born boy and a mildly retarded half brother. Each were made king for a time and became part of the struggle. His six top commanders (the Diadochi) turned on each other in an effort to control the empire. The result was nightmarish era of warfare and struggle that tore the empire and Alexander's legacy asunder. Diadochi is the Greek word for "successors". One historian writes, "In the years following the king's death, half aozen generals would box with one another in wars fought across three continents, while half aozen members of the royal family would wrestle for the throne. .... The contest would become a generational relay race, with military leaders handing off their standards to sons, queens passing scepters to daughters. It would be nearly a decade before winners began to emnerge , and there wiukd be a wholly different set of contestants from those who stood at the starting line, in Babylon, at the side of the dying king." [Romm] His son's first regent, Perdiccas, was killed by mutinous soldiers (321 BC). Antipater repaced him as regent, but died (319 BC). Polyperchon became regent, but was soom overthrown by Antipater's son Cassander. Olympias opposed Antipater's regency and she resisted his son. She made herself regent (317 BC). Cassander seized power, but hesitated to execute Alexander's mother himself. Cassander instead delivered Olympias relatives of individuals she had ordered killed. It was they who killed the queen mother. Cassanddr also ordered the death of both Roxane and Alexander IV (Alexander Aegus). The boy was 13 years old when he was killed. Cassander made himself king of Macedonia (305 BC).

Roman Conquest (146 BC)

Greece in 146 BC fell to the Romans. Large numbers of Greeks were enslaved. Many wealthy Greeks used learned Greek slaves to teach their children.

Byzantium (330 AD)

Byzantium is somewhat difficult to place. It is of course the Eastern Roman Empire which broke off from the Western Empire in a gradual procress beginning in the 4th century AD. But as it survived the Barbarian invasions, its history continues into the Medieval era until ovewealmed by the Turks in the 15th century. Thus it is both an Ancient and Medieval civilization with stronger Asian influences that the Western Empire. The Emperor Theodosum I divided the Roman empire when he entrusted his son Arcadius with the Eastern provinces and his other son Honorius with the Western priovinces (395 AD), although a temporary split occurred even earlier. The Western Empire headed by Honorius was soon to be overwealmed by Germanic Barbarians and Huns. The Eastern Empire while sorely pressed first by the Germans and Huns and later by Islam was to endure and often prosper over an amazing span of 1,000 years until it was finally overwealmed by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II in 1453. One of Byzantium's many achievements was to transform the linguistic and cultural heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilization.

Sources

Hanson, Victoir Davis. Boo-TV CSpan 2, March 7, 2004.

Romm, James. Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for the Crown and Empire (2011), 368p.






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Created: September 17, 2002
Last updated: 5:39 AM 12/14/2016