Archeological evidence shows that a primitive Mediterranean people, closely related to races of northern Africa, lived in the southern Aegean area as far back as the Neolithic Age.
A cultural progression from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age started about 3000 BC. This civilization, during the Bronze Age was divided into two main cultures. One on these, called Cretan or Minoan was centered on the island of Crete. The other culture, Helladic (who became Mycenaean) populated mainland Greece. The Minoan culture dominated trade until 1500 BC when the Mycenaeans took control.
During the third millennium BC a series of invasions from the north began. The most prominent of the early invaders, who were called the Achaeans, had, in all probability, been forced to migrate by other invaders. They overran southern Greece and established themselves on the Peloponnesus. Many other, vaguely defined tribes, were assimilated in the Helladic culture.
Ancient Greece
Gradually, in the last period of Bronze Age Greece, the Minoan civilization fused with the mainland. By 1400 BC the Achaeans were in possession of the island itself, and soon afterward gained control of the mainland. The Trojan War, described by Homer in the Iliad, began about 1200 BC and was probably one of a series of wars waged during the 12th and 13th centuries BC. It may have been connected with the last and most important of the invasions which happened at about the same time and brought the Iron Age to Greece. The Dorians left the mountains of Epirus and pushed their way down to Peloponnesus and Crete, using iron weapons to conquer the people of those regions. The Invading Dorians overthrew Achaean kings and settled in the southern and eastern part of the peninsula.
The Hellenic Period
After the great migrations in the Aegean, the Greek developed a proud racial consciousness. They Called themselves Hellenes. The term Greeks, used by foreign peoples, was derived from Graecia, the Latin for a small Hellenic tribe of Epirus, the first Hellenes that the Romans had dealings with. Out of the mythology that became the basis of an intricate religion, the Hellenes developed a genealogy that traced their ancestry to semidivine heroes.
Age of Tyrants
The age of Greek tyrants was notable for advances made in Hellenic civilization. The title of tyrant was used on people who had gained political power illegally. Generally the tyrants were wise and popular. Trade and industry flourished. In the wake of political and economic strength came a flowering of Hellenic culture, especially in Ionia, where Greek philosophy began with the speculations of Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenies. The development of cultural pursuits common to all the Hellenic cities was one of the factors that united ancient Greece. Another Factor was the Greek language, the many dialects of which were readily understandable in any part of the country. The third factor was Greek religion, which held the Hellenes together, and the sanctuary of Delphi, with its oracle, became the greatest national shrine. In addition to their religion, the Greeks held four national festivals, called games-the Olympian, Isthmian, Pythian, and Nemean.
Monarchy to Democracy
Some unification of the city-states took place. Between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, Athens and Sparta became the two dominant cities of Greece. Each of these great states united its weaker neighbors into a league or confederacy under its control. Sparta, a completely militarized and aristocratic state, established its leadership mainly by conquest, and kept its subject states under strict rule. The unification of Attica was, however, carried on by mutual and peaceful agreement under the leadership of Athens, and the inhabitants of smaller cities were given Athenian citizenship. The hereditary kingship of Athens was abolished in 683 BC by the nobles, or Eupatridae, who ruled Athens until the mid 6th century BC. The Eupatridae kept complete authority by their supreme power to dispense justice. In 621 BC statesman Draco codified and published the Athenian law, their by limiting the judiciary power of the nobles. A second major blow to the hereditary power of the Eupatride was the code of the Athenian statesman and legislator Solon in 594 BC, which reformed the Draconian code and gave citizenship to the lower classes. During the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus, the forms of government began to take on the elements of democracy. Hippias and Hipparchus, sons of Pisistratus, inherited their fathers power, but they were considerably more despicable. Hippias, who survived Hipparchus, was expelled by a popular uprising in 510 BC. In the resulting political strife, the supporters of democracy, under the statesman Cleisthenes, won a complete victory, and a new constitution, based on democratic principles, took effect about 502 BC. The beginning of democratic rule was the dawn of the greatest period of Athenian history and, to me personally this signifies the end of Ancient Greece.
The ten-month training was the most valuable preparation the athletes could undergo. For ten months they lived in the gymnasium, they practiced all day, and all night. They were constantly watched over by the professional trainers. The officials of Elis would decide who was fit enough to compete in the Olympic Games, and receive the prizes.
The people of Elis won the first thirteen Olympic races. Soon people from all around Greece joined the games. They came from Crete, Rhodes, Sicily, Asia Minor, and Egypt. These games served as a common link to the Hellenic world.
Nothing was more important to the Greeks then the Games, not even wars. During the month of the festival, no one with weapons was allowed into Olympia. The Olympics was far more important to the Greeks then any war, there was peace throughout Greece during the month of the Olympics.
This period of time was called the Hieromenia.
The first athletes of the Olympics were sprinters. Twenty sprinters lined up on a straight track, the bugle sounded off and they ran as fast as they could to the finish line. Soon the Games began to expand in variety, longer races were added to the games. Then pentathlons were introduced and so was the three mile run.
The discus was a favorite of the Greeks. The man who threw the farthest was regarded as the greatest athlete.
Boxing was introduced in 688 BC. The boxers would wear leather straps and metal rings around their knuckles. The fight would only end when the opponent would cry for mercy or lay there unconscious. In 680 BC chariot races were part of the game. Only the ones rich enough ones who could afford chariots and horses would participate. The owner of the winning horse would receive a cotton head-band and the rider would get an olive leaf wreath.
All Olympic winners were presented with prizes and if a man had won three Olympics in a row he would have a statue made just for him. He would also receive many great gift of honor, including the privilege of not having to pay taxes. Often when the winner would return home, he would be escorted through a hole through the wall surrounding his city. The hole was made by the citizens to show the world that an Olympic champion lived there.
Among many Olympic heroes in history, Milo of Croton was one of the most famous. He won six wrestling matches in a row during 600 BC. Milo supposedly developed his brute strength by carrying a calf on his bare shoulders. He did this until the calf developed into a full grown bull. He was said to have killed a lion with his bare hands and stopped a chariot by grabbing it with one hand. Another Greek, Olympic hero was Theagenes of Thasos. He had several special skills, he competed in boxing, sprinting, and the pancration. (combination of boxing and wrestling) He won at least 1,400 times.
Women were not allowed to participate in these games. They weren't allowed to watch the games either. There was one women from Rhodes, she dressed herself in men's clothing and went to the games. She went to the games to watch her son in a boxing match. When he won the match, she ran up to him and kissed him. That gave her away, but she wasn't punished. Several years earlier her father, Diagoras, won a boxing match. He was one of the most celebrated of all ancient athletes. Her penalty of death was waived.
The glory of the Games began to dim, and interest was lost among most people. Rich people began placing bets on the games. The original purpose of the Games were forgotten. Olympia began to decline. In 393 BC the games were ordered to be stopped, the were becoming a public nuisance.
The Greeks destroyed the Temple of Zeus and of Hera. Earthquakes and floods buried Olympia, so it remained lost and half-forgotten. Until 1875.
Pages: 1 2
Prehistoric Period
Home
Download
