Global 9H Greeks

Why do the Peloponnesian War and the Melian dialogue make Athens both a bully and a loser?

Bully because when the people of Melos didn't want to fight on the Athenians' side against the Spartans, the Athenians killed the men and enslaved the women and children. Losers because at the end of the Peloponnesian War, Athens is defeated by Sparta.

Who were Cyrus the Great and Darius I and what did they do for the Persian Empire?

King Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid dynasty in 539 BCE and conquered most of Mesopotamia. He also freed the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity and allowed them to return to their homeland. Darius I was Cyrus' son, who extended the Persian Empire from the Indus Valley in the east, Egypt in the west, and Turkey in the North.

What were the Pros and Cons of the Greek culture "winning" the war with Persia?

Pro: Athens prospered and their culture flourished, which gave us the legacy of the Classical Age including philosophy, architecture, and democracy. Cons: Democracy is great but empires as a whole have lasted much longer. Life in Athens was great if you were a male citizen but was pretty bad if you were a slave or a woman. The struggle for power after the Persian Wars led to the Peloponnesian War and the eventual collapse of Greek civilization once they were taken over by Alexander the Great's father and then later by the Romans

What were some of the characteristics of Greek culture and politics in the 4th century BCE?

This was the "golden age" of Ancient Greece and the building of the Parthenon, which is probably the most famous ruin of the ancient world if you don't count the pyramids. The Greeks during this time were divided into a collection of city-states that were fiercely independent, which meant that each city-state had its own government. These governments ranged from a direct democracy in Athens to monarchies and dictatorships. The Greeks also owned a ton of slaves and treated women pretty poorly.

Why did the Greeks view of citizenship and allegiance to Greece as a whole change after the Persian Wars?

The Persian Wars began because a group of Ionian city-states rebelled against Persian rule so Persia decided to attack the mainland of Greece. When they did this, the Greeks decided to band together and fight as a whole against the Persians. When the Greeks defeated the Persians, they began to view themselves as Greeks rather than just Athenians or Spartans. After they worked together, they started seeing themselves as a unified group.

Why does Aristophanes get both a good and bad rap these days?

Aristophanes - famous Greek playwright and satirist - is still remembered today for the 11 out of 40 plays that have survived and he's known as the father of comedy. However, students today don't really get his humor and think he's rather boring to read.

What were some of the major accomplishments of the Ancient Greeks?

The Ancient Greeks are really the basis of Western culture from architecture, philosophy, literature, poetry, and music to science, mathematics, and politics; the influence of their culture is evident throughout history. In fact, the Greeks gave the West the first history and the first democracy (Athens).

Why did Athens experience a "golden age" after the Persian Wars and what did this eventually lead to?

The Athenians became one of the most powerful city-states, and the de facto Greek capital, after the wars. As a result, the arts, building, and philosophy flourished in the city. Rivalries over resources and power emerged between Athens and Sparta, which eventually led to the Peloponnesian War.

Why was the Persian ruler known as the King of Kings?

When the Persians took over an area, they allowed the conquered kings and elites to keep their power as long as they pledged allegiance to the Persian king and paid taxes. So in essence the Persian king became the king of other kings.

What is Zoroastrianism? Why don't we hear more about their practices than Christian ones?

Zoroastrianism is probably the first monotheistic faith and it was adopted by the Persians. Zoroastrianism introduced the world to the concept of good versus evil and also forbade slavery. The Persians were not terribly concerned about spreading their faith through the conversion of conquered people; however, Christians, especially those during the Middle Ages and the Age of Exploration, were set on converting others to the faith.