Empires Med

Empires: The Mediterranean  Greece  Society of Greece  Slavery widely practiced  generally better treated and more equal to men than women in Athens  Social status dependent on land holdings and cultural sophistication  Celebration of human individual achievement and the ideal human form  Valued education, placed emphasis on  importance of human effort,  human ability to shape future events  The Politics of Greece  Interest in political theory: which form of government is best?  No centralized government  concept of polis  Governing styles varied  Sparta a military state, Athens eventually a democracy  Both Athens and Sparta developed strong military  Hoplites in a phanlanx  established colonies around the Mediterranean  Athens  Athens government first dominated by tyrants  strong rulers who gained power from military prowess  Solon’s Reforms  later came to be ruled by an assembly of free men who made political decisions.  Athens encouraged equality for free males  women and slaves had little freedom  Neither group allowed to participate in polis affairs.  Sparta  Military State  2 Kings who officially shared command  Real power held by Council of Elders  Men separated from women in military barracks until age 30  Spartan women

 women had relative freedom  women in Sparta encouraged to be physically fit so as to have healthy babies  The Classical Age  Persian War  Greecs twice invaded by Persia  1st defeated by Athens at Marathon  2nd defeated by Spartan army (Platea)/ Athenian navy (Salamis)  Peloponnesian War  Sparta vs. Athens, 30 year war  Athenian Walls protect city  Athenian navy keeps Sparta at bay until defeated by Sparta in Sicily

 Rome  Society of Rome  Basic division between patricians (aristocrats) and plebeians (free farmers)  although a middle class of merchants grew during the empire  wealth based on land ownership  gap between rich and poor grew with time  Perfection of military techniques  conquer but don't oppress  Culture derivative from Greece  Politics in Rome  Extensive colonization and military conquest during both eras  Every adult male citizen was obligated to serve in the army for 25 yrs.  Development of an overarching set of laws  restrictions that all had to obey  sets in place principle of rule of law  not rule by whim of the political leader  Republic  Kings ruled Rome  Overthrown by citizens, republic established  rule by aristocrats  some power shared with assemblies  Senate most powerful  two Consuls chosen to rule  generally selected from the military  Dictator: leader chosen in times of emergency to rule  Empire

 Julius Caesar became dictator  Gains more & more power, assassinated  Nephew emerges as leader, becomes Augustus  non-hereditary emperor  technically chosen by Senate, but generally chosen by predecessor  Depended on support of army  Pax Romana, Roman Peace, for two and a half centuries  Roman expansion into Mediterranean basin, western Europe, down Nile to Kush