ANTIGUA GRECIA 2: La Época Arcaica - Polis Griegas y la Amenaza Persa (Documental Historia Resumen)

Ancient Greece 2: The Archaic Period

This transcript covers the history of Ancient Greece during the Archaic period, including the ethnic groups that settled in Greece, the creation of city-states, and the emergence of panhelenismo.

Settlement of Ethnic Groups

• According to Greek mythology, there were four main ethnic groups that settled in Greece thousands of years ago: Ionians, Achaeans, Aeolians, and Dorians.

• These groups were made up of various villages and farmers and were considered barbarians by some.

• Over time, these ethnic groups began to create the first Polis or city-states.

City-States

• Each city-state was ruled by a king or local chief named wanax but eventually led to an oligarchy of powerful noble warriors called Basileu.

• City-states were fortified and consisted of an acropolis (city built at an elevation), urban area with houses, agora (town square), assembly, court etc., and chora (surrounding area with villages, fields, forests).

• Citizens had rights while non-Greeks called Metics were free but without rights. Slaves had no rights. Women also had no rights because they were considered evil for man due to the myth of Pandora.

Emergence of Panhelenismo

• Thanks to new writing adapted from Phoenicians' alphabet system which included vowels helped Greeks start writing literary works such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

• In 776 BC Olympics was held every four years where many Greeks came from all over Greece to participate in sports competitions such as race, long jump, discus, javelin, pugilato or pankration.

• The Olympics brought about the Olympic peace which led to an emerging panhelenismo or a sense of belonging to something larger than the polis and pride in being Greek.

The Formation of Greek Polis

This section discusses the formation of Greek Polis and how different tribes established their own cities.

Formation of Greek Polis

• ONFALO symbolized the navel of the world, where Zeus threw two eagles to go around the world and both agreed right at that point.

• Diarchy was established with two kings from different dynasties who directed the army and rituals, not the government.

• Etnias Greeks began creating the first Polis, which were like autarkic city-states.

• Each polis had an acropolis or a city built on elevated terrain, an urban area with houses, agora or town square, assembly, tribunal etc., and a chora or surrounding area with villages, farmland, forests and sometimes even a port.

• Spartans had a unique education system called agogé based on cachas get and manage spears. Weak babies were thrown off a cliff while at 20 they finished their education and had to go through the last test called krypteia.

• There were metecos who were non-Greeks but free without rights; slaves who cultivated lands for others; merchants; farmers; artisans; herdsmen etc. All men were free with rights i.e., citizens.

• The éforos declared war on helots farmers every year and sent kids with knives to survive outside for some time as part of their training.

Life in Sparta

This section describes life in Sparta including its social structure.

Life in Sparta

• All Spartans had the same education, and there was nothing fancy or gardens and monuments. Even walls were not built, and they were proud of it.

• After returning from their training, espartanitos became full citizens, and 60 retired to become part of the Gerousia.

• Women in Sparta were grouped into women's associations whose purpose was mainly reproductive. They also received wrestling and gymnastics classes.

• The only important thing for Spartans was honor and country.

Athens

This section discusses Athens' political structure.

Athens

• Monarchies eventually fell all over Greece giving way to aristocratic oligarchies.

• In Athens, the figure of Basileu was diluted in three magistrates called Archons with different functions distributed among them.

• There was an assembly of 100 members representing wealthy families of the polis called Bulé.

• Finally, there is Ekklesia, a popular assembly that initially did not have much relevance.

The Olympic Games

This section describes the first edition of the Olympic games held in Olympia.

The Olympic Games

• In 776 BC at Olympia in Élide region, Greeks gathered from all parts of Greece to see the first edition of a sports competition called Juegos Olímpicos which would be celebrated every four years - Olimpiada.

• Many events took place such as races, long jumps, discus throwing, javelin throwing etc., as well as fights like boxing or pancratium where one could be killed legally.

Political and Religious Institutions in Ancient Greece

This section discusses the political and religious institutions in ancient Greece.

Political Institutions

• Athens had three main political institutions: Boule, Areopagus, and Ecclesia.

• The Boule was an assembly of 100 members who represented wealthy families of the polis.

• Areopagus was a council or senate composed of former judges where they met to discuss political matters.

• Ecclesia was a popular assembly that initially did not have much relevance but later became more important.

Religious Institutions

• Olympia and Delphi were two famous religious sites in ancient Greece.

• The Oráculo de Delfos was a place where people from different parts of Greece went to learn about their future.

• Other places for magic and divination included Antro de Trofonio en Beocia, Santuario de Apolo en Delos, Santuario de las Bránquidas cerca de Mileto o el Oráculo de Dodoma en Epiro.

Rise of Sparta

This section discusses the rise of Sparta as a competing polis to Athens.

Messenian Wars

• The Messenian Wars broke out due to revenge lust for the Messenians who were conquered by the Spartans.

• Thanks to knowledge gained from training in Argos phalanx, the Messenians defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Hysias.

• The Spartans quickly adapted this technique and even improved it, defeating the Messenians at the Battle of the Great Pit.

Sparta's Political System

• The peasants were too burdened with debts of land, and the middle class longed to have some political power reserved exclusively for Eupatrids.

• In addition to helots, there were periecos who lived in villages on the outskirts and had their own administrative system but were used as crews to Sparta's fleet during war times.

Turbulent Times in Ancient Greece

This section discusses turbulent times in ancient Greece.

Agrarian Crisis

• There was an agrarian crisis in ancient Greece where peasants were burdened with debts of land.

Conflicts Between Polis

• Cities would not stop fighting with each other, leading to conflicts such as the Guerra Lelantina between Calcis and Eretria over Lalentina plain.

Athenian Lawmaker Solon

• Athenians had to wait until 594 BC for Solon, a famous Athenian lawmaker who brought about reforms that helped alleviate some of these issues.

Solon and the First Coins

This section discusses the measures taken by Solon, including the exemption of all debts and prohibition of slavery. It also covers his improvements to trade through a regulated system of weights and measures, as well as his creation of regulated brothels and child abuse. The section concludes with a discussion on how Solon is believed to have created the first coins in the world.

Solon's Measures

• Solon exempted all debts of people and prohibited slavery.

• He improved the system of weights and measures to boost trade.

• He set up regulated brothels and child abuse.

Creation of Coins

• Solon is believed to have created the first coins in the world.

• The first Greek coin was called Drachma, followed by Tetradrachma, Decadracma, Mina, Talento, and Obolo.

• Coins allowed for a common value or price for certain objects.

The Birth of Coinage

This section discusses how coinage revolutionized systems of exchange by allowing for a common value or price for certain objects. It also covers how early forms of payment using gold and silver were used in Mesopotamia before coins were introduced.

Introduction of Coinage

• Coinage revolutionized systems of exchange by allowing for a common value or price for certain objects.

• Early forms of payment using gold and silver were used in Mesopotamia before coins were introduced.

Types of Greek Coins

• The first Greek coin was called Drachma, followed by Tetradrachma, Decadracma, Mina, Talento, and Obolo.

• Coins allowed for a common value or price for certain objects.

The Spartan Government

This section discusses the government of Sparta under Licurgo's rule. It covers the establishment of an oligarchic military government through the Great Retra and the creation of a diarchy with two kings from different dynasties. It also covers the establishment of a council of 28 elders (Gerusía), a magistracy composed of 5 ephors who governed in reality, and an assembly called Apella.

The Spartan Government

• Licurgo established an oligarchic military government through the Great Retra.

• The government was led by two kings from different dynasties who directed the army and rituals but not the government.

• A council of 28 elders (Gerusía) was established along with a magistracy composed of 5 ephors who governed in reality.

• An assembly called Apella was created as well.

Education and Society

• All Spartans received education based on physical training and spear handling.

• Spartans had no luxuries such as gardens or monuments; they were even proud to have no walls.

• Babies born weak or with defects were thrown off cliffs.

• At age 20, Spartans had to pass their final test called Cripteia where they were sent out to survive on their own using stealth to steal from or kill helots without repercussions.

Women in Sparta

• Women were grouped into associations for reproductive purposes and received classes in combat and gymnastics.

• Spartan society was highly conservative, maintaining its unique characteristics until the time of Alexander the Great.

Athenian Government

This section discusses the government of Athens. It covers how the figure of basileu was replaced by three magistrates called arcontes who divided their functions among themselves. It also covers the establishment of a council called Bulé and an assembly called Ekklesía.

Athenian Government

• The figure of basileu was replaced by three magistrates called arcontes who divided their functions among themselves.

• A council called Bulé represented wealthy families in Athens.

• An assembly called Ekklesía was created but initially had little relevance.

Areopagus Council

• An Areopagus council or senate formed by ex-magistrates met to discuss political issues.

• The Areopagus council was later reformed to become a judicial tribunal with less power.

Tiranies and Wars

This section discusses tyrannies that emerged due to failed aristocracies. It also covers wars such as the Second Messenian War, which resulted from Mesenians' desire for revenge against Spartans after being conquered by them.

Tyrannies

• Tyrants were those who gained power illegitimately or through violence, not necessarily bad rulers.

• Fidón de Argos unified Argólida, standardized weights and measures, introduced coins in Greece, and created Falange Hoplítica.

• The Cipsélidas in Corinth turned it into the first maritime mercantile power in Greece.

Second Messenian War

• The Second Messenian War was a result of Mesenians' desire for revenge against Spartans after being conquered by them.

• Mesenians used their knowledge of Falange Hoplítica to defeat Spartans at the Battle of Hysias.

• Spartans adapted and improved this technique, defeating Mesenians at the Battle of Great Fossa.

Agriculture in Attica

In this section, the speaker talks about the agricultural production of Attica and how they traded their products for wheat from coastal towns of the Black Sea.

Agricultural Production

• The main products produced in Attica were wine, oil, and ceramics.

• The land in Attica was not very fertile for agriculture.

Trade with Coastal Towns

• Atticans traded their products with coastal towns of the Black Sea for wheat.

• This trade was important because it allowed them to have a stable food supply.