Ancient Greece in 18 minutes

Summary

This video script unravels the myths and realities of ancient Greece, from the peaceful Minoan civilization to the rise and fall of Mycenae. It explores the Dark Ages, the emergence of Greek city-states, the Persian Wars, and the golden age of Athens under Pericles. The Peloponnesian War, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic period are also covered, culminating in the Roman conquest and the enduring legacy of Greek culture.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The Parthenon was built not just as a temple, but also served as a central bank for the allied treasury of ancient Greece.
• 🗺 Ancient Greece was not a unified state with a capital; it was a collection of independent city-states, including Athens and Sparta.
• 🌋 The Minoan civilization on Crete was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption, possibly the source of the Atlantis myth, which led to tsunamis and ash clouds affecting the region.
• 🏺 The Mycenaean civilization, which succeeded the Minoans, was characterized by palaces, a navy, and an undeciphered writing system.
• 📚 Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, though written down after the Dark Ages, provide insights into the daily life during the Mycenaean period.
• 📉 The Greek Dark Age saw a decline in literacy and left little record of the events of the time, but Homer's works survived and offer a window into the past.
• 🛶 The Greeks were skilled seafarers and traders, with marine trade contributing to their wealth and the spread of their culture.
• 🏙️ Athens and Sparta had different paths: Athens developed democracy, while Sparta became a military state, conquering neighbors and establishing a serf-like class called helots.
• 🛡️ The Greek city-states successfully repelled Persian invasions through military innovation, such as the phalanx formation, and the leadership of figures like King Leonidas at Thermopylae.
• 💰 The discovery of silver deposits near Athens funded the construction of a powerful navy, which was crucial in defeating the Persians at sea.
• 🏰 The Parthenon's construction was part of a broader cultural and architectural renaissance in Athens, led by figures like Pericles and Phidias.
• 🌐 The Hellenistic period, following Alexander the Great's conquests, saw the blending of Greek and Eastern cultures, spreading Greek language and ideas across a vast empire.

Q & A

What misconceptions about ancient Greece are mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that people often mistakenly believe there were only 300 Spartans, the Parthenon was solely a temple, and that ancient Greece was a unified state with Athens as its capital. In reality, there were more Spartans, the Parthenon had a role as a central bank, and ancient Greece was a collection of independent city-states.

What was the significance of the Minoan civilization on Crete?

The Minoan civilization on Crete was significant as it had three-storied palaces, a navy, and its own writing system. It was a peaceful civilization without defenses, which was later destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption, contributing to the myth of Atlantis.

How did the eruption of Thera (Santorini) impact the Minoan civilization?

The eruption of Thera caused tsunamis and vast ash clouds, which led to the decline of the Minoan civilization. It is believed that part of Crete sank beneath the waves, and the civilization never fully recovered, eventually being invaded by warlike tribes.

What role did the city of Mycenae play in ancient Greece?

Mycenae was a significant city in ancient Greece, known for its lead in the fight against Troy. It was also a wealthy city with inscriptions found in tombs that were mostly financial accounts, indicating its economic importance.

What were the characteristics of the 'Dark Age' in ancient Greece?

The 'Dark Age' in ancient Greece was characterized by a decline in literacy and the loss of historical records. It was a period of cultural regression, with the earlier civilization's achievements largely forgotten.

How did the Greeks adapt to the loss of literacy during the Dark Age?

The Greeks adapted by borrowing a new alphabet from the Phoenicians, which eventually evolved into the modern Greek alphabet. This helped them to gradually rebuild their culture and civilization.

What was the significance of Athens and Sparta in the development of ancient Greece?

Athens and Sparta were significant as they represented two different paths of development. Athens gave rise to democracy, while Sparta became a militaristic state focused on preventing uprisings from the conquered locals, known as helots.

What was the role of the Delian League in ancient Greece?

The Delian League was a maritime union founded by Athens to maintain a common army against the Persian threat. City-states agreed to make annual payments for this purpose, and the treasury was kept on the sacred island of Delos.

What were the key factors that contributed to the Greek victory over the Persians?

The key factors included military innovation, such as the use of the phalanx formation at the Battle of Marathon, the Spartan spirit demonstrated at Thermopylae, and the construction of a new naval force funded by silver deposits found near Athens.

How did the Peloponnesian War impact ancient Greece?

The Peloponnesian War led to the decline of all Greek cities involved. It resulted in Athens agreeing to a humiliating peace, which included the demolition of its defensive walls, and marked the end of the golden age of Greek culture and democracy.

What was the Hellenistic world, and how did it come about?

The Hellenistic world was the result of the conquests of Alexander the Great, where Greek culture blended with Eastern cultures. It was characterized by the spread of Greek language, art, and ideas throughout the newly conquered territories, leading to the establishment of cities named after Alexander.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Ancient Greece Misconceptions and Minoan Civilization

This paragraph debunks common misconceptions about ancient Greece, such as the number of Spartans and the actual purpose of the Parthenon, which was a central bank. It introduces the Minoan civilization on Crete, which flourished with three-storied palaces and a navy but had no known script deciphered to date. The eruption of Thera (Santorini) led to the decline of Crete, and the subsequent invasion by warlike tribes who spoke an early Greek dialect. These tribes built fortified cities like Mycenae, which was later excavated by Heinrich Schliemann, confirming the historicity of Homer's Iliad.

05:00

📜 The Emergence of Ancient Greek City-States and Colonization

The script describes the borrowing of the Phoenician alphabet by the Greeks in Ionia, which eventually evolved into the modern Greek alphabet. It discusses the fragmented nature of ancient Greece, composed of independent city-states rather than a unified state. The great colonization movement is highlighted, with cities like Miletus founding numerous colonies and spreading Greek culture and innovations such as the alphabet and coinage. The paragraph also touches on the unique developments in Athens and Sparta, the rise of tyranny, and the birth of Greek democracy.

10:02

🛡️ Military Triumphs and the Golden Age of Athens

This section details the military innovations and victories that contributed to the Greek triumph over the Persian invasions, including the battles of Marathon and Thermopylae. It also mentions the construction of a powerful navy funded by silver deposits found near Athens. The subsequent Golden Age of Athens is described, with the leadership of Pericles and the cultural achievements in sculpture, drama, and philosophy. The Delian League's formation and the shift of its treasury to Athens are also covered, leading to the city's prosperity and the construction of the Parthenon as a central bank.

15:03

🌐 The Spread of Hellenistic Culture and the Rise of Rome

The final paragraph outlines the conquests of Alexander the Great and the creation of the Hellenistic world, where Greek and Eastern cultures merged. It discusses the spread of Greek influence across the newly conquered lands and the establishment of cities named after Alexander. The paragraph also covers the fragmentation of Alexander's empire after his death and the rise of Rome, which eventually conquered Greece and Egypt, spreading Greek culture further through the Roman Empire. The lasting impact of Greek culture is noted, with its influence on the Byzantine Empire and the Russian alphabet.

Keywords

💡Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history from the earliest recorded civilizations around 3000 BCE to the Roman conquest in 146 BCE. It is the cradle of Western civilization, with significant contributions to philosophy, politics, art, and science. In the video, it is the central theme, exploring various aspects of its history, from the Minoan civilization to the Peloponnesian War.

💡Parthenon

The Parthenon is an ancient temple located on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. It is a symbol of ancient Greece and its architectural prowess. In the video, it is mentioned as being built not just as a temple but also as a 'central bank,' highlighting its dual role in Athenian society.

💡300 Spartans

The '300 Spartans' is a reference to the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small force of Greek warriors, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, held off a much larger Persian army. The video corrects the common misconception that there were only 300 Spartans, emphasizing the importance of Spartan military strategy and spirit.

💡Iliad and Odyssey

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two epic poems by the ancient Greek poet Homer, which are foundational works of Western literature. They tell the story of the Trojan War and the hero Odysseus's journey home, respectively. The video mentions them as familiar works but also points out that the historical accuracy of the Trojan War was doubted until archaeological evidence was found.

💡Trojan War

The Trojan War is a legendary conflict in Greek mythology, fought between the Greeks and the city of Troy. The video discusses the historical context of the war, suggesting that it was as distant in time to Alexander the Great as the Vikings are to us, and how archaeological discoveries have shed light on its historical basis.

💡Mycenaean civilization

The Mycenaean civilization was a major Bronze Age civilization of Ancient Greece, which flourished from around 1600 to 1100 BCE. It is known for its palaces, fortifications, and goldwork. The video describes the Mycenaeans as having a sophisticated society with financial accounts and a leading role in the fight against Troy.

💡Dorian invasion

The Dorian invasion refers to the historical event in which the Dorians, a Greek tribe, invaded and conquered the Mycenaean heartlands around 1100 BCE, leading to the end of the Mycenaean civilization. The video explains that the Dorians left only the essentials, such as the sailing ship and the potter's wheel, after the destruction.

💡Dark Ages

The term 'Dark Ages' is used to describe a period of cultural decline and the loss of literacy in ancient Greece, following the fall of the Mycenaean civilization. The video mentions a 400-year period of darkness, during which little was recorded, but Homer's works provided a window into the daily life of the time.

💡Greek colonization

Greek colonization refers to the process by which ancient Greeks established new territories and cities outside of Greece, especially in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. The video highlights the colonization efforts, particularly by Miletus, which founded 90 colonies, and how it spread Greek culture and influence.

💡Persian Wars

The Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and Greek city-states that began in 499 BCE. The video discusses the wars, particularly the Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Thermopylae, as key moments in Greek history that showcased their military innovations and resilience.

💡Hellenistic world

The Hellenistic world refers to the period of Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and the rise of the Roman Empire. It is characterized by the spread of Greek culture and language throughout the conquered regions. The video describes the blending of Greek and Eastern cultures and the establishment of cities named after Alexander.

Highlights

Contrary to popular belief, there were more than 300 Spartans and the Parthenon was built as a central bank.

Ancient Greece was not a unified state with Athens as its capital; it was a collection of independent city-states.

The Minoan civilization on Crete had three-storied palaces and a navy but no known defenses.

The Minoan civilization's writing system remains undeciphered, and they had a peaceful lifestyle.

The volcanic eruption on Santorini led to the decline of the Minoan civilization and possibly inspired the myth of Atlantis.

The Mycenaean civilization, which succeeded the Minoans, was warlike and built fortified cities.

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, though written after the dark ages, reflect the daily life of the time.

The Trojan War was as distant to Alexander the Great as the Vikings are to us, challenging traditional timelines.

The Greeks were not literate during the Mycenaean period, using cattle as currency.

The Dorian invasion led to the destruction of Mycenaean civilization and a 'Dark Age' in Greece.

The Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, which evolved into the modern Greek alphabet.

Greek colonization spread their culture and influence across the Mediterranean.

Athens and Sparta had different approaches to land and power, leading to distinct societal structures.

Athens' democracy emerged from negotiations between the aristocracy and the people.

The Persian Wars were a significant conflict that shaped Greek identity and history.

The Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Thermopylae were key victories for the Greeks against the Persians.

The discovery of silver deposits near Athens funded the construction of a powerful navy.

The Peloponnesian War led to the decline of Greek city-states and the rise of Macedonian influence.

Alexander the Great's conquests spread Greek culture throughout the known world, creating the Hellenistic period.

The Romans eventually conquered Greece and Egypt, but Greek culture continued to spread through the empire.

The Byzantine Empire, with its capital in Constantinople, kept Greek culture alive for another millennium.

Transcripts

[Music]

we might think we already know

everything about ancient Greece the

Parthenon the 300 Spartans and blind

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are familiar

to all yet there were far more than 300

Spartans the Parthenon was actually

built as a kind of central bank and no

such unified state as ancient Greece

with Athens as its capital ever existed

the Trojan War was as distant in time to

Alexander the Great as the Vikings are

to ourselves so let's try to get our

heads around ancient Greece and

hopefully a little quicker than in 2000

[Music]

3716 years ago the pyramids of Egypt

were already standing and Babylon was

the world's first mega palace home to a

prototype of the Tower of Babel on Crete

however a mysterious civilization was

flourishing

it had three storied palaces and all

this with no defenses the Cretans

apparently led a relatively peaceful

life admiring flowers blue monkeys and

beautiful women walk around topless

while the men preferred loin cloths or

skirts the cretins had a navy and their

own writing system and nobody has yet

succeeded in deciphering them until one

day on the island of Tara the modern day

wedding paradise of Santorini all this

ended

in the greatest volcanic eruption in

European history part of theorists sank

beneath the waves presumably giving rise

to the myth of Atlantis tsunamis hundred

metres high and vast ash clouds

stretching for thousands of miles around

Crete never recovered from this eruption

and invaders soon swarmed in the once

peaceful island then filled with bronze

weapons and tablets written in a new

strange language which turned out to be

the earliest known form of Greek spoken

by warlike tribes which had settled the

nearby Greek mainland building such

cities as feeds Atlas Mycenae and pilots

but these cities already sheltered

behind 6-meter walls life here was not

peaceful at all a few centuries later

the Greeks themselves explained them

with legends of cyclopean builders and

were no longer aware that any other

civilization had come before them on

crete by this logic even the half full

mine at all was half greek nobody batted

an eyelid at the fact that games with

clothes were a purely Cretan form of

entertainment Greeks appropriated

everything they met on their way with

great virtuosity in conquering Crete

they had conquered the seas marine trade

saw them grow even richer almost all the

inscriptions found among the heaps of

gold in the tombs of Mycenae are

financial accounts Mycenae took the lead

in the fight against Troy and Homer's

Iliad as recently as 150 years ago the

story was considered a fairy tale until

a millionaire and amateur archaeologist

Heinrich Schliemann excavated Mycenae

and Troy a replica of the legendary

Trojan horse now stands here

archaeologists have indeed found traces

of firing destructions at Troy but this

was accompanied by the decline of

virtually all regional settlements

unceasing attacks by barbarian tribes

turned the whole Mediterranean into a

war zone

[Music]

the next 400 years were a Dark Age

literacy fell into oblivion leaving us

with nothing to read about the event

then taking place fortunately what we do

have is Homer everybody has heard about

the blind poet the author of the Iliad

and the Odyssey in actual fact we don't

know what Homer looked like or when he

lived whether he was one man or many but

even though the Iliad and Odyssey were

written down after the dark ages

the daily routines of its characters

take us right back to this time but this

years for instance was only King by

virtue of his larger flocks of pigs and

jokes

his father slept on the ground in ashes

with his slaves Thurman's characters

were illiterate and used heads of cattle

in place of money a far cry from

creature Mycenae with their three-story

palaces what had happened and Mycenae in

civilization was destroyed by the

Dorian's

who no Greek were totally savage the

earlier population hide ahead in the

mountains are fled to the east of all

the achievements of the previous

civilization the Dorian's left only the

essentials the sailing ship and the

potter's wheel it took a further four

centuries for them to start adding the

most primitive depictions of animals and

people at around the same time the turn

of the ninth and eighth centuries BC the

Greeks in Ionia borrowed a completely

new alphabet from their Phoenician

neighbors this bore little resemblance

to the linear writing styles of Cretan

mycenae do you recognize the modern

Greek letters the fog of dark ages had

started to clear

[Music]

only here do we begin to recognize

ancient Greece the country that never

actually existed this was no state with

an established border or capital but

rather a multitude of distinct and

completely independent cities Tauruses

how did this come about Greece is a land

divided by sea and mountains into

separable parts of which only a handful

was suitable for agriculture even grain

had to be important but why not grow it

yourself over there across the sea thus

the great colonization began if the

first historians are to be believed

Miletus alone founded 90 colonies the

heel of the Italian boots was colonized

- followed by the alphabet that was

formed the basis for Latin and take over

the world

Greek civilization spread from the

modern-day rostov-on-don to Marseilles

laying the foundations of the French

wine industry fragments of amphorae eye

scattered from Gibraltar to Georgia

these were containers for grain and wine

the latter was diluted with water in

proportion to one two three

only barbarians were drinking me for

training purposes coins appeared like

the alphabet these two were borrowed

from their neighbors

according to Plato a few centuries so

the Greeks settled around the

Mediterranean like frogs around a pond

and yet two cities Athens and Sparta

almost did not participate in

colonization the Spartans descended from

the warlike Dorian's that had destroyed

the Mycenaean civilization they solved

the land issue by conquering their

neighbors in the broad flat out region

of Messina the locals were declared

helots something midway between slaves

and serfs and greatly outnumbered the

Spartans proper Sparta transformed from

an ordinary polis into a military camp

whose main task was the prevention of

any uprising things were quite different

in Athens land hunger there had forced

the aristocracy and the people to come

to terms and from this democracy was

born

but first the tyrants took power a Greek

tyrant did not necessarily terrorize

people rather the opposite typically he

was an aristocrat who had quarreled with

his peers holding our promises of a

better life

he used the common people's support to

seize power by force from then on all

his energies were focused on retaining

power the tyrant therefore made no

reforms and simply drove any rival

aristocrats from the polis to divert the

attention of the populace tyrants

introduced and fostered new festivals

and cults the dissatisfied who perished

in the brazen bull but you can't roast

everyone the tyrants were overthrown and

the suppressed are a stock recei

attempted to negotiate with the people

giving birth to Greek democracy if an

ancient Greek were to see modern

democracy he would just say one word

oligarchy ancient democracy was direct

with no representatives if a polis had

six thousand citizens they could all

freely participate in the assembly

immediately the number of citizens was

less than a quarter of all residents

excluding slaves women and the migrant

workers called metics

by the middle of the sixth century the

Ionian cities were most advanced

eclipsing Athens and Sparta they were

the first to master such eastern

innovations of the alphabet coinage

mathematics naval fleets and complex

trade logistics meanwhile a sudden

threat appeared to the rear the vast

Persian Empire Miletus still hoped to

preserve its independence and with the

Fenian aid attempted to resist

unfortunately this was in vain and the

Persians torched the city and pressed on

their attempts to subdue Greece lasted

20 years we owe our knowledge of this to

the first historian Herodotus according

to his account as many Greeks fought for

the Persians of supported Athens and

Sparta how did they win the first reason

was military innovation at the Battle of

Marathon the Greeks used the phallus

a body of troops fighting in close

formation the Persians allegedly lost

6400 men and the Athenians a mere 192

plus the messenger who ran the 42,000

192 meters to Athens to announce the

victory after which he dropped there the

second reason was already becoming a

meal at the narrow coastal pass of

Thermopylae King Leonidas led 300

Spartans who held back hundreds and

thousands of Persians for three days

sure a few thousand Greeks from other

cities and their helot subjects were a

big help yet the Spartan spirit was key

not for nothing they'd be live in

barracks even during times of peace and

the third reason was the peak several

years prior to the invasion silver

deposits had been found near athletes

this windfall might have been spent on

anything but it was decided to put

towards a construction of 203 Rome's

fast and maneuverable warships were

three rows of oars thanks to this new

naval force the Greeks broke the

Persians in a decisive naval battle

counter-offensive began the Greeks of

Sicily defeated their old rivals

Carthage a scattered array of poses thus

defended the Territory in which

classical Greek culture was worn to

permanently defeat Persia and liberate

the cities in Asia Athens founded a

maritime union finally Athens have

become the center of the Greek world 150

cities agreed to make annual payments

for the maintenance of a common army in

need the treasure was kept on Delos the

sacred island of Apollo

shortly afterwards however patronage was

passed to a teeny motivated by greater

fiscal reliability of course little

imagination is required to suppose which

polis was chosen for her headquarters

the most elite real estate in the fifth

century BC was the Parthenon it was

constructed not so much as a temple but

as a kind of central bank I was in all

the allied Treasury without these funds

the Greek classics wouldn't have existed

at all no sculpture drama philosophy the

strategists and orator Pericles became

the head of this new financial center he

concluded that 30 years peace with

Sparta restored the Acropolis that had

been sacked by the Persians and extended

fortress walls to the city hall this was

rebuilt to a grid layout a forerunner to

new york while the sculptor Phidias was

immortalized in greece in stone the

philosopher anaxagoras expressed an

outrageous idea that the Sun was not the

God Heelys but a burning body equal in

size developer needs a whole great

culture was created in half a century

[Music]

sparta and its allies grew jealous of

athens prosperity a cold war had spoiled

it between them ever since the victory

over the Persians and things warmed up

in 431 BC the Spartans and their allies

besieged impregnable athletes

to cover behind the walls the grain

supply from Africa was cut off and those

shipments that may brought either typhus

or the plane even Pericles himself

perish he was replaced by demagogues

whoever promised the most was elected

strategist so our sub IDs the

unscrupulous nephew of Pericles became

the heads of the Athenian armed forces

he proposed a short but victorious war

let's pack it all in and sail for Sicily

as if the altercations with Sparta

weren't enough the fleet was ready but

something inexplicable happened the

night before the voyage all around the

city is someone smashed off the most

prominent parts of the Hermes statues

Alcibiades was accused of provocation

but he fled to struck to beg political

asylum the chief strategist then

proceeded to advise the enemy the Allies

began to drop out one by one

Athens agreed to a humiliating peace

with the condition of demolishing its

defensive walls they had hugged it

Hermes and the micro battles was crushed

on the bright side this was the heyday

for Greek tragedy and comedy Aeschylus

Sophocles and Euripides the three great

resilience and the comedic playwright

Aristophanes created plays that are

still relevant today and yet they penned

them in the fall confidence that the

first production would be the last as

was the way in theatres at the time

classical drama was always about current

events and while things may have been

getting worse in the city culture

flourished

there was no winner in the Peloponnesian

War all Greek cities fell into decline

on the other hand unexpected surprises

would come from the Macedonians distant

relatives of the Greeks who had always

been regarded as semi barbarians and

then even the great philosopher

Aristotle went to work in Macedonia as

tutor to an extremely talented boy the

boy's father was Philip the second it

was he who built up the Macedonian

Kingdom defeating a Greek coalition he

almost managed to unite Greece in order

to fight the Persians but Philip was

killed his son known to us as Alexander

the Great blazed his way through Asia

broke the army of the Persian King

Darius but still refused to turn back

rich in India thus a new world was born

the Hellenistic world Greek and Eastern

culture blended to form a new hope as

cities by the name of Alexander II

sprang up in almost every land though

without any democracy all officials in

Asia spoke Greek and knew oriental gods

became neighbors with the old Greek once

at Mount Olympus Alexander was

proclaimed that God himself in Egypt

protocol obliged all to follow Eastern

tradition and fall at his feet

[Music]

we can only wonder on how this might

have ended Greek decrees have been found

urging the spread of Buddhism but

Alexander died young Babylon the place

of his death had become the capital of

an empire which immediately began to

crack at the seams while the successors

of Alexander Ward with one another a new

ambitious power was growing in the West

in 146 BC the Romans conquered Greece

and in 30 BC they conquered the last

stronghold of Hellenism

Egypt but Greek culture was victorious

even here spread by the Romans that

finally conquered the world Romans began

to read The Iliad and Odyssey in Greek

followed by the Greek New Testament - in

330 Emperor Constantine built a new city

on the site of the old Greek colony of

Byzantium Constantinople this was the

starting point of the history of the

Byzantium Empire which extended the life

of Greek culture another thousand years

leaving us the weird Russian alphabet

for instance did you like our video we

have another one this time about ancient

Rome or you can watch the shortest

history of Russian art of the 20th

century we've squeezed a hundred years

into just 25 minutes and that's not all

subscribe to the Arthur Maps channel and

you'll be sure not to miss out anything