CLA230H1 Chapter 1: The Greeks by Morris and Powell
Document Summary
Systematic application of reason to explain the world. 18th-19thc historiography saw greece more simply/ideally as pure world of love and truth. Now we see them as a society that was: unequal for women, had overseas slaves, based on brutal labour, endless war and violence the same problems of freedom, inequality, and justice we face. Kings had strong ties to gods or claimed to be gods. 1200, end of bronze: greek palaces are burned along with other med cities, we don"t know why. Godlike kings continue in egypt and meso, but no in greece after this destruction. Dark age: grk pop shrinks and writing disappears generally isolated physically. 8th c bce, societies emerge from age very different from bronze. Archaic age: characteristics of society small city-states (poleis) Pop grows and poleis founded on med shores. Poleis are communities of equal, free males. Gods did not give individuals or elite group right to rule.
