Classical Civilizations of the Mediterranean & Middle East Persia, Greece & Rome
Common Features of Classical Civilizations China, India, Persia, Greece and Rome developed their own beliefs, lifestyles, political institutions, and social structures. However, there were important similarities among them: Patriarchal family structures Like the river valley civilizations that preceded them, the classical civilization valued male authority within families, as well as in most other areas of life. Agricultural-based economies Despite more sophisticated and complex job specialization, the most common occupation in all areas was farming. 2
Common Features of Classical Civilizations Complex governments Because they were so large, these three civilizations had to invent new ways to keep their lands together politically. Their governments were large and complex, although they each had unique ways of governing Expanding trade base Their economic systems were complex. Although they generally operated independently, trade routes connected them by both land and sea. 3
An overview Civilizations arose along the shores of the Mediterranean around 800 BCE Two cultural centers lay at the heart of Mediterranean civilization: Greece then Rome Differences: Greeks mastered scientific thought while Romans were engineers Romans were empire builders while Greeks remained divided Similarities: shared political ideas common religion & artistic styles similar economic structures 4
Big Picture of Mediterranean Civilization Built on earlier cultures in the eastern Mediterranean and the Greek islands Greek city-states started as monarchies but evolved into more complex political forms Developed a commercial agricultural economy that spurred colonization With the decline of the city-states came the rise of Macedonia & the creation of a Hellenistic culture Rome, through a series of conquests, came to dominate the Mediterranean & western Europe Expansion overwhelmed the republic, leading to the creation of the Roman Empire 5
Persian Empire Achaemenid Empire first established by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE Successor to Mesopotamian civilization, but far larger: from North Africa to India Political Achievements: embraced tolerance within the empire strong authoritarian government (Darius centralized laws and taxes) with substantial bureaucracy Organized empire into provinces each with a governor 6
Map of Persian Empire 7
City of Persepolis Ceremonial Capital/City served as center of trade, public performance of religious rituals and political administration for Persian Empire 8
Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism served as a unifying force within the empire Darius claimed that the divinely ordained mission of the empire is to bring all the scattered peoples of the world back together again under a regime of justice Basic beliefs One single deity or god Emphasized truth, purity & reverence for nature Promised salvation to followers Great religion of the Ancient world & may have influence Judaism & Christianity 9
Greece Organized around the city-state or polis mountainous terrain made a unified government difficult Each city-state had it s own form of government Common cultural identity promoted by trade, common written language & common celebrations such as the Olympic Games Athens & Sparta dominated the peninsula early on, working together to defeat a Persian invasion Cooperation soon gave way to competition, coming to a head with the Peloponnesian Wars and Spartan & Athenian decline Decline set the stage for the rise of Macedonia under Philip II and Alexander the Great and the creation o a massive but short lived empire 10
Map of Ancient Greece 11
City of Athens City served as center of trade, public performance of religious rituals and political administration for Greece 12
Roman Republic By the 1st century BCE Greece and the Hellenistic kingdoms were under Roman domination Began as a monarchy in central Italy that gave way to a republic (governed by a senate) by 507 BCE Influence gradually extended over the entire peninsula due to war All men who owned a specified amount of land were subject to serve in military With the Punic Wars (against Carthage), Rome came to acquire an empire encompassing the western Mediterranean and North Africa 13
Government of Roman Republic 14
Roman Empire Instability set in towards the end of the Republic as power struggles between rival generals led to civil war the rise of Julius Caesar effectively ends the traditional institutions of the republic basic structures of the Roman Empire take shape after Augustus Caesar (aka Octavian) seizes power in 27 BCE for the next 200 years, the Empire brought peace & prosperity to the Mediterranean world while the empire continued to expand Decline sets in over the next 250 years (economic deterioration; population loss; ineffective government; nomadic incursions) with Rome s collapse coming in 476 CE 15
Map of Roman Empire 16
City of Rome City served as center of trade, public performance of religious rituals and political administration for Roman Republic & Empire 17
Politics in the Mediterranean World Characterized by a concept of active citizenship & diverse political forms intense preoccupation with politics citizens felt the state was theirs, with certain rights and obligations upon the citizen Great diversity in political forms: In Greece: democracy - major decisions made by citizen assemblies with direct participation In the Roman republic: the Roman Senate, dominated by the aristocracy, elected magistrates and set policy for Rome 18
Politics in the Mediterranean World cont In the Empire: Political forms varied with the empire - Senate was maintained, but became powerless; larger organizational capacity while allowing some local autonomy- respected local customs The empire was characterized by the rule of law rules, objectively judged, rather than personal whims should govern society Roman law codes came to be seen as the regulator of social life key political achievement was the idea fair and reasoned law to govern the empire 19
Political Legacy Localism & passionate political interests Diverse political systems with a preference for aristocratic rule The importance of law and the development of elaborate & uniform legal principles Rapidly expanding population led to urbanization & to colonization, the migration of Greeks led to new settlements around the Med. & Black seas 20
Religion & Culture No significant, world-class religion originated in the Mediterranean Greco-Roman religion derived from a belief in the spirits of nature elevated to a complex set of gods & goddesses who regulated human life Gods often illustrated human passions & weaknesses, serving as symbols for human nature 21
Religion & Culture cont Religion provided little basis for ethical thought leading to the rise of philosophical inquiry in Greece: Socrates, Aristotle, the Stoics; emphasized the ability to think over spirituality Greco-Roman philosophy and science emphasized logic, empirical observation and the nature of political power and hierarchy 22
Christianity Based on core beliefs about the teachings & divinity of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded by his disciples, drew on Judaism, and initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences Despite initial Roman imperial hostility, Christianity spread through the efforts of missionaries and merchants through many parts of Afro-Eurasia Eventually gained imperial support by the time of Emperor Constantine 23
Spread of Christianity 24
Artistic Expressions Homer s epic poems the Illiad & the Odyssey Lyric poetry short verses in which subject matter is intensely personal In challenging traditional values & expressing personal views, lyric poets paved the way for the modern Western conception of poetry 25
Distinctive Architecture Greek Temple Roman Colosseum Greek Columns Roman Pantheon Roman Aqueduct 26
Friezes from the Parthenon, Athens 27
Agriculture & Trade Poor soil conditions led to the emergence of commercial agriculture grapes and olives grown for wine and oil production, then traded for imported grain encouraged the establishment of empire (to secure sources of grain) favored large landowners over small farmers encouraged the development of trade 28
Slavery Was extensive in the Mediterranean world Performed a great many tasks within society Need for slaves often was a driving force behind military expansion Slave labor impeded technological innovation in agriculture and manufacturing 29
Social Systems and Gender Relations In Greece, women had no political power, little rights, little freedom and were restricted to certain jobs (this differed among city-states) In Rome, you had wealthy patricians and the common people plebeians In Rome, women had no public role, a woman was treated like a child in the eyes of the law Unlike Greek women over time they gain greater personal protection & economic freedom 30