Greek history - Archaic period (700-480 BC)
Summary
TLDRThe 7th century BC marked the start of Greece's Archaic period, characterized by significant colonial expansion, economic growth, and the invention of coinage. This era saw the rise of a powerful middle class, leading to conflicts with the aristocracy and the establishment of timocratic regimes after Solon's reforms. Art flourished, with the black-figure style and monumental sculptures like kouroi and korai. The period also witnessed the emergence of critical thought in Ionian cities and poetry as a political tool. The formation of city-states fostered a strong sense of common identity and rationality, shaping Greek civilization until Christianity's rise.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The 7th century marked the beginning of the Archaic period in Greek history, lasting until the end of the 6th century.
- 🌐 Greek colonial expansion peaked in the 6th century, stretching from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, leading to significant economic, political, and cultural changes.
- 💼 The invention of coinage in the late 7th century BC boosted trade, shipping, and manufacturing, reflecting in the prosperity seen in gold offerings.
- 💪 The rise of a powerful middle class led to conflicts with the noble aristocrats, eventually leading to the establishment of timocratic regimes.
- 📜 Solon's introduction of written legislation in Athens was a significant development in the political landscape of the time.
- 🎨 The Orientalizing art of the 7th century BC saw the incorporation of Eastern motifs like griffins and sphinxes into Greek art.
- 🖌️ The black-figure style, originating in Corinth, allowed for the narration of myths and became popular in Attic workshops around 630 BC.
- 🤔 The 6th century BC saw a peak in the spirit of mobility, with critical thought emerging in Ionian cities and poetry becoming a tool for political expression.
- 🗿 Sculpture in the 6th century BC moved from immobility to dynamic forms, with the creation of monumental statues in marble, often painted.
- 🏺 The art of the 6th century BC was characterized by the kouros (naked youth) and kore (draped female) statues, symbolizing aristocratic virtues and values.
- 🌳 The transformation of the geometric city into a city-state during the Archaic period solidified a shared consciousness of origin, language, and customs.
Q & A
What is the Archaic period in Greek history?
-The Archaic period in Greek history is an era that began in the 7th century and lasted until the end of the 6th century BC, characterized by significant changes in economic, political, and cultural life.
What was the extent of the Hellenic world during the height of Greek colonial expansion in the 6th century BC?
-During the height of Greek colonial expansion in the 6th century BC, the Hellenic world extended from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
How did the invention of coinage impact the Greek world's economy?
-The invention of coinage, adopted in the Greek world from the late 7th century BC, facilitated the rapid growth of trade, shipping, and manufacturing, contributing to the ever-increasing economic prosperity of the Greek world.
What was the role of the middle class during the Archaic period?
-The emergence of a powerful middle class led to struggles for new active participation in public affairs, often resulting in conflicts with the noble aristocrats.
What significant change did Solon bring to the Athenian law system around 594 BC?
-Solon, the Athenian lawmaker, instituted the written recording of legislation, which was a significant change in the Athenian law system.
What is the Orientalizing art of the 7th century BC, and how did it enrich the geometric pictorial vocabulary?
-The Orientalizing art of the 7th century BC is characterized by the enrichment of the geometric pictorial vocabulary with elements such as griffins, sphinxes, sirens, and other forms from the East.
What is the black-figure style, and where was it created?
-The black-figure style is characterized by incision, black silhouettes, and an initially orientalizing thematic repertoire, and it was created in Corinth.
When did Attic workshops adopt the black-figure style, and what was its impact on art?
-Attic workshops adopted the black-figure style circa 630 BC, which allowed for the narration of myths and led to the Attic black-figure vases becoming the most comprehensive presentation of mythology in the art of the 6th century BC.
How did the spirit of mobility in the Greek world manifest in the 6th century BC?
-The spirit of mobility in the Greek world manifested in the thriving Ionian cities of Asia Minor, where philosophers laid the foundations of critical thought, and poetry became a medium of political expression.
What were the characteristics of the first monumental statues in Greece, and what materials were they made from?
-The first monumental statues in Greece were characterized by the release of the human figure from immobility, with hesitant movements reflecting the Greek need to discover the world. They were carved from island or Attic marble and often painted.
What types of statues dominated the art of the 6th century BC, and what were their intended uses?
-The art of the 6th century BC was dominated by the kouros, a statue of a naked youth, and the kore, its draped female counterpart. Both were intended for funerary as well as votive use, highlighting male virtue and bravery, and female modesty and grace.
How did the city transform during the Archaic period, and what consciousness was consolidated?
-During the Archaic period, the city transformed into a city-state, with a consolidated consciousness of common origin, language, and customs.
What are considered the most significant achievements of Archaic civilization?
-The most significant achievements of Archaic civilization are the confidence in man and the rational approach to the world, which did not change until the domination of Christianity.
Outlines
📜 The Archaic Period of Greece: An Era of Transformation
The 7th century BC marked the beginning of the Archaic period in Greek history, a transformative era that lasted until the end of the 6th century. This period saw extensive Greek colonial expansion along the eastern seaboard and the Western Mediterranean, reaching its zenith in the 6th century. The Hellenic world stretched from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, leading to significant economic, political, and cultural changes. The invention of coinage in the late 7th century BC spurred the growth of trade, shipping, and manufacturing, which is evidenced by the gold votive offerings in major sanctuaries. The rise of a powerful middle class clashed with the noble aristocrats, resulting in conflicts and the establishment of timocratic regimes. Solon's legislation in 594 BC laid the foundation for written laws. Art of the 7th century BC featured Orientalizing elements with griffins, sphinxes, and sirens, evolving into the black-figure style in Corinth around 630 BC. This style, adopted by Attic workshops, allowed for the narrative depiction of myths. In the 6th century BC, Greek philosophers in Ionian cities pioneered critical thought, while poetry became a tool for political expression. Greek sculpture began depicting human figures dynamically in monumental statues, reflecting a new exploration of the world. The kouros (naked youth) and kore (draped maiden) statues, representing aristocratic youths, highlighted virtues like bravery and modesty. The period also saw the rise of city-states with a shared sense of origin, language, and customs, and a rational approach to the world that persisted until the rise of Christianity.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Archaic period
💡Colonial expansion
💡Coinage
💡Middle class
💡Timocracy
💡Solon
💡Orientalizing art
💡Black-figure style
💡Kouros and Kore
💡City-state
💡Confidence in man and rational approach
Highlights
The 7th century marked the beginning of the Archaic period in Greek history, lasting until the end of the 6th century.
Greek colonial expansion peaked in the 6th century, with the Hellenic world stretching from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
Economic, political, and cultural life underwent a radical restructuring during this period.
The invention of coinage in the late 7th century BC spurred rapid growth in trade, shipping, and manufacturing.
Economic prosperity is reflected in gold votive offerings in major sanctuaries.
A powerful middle class emerged, leading to conflicts with the noble aristocrats.
Timocratic regimes were established after 594 BC, based on property ownership.
Solon's institution of written legislation was a significant development in Athenian law.
The Orientalizing art of the 7th century BC enriched the geometric pictorial vocabulary with Eastern elements.
The black-figure style was created in Corinth, characterized by incision and black silhouettes.
Attic workshops adopted the black-figure style around 630 BC, enabling the narration of myths.
The spirit of mobility in the Greek world peaked in the 6th century BC.
Ionian cities in Asia Minor were centers of critical thought in philosophy.
Poetry became a medium of political expression during this period.
Greek sculpture saw the human figure freed from immobility in the first monumental statues.
The art of the 6th century BC was dominated by the kouros and kore, representing male and female virtues.
The geometric city transformed into a city-state with a strong sense of common identity.
Confidence in man and a rational approach to the world were key achievements of Archaic civilization.
Transcripts
The dawn of the 7th century ushered in a new era in Greek history,
which would last until the end of the 6th and be known as the Archaic period.
Greek colonial expansion along the eastern seaboard and in the Western Mediterranean
reached its height in the 6th century when the Hellenic world extended from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean,
bringing about a radical restructuring of economic, political and cultural life.
The rapid growth of trade, shipping and
manufacturing further intensified
thanks to the invention of coinage, which was adopted in the Greek world from the late 7th century BC, a
world whose ever-increasing economic prosperity
is reflected in the gold votive offerings in the major sanctuaries of the period.
The emergence of a powerful middle class and its struggles for a new active participation in public affairs
would lead to conflict -often violent- with the class of the noble aristocrats.
Timocratic regimes in which certain amount of property underpinned the rise to power were established after
594 BC, however,
once the Athenian lawmaker, Solon,
instituted the written recording of legislation.
In the - so called
Orientalizing art of the 7th century BC the geometric pictorial vocabulary was enriched with griffins,
sphinxes, sirens and other demonic forms from the world of the East.
The black - figure style,
characterized by incision, black silhouettes and an initially orientalizing
thematic repertoire, was created in Corinth.
Circa 630 BC
the Attic workshops adopted the style, which permitted the narration of myths,
so that the Attic black-figure versus which conquered the markets at the time today offer the most comprehensive
presentation of mythology in the art of the 6th century BC.
The spirit of mobility which characterized the Greek world reached its peak in the 6th century BC.
In the thriving Ionian cities of Asia Minor
philosophers laid the foundations of critical thought,
while from "a gift of the Muses"
poetry transformed into a sharp-edged medium of political expression.
In sculptor, the same vigor released the human figure from immobility in Greece's first monumental statues,
carved from island or Attic marble and often painted.
The hesitant movements of their members reflect the now imperative Greek need to discover the world.
The art of the sixth century BC
was dominated by the types of the kouros,
the statue of a naked youth and the kore, its draped female counterpart,
both intended for funerary as well as votive use.
These were youths and maidens of aristocratic descent,
portrayed in their prime in a way that highlights male virtue and bravery, and female modesty and grace.
In the archaic period of the geometric
city was transformed into a city-state
with a consolidated consciousness of common origin, language and customs.
Confidence in man and the rational approach to the world are perhaps the most significant achievements of Archaic civilization,
since this outlook did not change until the domination of Christianity.
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