Western Civ 1600 BCE – 20 BCE

The Dark Ages - Topic 3

1100 BCE

Following a series of troubles, including war, recurrent droughts, and destroyed trade routes, the Mycenaean civilization commenced its decline, thereby signifying the beginning of the Dark Ages. Ancient Greece suffered a great deal during this period, as foreign and communal trade declined drastically and agriculture went back to basic production. With Greek economy weakening, neighbors cut ties with them. It is said that nearly 90% of the Greek population decreased in the following centuries.

Zoroastrianism - Topic 4

500 BCE

Zoroastrianism was a mixture of polytheistic and monotheistic beliefs. The ancient world had various religions, but none usually believed in polytheistic or monotheistic beliefs. Zoroastrians believed the world was fought over by Ahura Mazda, a god who was good, truthful, and kind, and an evil god called Ahriman. Their beliefs included other gods like Mithras and Anahita. The main Persian religion was Zoroastrianism.

Homer's Writings - Topic 3

500 BCE

During the Archaic Age, a new alphabet was formed, which allowed Greeks to record not only taxes and business deals but also literature, poems, and drama. Thus, Homer's poems could be written down, which were previously delivered by mouth. Homer’s poems, notably The Iliad and The Odyssey, were usually celebrated as arete, which basically meant “fulfilling one’s potential”. His poems gave life and dreams to a previous culture that was mundane and in a declining, dark period. 

Persian Government - Topic 4

490 BCE

Before King Darius I, kings split up the empire into twenty satrapies. This gave the government the ability to obtain intelligence and keep control without utilizing terror tactics. Later, King Darius manufactured the Persians' successful government. He understood that Persia’s government was lacking organization and control. As a result, he refined systems and facilities, appointed royal powers, applied taxation, created a postal service, and established a bureaucracy to oversee Persia’ empire.

Greek Government - Topic 5

480 BCE

The geographical location of each Greek city-state resulted in their distinct separation, thereby forcing their hands to evolve independently and determine the most suitable governing system. For example, Athens' government favored democracy, whereas Sparta had two kings and an oligarchy system. During the Classical Age, Athens was the richest and most influential city in all of Greece. The Delian League advanced Atens compared to other poleis.

The 3 Greek Philosophers - Topic 6

470 BCE

Philsophy in ancient Greece broke the glass ceiling for basic thinking. Thinking beyond death and establishing morals and ethics, philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle famously conjured new ideas and methods. Not to mention, Socrates taught Plato, who taught Aristotle, who was the private tutor of Alexander the Great.

Peloponnesian War - Topic 5

431 BCE

The Greeks were known to be overconfident, extremely proud, and arrogant. Athens was proud of its wealth and the power it held. Before the war, Athens was the most powerful empire, but they demonstrated an insatiable hunger for power and a lack of self-awareness when upsetting initial allies. Athens failed to make any effort with allies, and they did not understand the importance of connections and relationships, even with those that were less powerful.

Polis of Sparta and Athens - Topic 3

400 BCE

The two most notable and famous polis of the Archaic Age were Athens and Sparta. Though both were considerably powerful, they had extreme differences. Sparta was an aristocratic monarchy with two kings who embraced militarism. Women in Sparta were less restricted than in Athens. Contrasting, Athens was considered a democracy that favored intellect and equality. Though Sparta and Athens were both powerful empires, they differed in beliefs, governmental policies, and societal factors.

Alexander The Great - Topic 6

335 BCE

Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military and political leaders in history, led one of the most efficient and largest expansions during ancient times. Not only did he defeat Persia, Alexander conquered a list of vast territories over his 11-year expedition. Most importantly, the aftermath of Alexander’s conquest resulted in the spread of Greek culture and an overall victorious empire. His tenacity and charismatic personality contributed to his great leadership.

The Cynics and the Epicureans - Topic 6

300 BCE

Two main Hellenistic philosophical movements include the Cynics and the Epicureans. The Cynics argued that human goodness came through nature, which delivered righteous virtues. They believed that social conventions and pleasures were the wrong way of living. On the other hand, the Epicureans argued that pleasures were the way of life and politics and drama were rather pointless. Epicurus didn’t give much attention to death.