Ancient Greece: The Birthplace of Western Civilization

Technological and Cultural Achievements

• Ancient Greece: over 1,000 years of advanced technological feats.
• Engineering marvels often attributed to gods by the ancients.
• Greek mythology and legends (e.g., Iliad and Odyssey) documented these exploits and achievements.

The Battle of Salamis (480 BC)

• A crucial naval battle between Greece and Persia.
• Themistocles, an Athenian leader, united disparate Greek city-states against Persia.
• Greek city-states: self-reliant mini-countries with little national unity.
• Themistocles built a fleet of 200 triremes, revolutionary ships capable of high speed and maneuverability.
• Strategy: Lure the Persian fleet into the narrow Straits of Salamis, negating their numerical advantage.
• Greek victory: Decisive, securing Greek independence and culture.

Themistocles' Downfall

• Initially hailed as a hero post-victory.
• Later ostracized due to political enemies and personal ambitions.
• Ironically found refuge in Persia, working for the Persian king.

Mycenaean Civilization (circa 1300 BC)

• Early Greek civilization known for its engineering feats, e.g., Lion's Gate and tholos tombs.
• Mycenae: capital city with massive citadel walls.
• Civilization mysteriously disintegrated around 1100 BC, possibly due to barbarian invasions.

The Rise of City-States and Engineering Feats

• 8th century BC: City-states like Sparta, Athens, and Samos emerged with unique identities.
• Samos: An engineering marvel, a tunnel aqueduct through Mount Castro designed by Eupolinos.

The Athenian Golden Age and the Parthenon

• Athens: Transition to democracy post-Persian wars.
• Pericles: Influential leader who expanded Athenian power, initiated the construction of the Parthenon.
• Parthenon: A monumental temple to Athena, showcasing advanced architectural techniques.
• Construction challenges: Transporting and lifting massive marble slabs, achieving architectural precision.

The Peloponnesian War and Athens' Decline

• Sparta and Athens: Longstanding rivals.
• The Athenian Plague and Spartan siege led to the decline of Athens post-Pericles.
• 404 BC: Athens fell to Sparta, marking the end of its dominance.

Legacy of Greek Civilization

• Greek culture and engineering influenced future empires.
• Alexander the Great: Spread Greek ideals and culture across the known world after the fall of Athens.