HIST 2A Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Peloponnesian League, Greeks, Greco-Persian Wars
Document Summary
Does have an ideological basis - encompassing fears in potential conflicts. The rise of the polis in the archaic period (800-500 bce) Emerging from the dark age and greek colonization. Increase in agriculture = increase in population. Southern half of greece is dominated by this political structure. Meant a lot to them in order to establish freedom. Stress the will to use their own law codes and political constitutions. Make sure that no one establishes their own power. Oligarchy (rule by the elites) and tyranny (single person rule, often with support from commoners) Civic heroes - goes back to the period of the dark age ; heroes are important to polis" identity. Each city-state worshipped same pantheon, but different patron gods. Frequent seasonal fighting between city-states (fighting over land), but do not see any change in possession of territories. Symbolic warfare - casualties were very low. Greeks recognize the common traditions in which they belong to.
