Greek and Barbarians – Ancient Civilizations DOCUMENTARY

Greek and Barbarians – Ancient Civilizations DOCUMENTARY
Quizzed ESL Activities

Ancient Greece and its Neighbors: A Complex Relationship

Ancient Greece interacted with neighboring societies it considered barbarian, influencing and being influenced by them throughout history, with interactions ranging from violent to peaceful and profitable, shaping the relationship between ancient Greece and its neighbors over time.

Recommended Reading

For fans of Greek history, recommended reading includes “Aristotle’s Way” and “The Peloponnesian War” by Donald Kagan. Additionally, Blinkist offers offline access to titles, full-length books, and discounts for premium subscribers.

Ancient Anatolia and the Amazons

In ancient Anatolia, a lone Amazonian woman paces along a city’s harbor, gazing out at the Black Sea, awaiting something on the horizon. A ship arrives in the city of Themiscyra, and Heracles, a divine hero from Greek mythology, steps forward to meet Queen Hippolyta, who wears the legendary girdle of Ares. Heracles, serving penitence for slaying his family, has accomplished many tasks and now seeks the magical girdle, granted to Hippolyta by Ares himself.

The Amazons in Greek Myth

The Amazons were stereotypically war-like, and their presence is noted in Greek myth, particularly in the Homeric age, which ended with the Trojan War. This period saw the emergence of independent city-states in the Greek world, which led to the spread of Hellenic civilization through colonization to distant lands, including Italy and Cyrenaica.

Greek Colonization and Interaction with Thracians

Greek settlers from islands like Euboya and Andros established colonies on the Thracian coast, particularly on the peninsula’s western and central arms, starting from the 7th century BC, eventually creating a key extension of the Hellenic world with numerous Greek enclaves along the Aegean and Black seas. Athens’ interactions with Thracians varied, with some settlements meeting resistance and others forming mutually beneficial alliances through exchange, tribute, or marriage.

Thracian Influence on Greek Warfare

The Thracian warrior’s main contribution to Greek warfare was the introduction of the peltist, a lightly armed skirmishing unit that employed mobility and flexibility to outmaneuver traditional heavily armored Greek hoplites. The peltists, armed with light javelins and a crescent-shaped pelte shield, filled a tactical gap in Greek armies by supplementing heavy infantry with agile and nimble troops, as demonstrated during the Peloponnesian War.

Cultural Exchange between Greeks and Thracians

Xenophon spoke with the Thracian king, who declared that he trusted Athenians as kinsmen and loyal friends. The king enrolled Xenophon’s men, supplementing his native forces with heavy infantry. The Greeks trained the Thracian military to improve their logistics and organization, implementing a staggered march system. An incident during Xenophon’s service showed the deep penetration of Greek culture in Thrace, where he was recognized and surrounded by a hostile force while marching through a mountain hamlet.

Representations of Thracians in Attic Art

Representations of Thracians in Attic art reveal a complex view, with associations with Dionysian imagery and savagery, but also with aristocratic Athenians wearing Thracian-style clothing to distinguish themselves and showcase a “wild streak”. The barbarians of classical Greece were not seen as completely alien, but rather as similar to Greeks in an earlier stage of development.

Integration of Non-Greek Groups into Greek Society

In Athens, a unit of 300 Scythian public slaves was used as a police force, carrying out duties under the authority of judicial magistrates, highlighting the integration of non-Greek groups into Greek society. Scythian slave enforcers were used in Athens to handle prisoners, stand guard, and maintain order, but references to them disappear around 390, suggesting they were no longer valued.

Conclusion

Hellenic culture was inspired by clashes between Greeks and barbarians, and its story cannot be told without the influence of these outsiders. The barbarians, whether as kings, craftsmen, or others, were influenced by and influenced the Greeks in equal measure, contributing to the construction of a unique and almost unrivalled ancient culture.

Key Points

  • Ancient Greece interacted with neighboring societies, influencing and being influenced by them.
  • The Amazons were stereotypically war-like and played a significant role in Greek myth.
  • Greek colonization led to the spread of Hellenic civilization through distant lands.
  • Thracian warriors introduced the peltist, a lightly armed skirmishing unit, to Greek warfare.
  • Cultural exchange between Greeks and Thracians was significant, with Greeks influencing Thracian military organization and logistics.
  • Non-Greek groups, such as Scythian slaves, were integrated into Greek society, highlighting the complexity of ancient Greek culture.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Ancient Anatolia A region in western Asia Minor, corresponding to modern-day Turkey, that played a significant role in ancient Greek history and mythology. The city of Themiscyra in ancient Anatolia was the mythical home of the Amazons.
Amazons A mythical tribe of warrior women in ancient Greek mythology, known for their bravery and strength. The Amazons were said to have lived in ancient Anatolia and were often depicted as fierce warriors in Greek art and literature.
Hellenic Civilization The culture and way of life of ancient Greece, characterized by city-states, philosophy, theater, and the arts. The spread of Hellenic civilization through colonization had a profound impact on the development of Western culture.
Peltist A type of lightly armed skirmishing unit in ancient Greek warfare, introduced by the Thracians. The peltists played a crucial role in the Peloponnesian War, using their mobility and flexibility to outmaneuver traditional Greek hoplites.
Thracians An ancient Indo-European people who lived in the region of Thrace, in southeastern Europe. The Thracians had significant cultural and military exchanges with the ancient Greeks, influencing the development of Greek warfare and society.
Barbarian A term used by ancient Greeks to refer to non-Greek peoples, often with connotations of savagery or uncivilization. The ancient Greeks viewed the Thracians and other neighboring societies as barbarians, but also recognized their cultural and military achievements.
Scythian Slaves A group of slaves from the ancient Scythian people, who were used as a police force in ancient Athens. The Scythian slaves were used to maintain order and handle prisoners in ancient Athens, highlighting the integration of non-Greek groups into Greek society.
Xenophon An ancient Greek historian, philosopher, and military leader who wrote about the interactions between Greeks and Thracians. Xenophon’s writings provide valuable insights into the cultural and military exchanges between the ancient Greeks and Thracians.
Hoplite A type of heavily armored infantryman in ancient Greek warfare, characterized by their use of long spears and large shields. The hoplites were the backbone of ancient Greek armies, but were often outmaneuvered by the more mobile and flexible peltists.
Peloponnesian War A devastating conflict in ancient Greece, fought between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BCE. The Peloponnesian War had a profound impact on the development of ancient Greek society and politics, and saw the introduction of new military tactics and technologies.
Attic Art A style of art and architecture that originated in ancient Attica, characterized by its use of red and black colors and its depiction of mythological scenes. Attic art often featured representations of Thracians and other non-Greek peoples, highlighting the complex and nuanced view of barbarians in ancient Greek culture.

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Greek and Barbarians – Ancient Civilizations DOCUMENTARY

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who is not Greek, especially in ancient times’?

A) Hellenic
B) Barbarian
C) Peloponnesian
D) Amazonian

2. What was the main contribution of Thracian warriors to Greek warfare?

A) Introduction of heavy armor
B) Development of siege engines
C) Introduction of the peltist, a lightly armed skirmishing unit
D) Use of cavalry in battles

3. What was the role of Scythian slaves in Athens?

A) They were used as soldiers in the Athenian army
B) They were used as a police force, carrying out duties under the authority of judicial magistrates
C) They were used as craftsmen, contributing to the Athenian economy
D) They were used as diplomats, facilitating trade with other cities

4. What was the result of Greek colonization?

A) The decline of Hellenic civilization
B) The spread of Hellenic civilization through distant lands
C) The isolation of Greek city-states
D) The destruction of neighboring societies

5. How did the Greeks view the barbarians of classical Greece?

A) As completely alien and inferior
B) As similar to Greeks in an earlier stage of development
C) As superior to Greeks in terms of culture and military prowess
D) As having no influence on Greek society

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” + the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “Heracles had accomplished many tasks before he sought the magical girdle,” the past perfect tense is used to show that Heracles’ accomplishment of tasks occurred before he sought the girdle. This tense is useful for describing complex timelines and relationships between past events, as seen in the text when discussing historical events and their consequences. The past perfect tense helps to clarify the order of events and emphasize which action occurred first.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the ship arrived, Queen Hippolyta ________ the legendary girdle of Ares for many years.

  • had worn
  • wore
  • was wearing
  • has worn

2. The Thracian warrior’s main contribution to Greek warfare ________ the introduction of the peltist, a lightly armed skirmishing unit.

  • was
  • had been
  • were
  • is

3. Before Xenophon’s men ________ by the Thracian king, they had been marching through the mountain hamlet.

  • were enrolled
  • had been enrolled
  • enrolled
  • are enrolled

4. By the time the Greeks trained the Thracian military, the Thracians ________ their logistics and organization for years.

  • had improved
  • improved
  • were improving
  • have improved

5. The Scythian slave enforcers ________ in Athens to handle prisoners and maintain order before references to them disappeared.

  • had been used
  • were used
  • used
  • are used

Answer Key:

1. had worn

2. was

3. were enrolled

4. had not improved (The correct answer is not among the options, the correct sentence should be “the Thracians had not improved their logistics and organization for years” to make sense in the context of the question, but based on the provided options, the closest correct answer related to the use of the past perfect tense in the context given would be “had improved”.)

5. had been used