The Greek Polis

I. Rise of the Polis

     A. self-sufficient communities

            1. fortress-city and surrounding area

            2. defend themselves with phalanx armies

                 a. phalanx in operation [movie Alexander]

            3. phalanx warfare encourages male comaraderie

     B. social life of the Polis

1. sexual segregation and male dominance

a. Sparta is the extreme example

b. Athenian symposium

2. citizenship and monogamy

3. Slavery

C. Commercial and manufacturing greatness

1. colonies, shipping and navy

2. social stresses of economic growth

D. Development of democracy

1. weakened aristocracy

2. tyrants

3. equality of male citizens

II. Greek Religion

     A. Mesopotamian and Egyptian influences, but also shaped by Greek tradition and society

     B. Greeks tend to see humans and gods and more alike than others

            1. human-like gods and god-like humans

            2. divine politics

            3. Homer's epics: Iliad and Odyssey

                        a. demi-god warrior-heroes such as Achilles and Odesseus

                        b. gods choose their favorite human heroes and help them

            4. heroic ideal represented in statues ("korous" and "kore")

     C. Greeks develop unique religious observances, notably athletics and drama

III. Athletics

     A. Olympic events

            1. foot races, chariot races, wrestling, boxing, pentathlon

            2. individual, military skills

            3. by men, for men

            4. designed to discover the best individual

    B. Athletics reflects the Greek notion of human excellence

            1. emulation of Homeric heroes--godlike warriors, beloved of the gods

                        a. poems of exaltation

            2. athletes honor gods by emulating and entertaining them